The Aurora University Spartan football team had a lot to celebrate on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Athletic Park. The 2022 senior class was recognized during a pregame ceremony, the AU defense forced six turnovers in a shutout performance while the offense tuned up with a 42 point performance on the way to a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship clinching victory over the Falcons of Concordia University Wisconsin.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 42, Concordia University Wisconsin 0
LOCATION: Spartan Athletic Park - Montgomery, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 9-1 overall (8-0 NACC); Concordia University Wisconsin 8-2 overall (6-2 NACC)


- AU improved their unbeaten streak in the NACC to 30 games.
- The Spartans won their fourth straight NACC title and 10th conference championship in program history (first conference season in 1998).
- The 2022 NCAA Division III football playoffs will be the seventh appearance for AU.
- The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship won by the Spartan football team is the 40th for an AU athletic program in the last five-plus seasons.


- The Spartan defense set the tone for the day on the opening series of the game. On the third play, Marcellus Romious intercepted the first of what would be five AU picks on the afternoon.
- The AU offense took six plays to go 35 yards for the score and led 7-0. Josh Swanson found Cameron Moore for the touchdown pass and catch.
- On the next series it was AU's Ernesto Ramirez with an interception but the Spartan offense stalled and was forced to punt.
- For the third straight series the Spartans intercepted a Falcon pass. Giancarlo Margarejo got this one but on his return he fumbled giving CUW the ball back at midfield.
- But once again the defense allowed nothing and forced a CW punt.
- With the Spartans driving and first and goal from the CUW 6, the first quarter clock expired with AU leading 7-0.
- On the third play of the second quarter after a pass interference in the end zone call, Jhe''Quay Chretin scored from two-yards out and AU led 14-0.
- CUW looked like they had some offensive momentum going, completing a deep pass into AU territory on their first play. But the Spartan defense rose up and forced a fumble and recovered on the next play, negating any Falcon chance of reaching pay dirt.
- Each team punted with the Spartans striking on their next possession. Pass plays of 24 yards to Trey Madsen and Cameron Moore scoring from 35-yards out led AU to a 21-0 lead.
- For the eighth consecutive possession, CUW had a turnover or punted, this time punting to the Spartans.
- AU went eight pass plays for 69 yards capping off with Swanson to Ty Pruett. Late in the second, AU led 28-0.
- After yet another CUW punt, the Spartans looked poised to add to their lead but an interception thwarted the drive.
- Cole Tandy sacked the Falcon quarterback to end the half and AU led 28-0.
- The Spartans received to start the second-half but some would be trickery from CUW did not go off as planned. CUW tried an onside kick but the ball went just nine-yards allowing the Spartans to start the drive at the CUW 44.
- Back to back completions from Swanson to Madsen for 23 and 18 yards after a three yard Chretin carry saw AU lead 35-0 just 1:10 into the second-half.
- The AU turnover machine struck again on the first CUW drive. Margarejo picked off his second ball of the day and after a 31 yard return, the Spartans had the ball back near midfield.
- AU's offense turned the ball over on downs deep in Falcon territory and the defense made the Falcons punt the ball back to the Spartans once again.
- Josh Swanson went five of six passing on the drive which resulted in his Division III leading 43rd touchdown pass of the year to James Mautino. AU led 42-0.
- AU led 42-0 after three quarters.
- In the fourth, the AU defense continued to dominate the Falcons and picked up the fifth interception of the afternoon. Deuce Moore got in on the action.
- When the clock hit 0:00, AU celebrated the 42-0 win and the 2022 NACC Football Title.


Rushing:
 - Carries: Jhe'Quay Chretin (18) 
 - Yards: Jhe'Quay Chretin (114)
 - Touchdowns: Jhe'Quay Chretin (1)
Passing:
- Josh Swanson (24-of-41 for 333 yards with five touchdowns)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Cameron Moore and Trey Madsen (11) 
 - Yards: Trey Madsen (101) and Cameron Moore (94) 
 - Touchdowns: Cameron Moore (2)
Defense:
- Tackles: Ben Slatcoff (7), Marcellus Romious, Otis Watts and Jaylen Jordan (4)
- Sacks: Marcellus Romious and Cole Tandy (1.0)
- Interceptions: Giancarlo Margarejo (2), Marcellus Romious, Ernesto Ramirez, and Deuce Moore (1)