Box Score The Aurora University Spartan football team celebrated Senior Day at Vago Field Saturday afternoon
before falling 42-14 to Concordia University Chicago.
AU also celebrated its football past at halftime, honoring players from the school's 1986 football team. The team members congregated on the field to commemorate the football program's first team since the 1952 season. The team from that season provided the foundation for future AU success.
The Spartan defense came up big to begin the first half, with senior defensive back
Kevin Glock intercepting CUC junior quarterback Jake Koehler on the Cougars first drive. AU took over at its own 25-yard line, but was unable to get its offense on track.
The Cougars were able to put together a scoring drive as the quarter drew on, scoring on an 11-yard run by sophomore running back Andrew Maddox to go up 7-0.
The Spartans were able to end the first quarter and begin the second with a sustained drive into Cougar territory, but it stalled in Cougar territory with a near touchdown strike to senior wide out
Evan Hackbarth on fourth down.
The Cougars continued to score in the second quarter, hitting pay dirt three times to go into halftime with a 28-0 lead. Koehler scampered for 32 and 8-yard touchdown runs, and connected on a 5-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jamal
Coming into the second half, the Spartans needed a spark. The defense responded on CUC's first drive of the half. Junior defensive back Billy LaShonse saved a touchdown by running down CUC sophomore back Sherman Jones, who was streaking down the sidelines on what looked to be a long scoring run. On the ensuing play, sophomore linebacker
Brandon Haase pounced on a Cougar fumble to give AU the ball at their own 39-yard line.
AU's offense took advantage, driving 61 to register its first score of the day. Martin connected on a 39-yard strike to senior wide receiver
Jordan Peterson to pull the Spartans to within 28-7.
That momentum swing was short lived, however. The Spartan special teams attempted an onside kick
following a Cougar personal foul that moved the kick-off up 15-yards to the 45-yard line. CUC senior linebacker Chris Decker ended up not only recovering the kick, but returned it 55 yards untouched for a Cougar touchdown to put his team ahead 35-7 and put a damper on AU's early second half momentum.
Despite that setback, the Spartans would not go quietly. AU struck again early in the fourth quarter with a 51-yard drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Martin to Hackbarth.
Down 35-14, AU's onside kick attempt worked, with sophomore special teams ace Billy Kroeger
recovering the pooch attempt to give the Spartan offense the ball at the CUC 30-yard line.
Despite several near misses on pass attempts into the red zone, the Spartans were unable to capitalize on the ensuing drive. AU had several extended drives into Cougar territory in the second half, but were unable to register scores. CUC added another touchdown with 42 seconds remaining, with Koehler rushing 24 yards to cap the scoring at 42-14.
For the game, AU led in time of possession by over 10 minutes. The Spartans were led by junior running back
Brandon Trujillo, who rushed 37 times for 109 yards. Martin finished 12-for-24 for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson led the Spartan receiving corps with four grabs for 69 yards and a score. Koehler led the Cougar attack by rushing 15 times for 146 yards and three rushing touchdowns. In the passing game, he finished 10-of-22 for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Senior linebacker
Cory Young led the Spartan defense with 12 tackles, including one for loss. Junior defense lineman
Jerome Christmas and junior defensive back
Bo Price each had nine tackles.
The Spartans finish the season at 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Northern Athletics Conference.
