Box Score Aurora University's football team overcame adversity by making the most of its opportunities in a 33-14 Northern Athletics Conference victory over Maranatha Baptist Bible College Saturday afternoon in front of a packed house for Homecoming festivities on windy Vago Field.

The Spartans (2-4, 1-2 NAC) committed five turnovers on the day but converted enough plays in key moments of the game to pull away from Maranatha (2-4, 0-3 NAC) in the second half.

AU senior defensive back Steven Mulrooney got the team off to a good start, picking off a pass from Maranatha senior quarterback Phil Littrell on the first drive of the contest. AU's offense took over near midfield, but was unable to move the ball on its first series with the quarterback rotation of junior Noah Martin and sophomore Jace Koerner.  The big play of the first series for the Spartans came on fourth down, when Maranatha sophomore return specialist Josiah Brendemuehl mishandled the punt amidst the onrushing Spartan special teams. The ball squirted out of bounds, pinning the Crusaders inside their own 1-yard line.

It didn't take long for the Spartan defense to capitalize. On the ensuing first down, senior defensive tackle Derek DiNino and junior defensive end Jerome Christmas converged on Crusaders sophomore running back Micah Burt for a safety.

The momentum swing and 2-0 lead from the defensive highlight was short-lived. AU was unable to move the ball after the ensuing free kick, then Maranatha turned the momentum pendulum in its favor, when Littrell hit sophomore wide out Joel Kobosh for a 77-yard touchdown to put the Crusaders up 7-2.

The AU offense struggled to get on track for the rest of the first quarter, and lost Martin to an ankle injury near the end of the frame. The defense was able to stymie the Crusaders offense until another special team's opportunity early in the second quarter set up a chance for the Spartans to retake the lead. AU senior Kevin Glock pounced on a muffed punt return by Brendemuehl, giving the Spartans the ball at the Crusaders 30-yard line.

The offense would not be denied, scoring eight plays later on a two-yard plunge by Koerner to put AU up 9-7. Now taking all of the snaps, Koerner made the most of his opportunity not only with the touchdown run, but also by using his feet to convert on a fourth down and five and a third-and-one scenario in the drive.

The defense answered the call on the very first play of Maranatha's next drive, with sophomore cornerback Rex Layne picking off a Littrell pass and returning it to the Crusaders 38-yard line.

From there, the Spartans marched into comfortable field goal range and extended their lead to 12-7 on a 30-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Fernando Albarran. The kick was made possible by another Koerner conversion, as the sophomore signal caller scampered 20 yards on a fourth down and five, to bring the Spartans inside the red zone.

Christmas led the Spartan defense on the ensuing possession, coming up with two key tackles and a batted ball to thwart the Crusaders drive.

The Spartans took over at their own 22-yard line with just 1:33 left in the half, but did not just run the clock out. Koerner engineered a nine-play, 65-yard drive to the Maranatha 13-yard line before the half, but his last pass in the end zone was picked off by senior cornerback Jason Garrison to end the threat and keep the score at 12-7 going into halftime.

The AU offense picked up where it left off in the first half in terms of moving the ball, but this time converted its opportunity in the red zone with the first drive of the second half. Again, Koerner used his legs for a third down conversion and a fourth down conversion in the drive, helping the offense march 57 yards in 10 plays. Koerned capped the drive with a 14-yard Koerner touchdown pass to junior wideout Derek Powell. The score gave the Spartans a more comfortable lead at 19-7.

That comfort was short-lived, however, when the Crusaders cut the lead to 19-14 with a 10-play, 65
The Spartans effectively put the game out of reach with their next offensive series, going 60 yards in six plays. Koerner hit senior wide receiver Evan Hackbarth in the end zone for an 8-yard score to put the Spartans ahead 26-14 going into the fourth quarter.

If that score dampened the Crusaders hopes, Layne's second interception of the day almost certainly doused them. Maranatha had driven into Spartan territory before Layne came up with the Littrell offering on a fourth and 12 play. His 48-yard return off the pick set the Spartan offense up at the Crusaders 32-yard line.

Koerner and Hackbarth didn't waste any time, connecting for their second touchdown of the day on the first play of the drive. The 32-yard strike gave AU a commanding 33-14 lead.
From there, the AU defense salted the game away, holding Maranatha scoreless on its next three drives. AU's offense gave up two fumbles in the the waning minutes of the game, but the defense would not let the Crusaders capitalize.

Koerner finished the day 14-of-23 for 163 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the Spartans in rushing, with 16 carries for 143 yards and one touchdown. Senior Jordan Peterson led the AU receiving corps with six receptions for 66 yards. Hackbarth finished with three receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Bettis and senior linebacker Cory Young led the Spartan defense with 10 tackles apiece, while Bettis registered 1.5 tackles for loss. Kobosh led the Crusader attack with seven receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown, while Littrell finished with 17 completions on 33 attempts for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Senior defensive end Ethan Rosen led the Crusader defense with 14 tackles, including two for loss.