Box Score The Aurora University Spartan football team used a strong running attack and stifling defense to register a 40-7 win over Rockford College Saturday afternoon in Northern Athletics Conference action on Vago
The game saw the emergence of a new threat in the backfield for the Spartans, as junior Brandon Trujillo rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries. Trujillo also chalked up a touchdown pass (25-yards) on the day.

Sophomore kick returner Matt Gillette opened the game on a positive note for the home team with a 27-yard return on the opening kickoff. That set up the Spartans near midfield, where their running game took over. After five straight rushes by sophomore tailback Bobby Kroeger brought the Spartans into Rockford territory, AU switched it up by inserting Trujillo into the backfield. The junior, made the most of the opportunity from the outset, by turning on the jets for a 29-yard touchdown run on the right side. It was Trujillo's second carry of the season.
After the Spartan defense forced a three-and-out, Trujillo highlighted the Spartan's next offensive drive as well with a 14-yard scamper into Regents territory. AU's drive stalled shortly thereafter, but the punt pinned the Regent offense inside its own 20-yard line.

An uneventful drive by Rockford College resulted in a punt, and after an AU penalty, the Spartans started their next drive at their own 20-yard line and were unable to get the offense on track.

The Regents then put together what would be their most effective drive of the half, using their running game to drive 50 yards in 13 plays. The drive, which spanned the end of the first quarter and into the second, had the Regents marching to the Spartan 6-yard line. AU ended the threat on a big third down and five play, when senior linebacker Jeff Krause sacked freshman
AU's offense took over at its own 16-yard line. The drive, highlighted by a 17-yard rumble up the middle by sophomore running back Zach Wenger, stalled soon thereafter. AU's defense came up big on their next series, after the Regents had just passed midfield. Senior cornerback Steve Mulrooney intercepted a Gorusch pass and returned it to the Regents 25-yard line.

The Spartans wasted no time taking advantage of that play, calling in a halfback pass to catch the Regent defense off-guard. Trujillo took the pitch and found another way to register a touchdown, throwing to senior wide receiver Evan Hackbarth for a 25-yard scoring strike. That score put the Spartans ahead 13-0.

The Regents drove to midfield on the next drive, but senior defensive end Derek DeNino pre-empted the potential threat by sacking Gorusch on third down.

From there, Trujillo and the Spartan offense took over, marching 56 yards on plays for the score. Trujillo The score gave the Spartans a comfortable 20-0 lead going into halftime.

The Regents came out firing in the third quarter, catching AU's defense off-guard on their first drive of the frame with a 69-yard strike from Gorusch to sophomore wide receiver Anastacio Zamba. The scoring strike pulled the Regents to within 20-7.

But it was as close as the visiting team would get, as AU answered on its ensuing drive with a long drive to keep its comfortable lead. Balundis converted on a key fourth-and-inches play on the drive, which set up a 29-yard scamper by Trujillo to put the Spartans at the Rockford 1-yard line. Trujillo would Both defenses held for the remainder of the quarter, but AU began the fourth quarter with another touchdown run by Trujillo, who scampered 10 yards around the right side to put the Spartans ahead 33-7.

The Spartan defense shut down the Regents for the rest of the game, while AU's rushing offense continued to pound the ball. Sophomore back Bobby Kroeger capped the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Spartans a 40-7 lead.

Senior linebacker Adam Siwicki led the Spartan defense with nine tackles, including one sack. Krause registered eight tackles, including two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Rockford's defense was led by freshman linebacker Seth Swineheart, who tallied 10 tackles on the day.

With the win, AU improves to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the Northern Athletics Conference. Rockford drops to 0-8 overall and 0-5 in the NAC.