A Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference football thriller was on tap for Vago Field on Saturday afternoon. AU out lasted the visiting Falcons of Concordia Wisconsin, winning 20-19 behind a strong running game and solid defense in the second-half.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Aurora University 20 , Concordia University Wisconsin 19
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois - Vago Field
RECORDS: Aurora University 5-3; 4-0 NACC; Concordia Wisconsin 2-6; 0-5 NACC
ATTENDANCE: 787
WEATHER: 72 degrees, overcast, winds WSW@20-30
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Spartans were first on the scoreboard with a touchdown run of three yards by Noah Allgood with 5:18 left in the first quarter. The score capped off a nine play 61 yard drive.
On the next drive, the Falcons scored on a 40 yard touchdown pass but missed the extra point. AU led 7-6.
Concordia Wisconsin scored the next two touchdowns missing another extra point to increase their lead to 19-7 midway through the second quarter.
On the drive following going behind by 12, AU consummated an 11-play 60 yard drive. Connor Olson finished the drive with a four yard run and the Spartans trailed 19-14 late in the first-half.
The third quarter saw a scoreless period with the team defenses limiting the opposing offenses any momentum.
AU started the games final scoring drive from their own two yard line and with the final play of the third quarter, Connor Olson scampered 15 yards for a first down.
The Spartans would control the ball for just under eight minutes of the start of the third quarter before the play of the game.
Spartan Brandon Lucas caught a 37 yard touchdown pass on fourth down from Geron Rogers to give the Spartans the lead 20-19.
AU's defense did not allow CUW to generate anything on offense in the final two drives of the game and the offense ran out the clock for the victory.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS                                                     
The Spartans ran for 236 yards and 4.7 yards per carry.
AU ran a successful fake punt in the third quarter to extend a drive.
With 7:46 to play in the fourth, Geron Rogers connected with Brandon Lucas on a 37-yard touchdown. Lucas made a tremendous catch on the fourth down play.
The Spartan defense pitched a shutout in the second-half and limited CUW to 86 total yards in the second-half as well.
AU won the time of possession 35:16 to 24:44.
 
SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Rushing:
            Carries: Connor Olson (16), Noah Allgood (15) and Cody Lane (13)
            Yards: Noah Allgood (92), Cody Lane (79) and Connor Olson (71)
Passing: Geron Rogers (8-14) for 120 yards and one touchdown
Receiving:
            Catches: Connor Olson (6) and Van Norris (3)
            Yards: Van Morris (54) and Brandon Lucas (37)
Touchdowns: Noah Allgood, Connor Olson and Brandon Lucas (1)
Tackles: Brendan Fulton (8)
Tackles for loss: Luis Leguer (1.0)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, November 5 when they travel to Lakeland University. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Sheboygan, Wisconsin at Sheboygan North High School.