The Aurora University Spartan football team had to come from behind to secure a 39-28 victory at Concordia University Wisconsin on Saturday with the win locking up an unbeaten and outright Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship.


FINAL SCORE:  Aurora University 39, Concordia University Wisconsin 28
LOCATION: Mequon, Wisconsin
RECORDS: Aurora University 8-2 overall and 8-0 NACC; Concordia University Wisconsin 6-4 overall and 4-4 NACC

 
- Wide receiver Trey Madsen set an individual game record for catches with 19. The previous record of 13 by Jacolby Maxwell was set in 2019.


- The Spartans took the opening kickoff and Cameron Moore returned it 51 yards but would fumble on the play with CUW recovering.
- The defense got the ball back with a turnover on downs to set up the offense.
- On the following drive, Gavin Zimbelman was six of seven passing for 66 yards and hit Moore on a two-yard score. AU led 7-0.
- AU and CUW traded interceptions on the following drives with Blake Martz picking of the ball for AU, returning it 12 yards to the CUW 28.
- On the second play, Zimbelman hit Brock Harner on a 20-yard score and AU led 14-0.
- The first play of the second quarter was a Sean Reyna interception. He brought the ball out of the end zone 25 yards.
- CUW followed with a long drive for a score and after a Zimbelman interception, tied the game up 14-14 late in the second.
- The Spartan offense responded back with a 68 yard drive and Zimbelman connecting with Trey Madsen from 13 yards for the score.
- The game would be tied 21-21 going to halftime with CUW scoring with 20 seconds left in the opening half.
- On their first two possessions of the third quarter the Spartans had the ball in the red zone but turned over on downs to keep the game 21-21.
- CUW got a long touchdown score and took a 28-21 lead with 7:33 left in the third quarter.
- AU would trail 28-21 going to the fourth.
- The first play of the fourth, Zimbelman hit Madsen on a 17-yard scoring pass but the two-point conversion was no good and AU trailed 28-27.
- The AU defense forced a punt and the offense remained in high gear on the next drive.
- Taking 5:09 off the clock and going 89 yards, Zimbelman connected again with Madsen from 30 yards. The touchdown was the fifth catch of the drive for Madsen.
- The defense again forced a punt, getting after the CUW quarterback with two sacks.
- Another AU score was on the menu with the offense milking the clock down over three minutes while going 32 yards. Zimbelman to Harner for the second time on the day gave AU a 39-28 lead.
- The defense again took out the Falcons with two sacks and allowing the Spartan offense to get in the victory formation.
- AU was victorious 39-28.
 

Rushing:
 - Carries: Tyran Bailey and Jhequay Chretin (17)
 - Yards: Jhequay Chretin (95) and Tyran Bailey (85)
Passing:
- Gavin Zimbelman (30-of-47 for 284 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Trey Madsen (19)
 - Yards:  Trey Madsen (164) 
 - Touchdowns: Trey Madsen (3) and Brock Harner (2)
Defense:
- Tackles: Christian Bower (8) and Marcellus Romious (7)
- Interceptions: Sean Reyna, Blake Martz and Quintarious Davis (1)
- Forced Fumbles: Christian Bower (1)
- Sacks: Christian Bower (2)