Opening the 2015 season at home on Saturday afternoon on Vago Field, the Aurora University Spartan football team could not overcome early miscues that led to a 29-0 halftime deficit before falling by the eventual final score of 53-20.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Illinois College 53, Aurora University 20
LOCATION: Vago Field, Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 0-1 overall, Illinois College 1-0 overall
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Illinois College out-gained the Spartans 477 to 287.
- AU lost 85 yards on four fumbles with one resulting in a safety.
- The Spartans controlled the time of possession 37:21 to 22:39.
- AU passed for 259 yards but only netted 28 yards (gained 179) rushing due in large part to 151 yards lost on the ground.
- A day for the quarterback was notable as IC senior Brady Huber accounted for six touchdowns, five through the air and one on the ground. Huber finished 26-of-40 for 349 yards in the air and 41 yards on the ground. Spartan quarterbacks Kendall Lawson (19-of-27 for 146 yards, one interception and one touchdown and RJ Mattuci (8-of-11 for 113 yards and one interception) combined efforts.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS
- Lawson led the team in passing with 146 yards and a touchdown.
- Chris Anderson, Brian Bohr and RJ Mattuci scored their first collegiate touchdowns for the Spartans.
- Bohr led the team in rushing with 68 yards, his longest rush was 45 yards.
- Anderson led the team in receiving with 103 yards and a touchdown.
- Kam Dawtyne led AU in tackles with eight.
 
FOR THE FOES
- The Blueboys scored on four of their six first-half possessions.
- Huber connected with eight different receivers on the day with three different receivers scoring touchdowns.
- Austin Ellsworth and Kyle Obertino both went over 100 yards receiving and had two touchdowns each.
- Greg Cross returned a kickoff for a touchdown (91 yards)
- Dylan Schuler led all defensive players with nine tackles, adding one sack and two tackles for loss.
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, September 19 when they travel to Olivet College for the 2015 NACC/MIAA Challenge. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. (EST) in Olivet, Michigan.