The Aurora University Spartans hosted #25 St. Norbert College in the 2019 season opener on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium. In the first game under new Head Coach Don Beebe, the Spartans had a record setting day from quarterback Gavin Zimbelman and the AU offense enroute to a 50-40 victory.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Aurora University 50, 25 St. Norbert College 40
LOCATION: Spartan Athletic Park - Montgomery, Illinois.
RECORDS: Aurora University 1-0; St. Norbert College 0-1
ATTENDANCE: 2,269
WEATHER: 78 degrees and sunny with a 7-9 mph northwest wind
GAME HIGHLIGHTS - view now
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second-half. The coin toss was performed by AU Hall of Famer and former football coach Jim Scott.
- Two plays into the game, AU trailed 6-0 after a long Norbert touchdown pass but the point after attempt was missed.
- The Spartans responded with a seven play, 75 yard drive that lasted 1:41. Gavin Zimbelman completed passes to four different receivers with a five-yard score to Colton Jewell giving AU the 7-6 lead.
- In what looked like would be a back and forth offensive attack all day, SNC scored again on a seven play drive of their own.
- With just over five minutes played in the game, AU trailed 13-7.
- Both teams traded punts on their next possessions before the Spartan offense clicked again.
- Backed up inside their own 10 yard line, Zimbelman connected with Jacolby Maxwell on a 3rd and 12. Maxwell sprinted past the Green Knight defense for 92-yards and a 14-13 AU lead. The pass play set an AU record.
- At the end of an exciting first quarter, AU led 14-13.
- The second quarter saw AU score on all four of their possessions, starting with a 22-yard over the shoulder catch and score from Zimbelman to Brock Harner. After a SNC penalty, AU went for two and converted to lead 22-13.
- After a defensive stop, Zimbelman connected on a 15-yard score to Tyran Bailey and AU now led 29-13 with 9:21 left in the quarter.
- Two penalties on AU on the next SNC drive kept the Green Knights on the field. 10 plays and 75 yards saw SNC score but the extra point was blocked.
- The Spartan offense kept clicking on the next drive when Zimbelman capped off a 78 yard drive on 11 plays with a fourth down conversion. Colton Jewell scored from 17 yards out and AU led 36-19 late in the first half.
- The AU defense stopped Norbert on a fourth down attempt just outside AU territory to give the offense on last chance before the half.
- Zimbelman remained hot as he connected on five of seven attempts, capping the drive for the third time to Colton Jewell.
- Heading into halftime, AU led 43-19.
- The Spartans received the second-half kickoff and promptly marched 66 yards in six plays. Zimbelman connected with Maxwell for the second time on the day and his seventh overall. With just under 12 minutes left in the third quarter, AU led 50-19.
- SNC scored late in the third and AU led 50-26 after three quarters.
- As the Spartans eased off the gas, running out the clock, SNC scored twice in the fourth quarter.
- The Spartans would celebrate a season opening victory, winning 50-40.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS                                                     
- Gavin Zimbelman was 33-of-52 for 497 yards and seven touchdowns
- Nine Spartan receivers made catches, all having two or more.
- Jacolby Maxwell had five catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
- Colton Jewell had four catches for 41 yards and three touchdowns.
- Matt Evert had six catches for 88 yards.
- Casey Dycus had 13 tackles.
- Robert Stark had two sacks and three tackles for loss.
- Blake Martz had two sacks and five tackles.

RECORD SETTERS
- Quarterback Gavin Zimbelman set new AU single game records for pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.
- His long pass of 92 yards for a touchdown to Jacolby Maxwell is a record for both positions.
- Maxwell's 175 yards receiving is the sixth best all-time single game receiving performance.
- Three touchdown receptions from Colton Jewell ties a single game record.
- The 497 yards passing is a single game home record for a quarterback and team.
- The seven touchdown passes is a single game home record.

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Rushing:
 - Carries: Tyran Bailey (10)
 - Yards: Tyran Bailey (69)
Passing:
- Gavin Zimbelman (33-of-52 for 497 yards and seven touchdowns)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Matt Evert (6) and Jacolby Maxwell (5)
 - Yards:  Jacolby Maxwell (175)
 - Touchdowns: Colton Jewell (3) and Jacolby Maxwell (2)
Defense:
- Tackles: Casey Dycus (13) and Keion Adams (10)
- Sacks: Robert Stark and Blake Martz (2.0)
 
UP NEXT:
Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, September 14 when they travel to Elmhurst College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. in Elmhurst, Illinois.