The historical run for the Aurora University Spartan football program continued on Saturday afternoon in Alma, Michigan when the Spartan football team defeated the Alma College Scots 48-26 in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoff. The Spartans move on to the Division III quarterfinals next Saturday. 


FINAL SCORE:  rv Aurora University 48 - #23 Alma College 26
LOCATION: Alma, Michigan - Bahkle Field
RECORDS: #rv Aurora University 11-1 overall; #23 Alma College 11-1 overall
GAME TIME: 2:40


- The Spartans took the opening kickoff and were forced to punt but Spartan Kevin Landa pinned Alma down at the five yard line.
- The AU defense allowed no yards and a punt back gave the Spartan offense the ball back at the Alma 43-yard line.
- Three plays later, Jhe'Quay Chretin scored from 18-yards out and AU led 7-0.
- Alma responded immediately with a 65-yard touchdown pass and run. The pat was missed and AU led 7-6.
- The teams traded punts and an interception for Alma for the rest of the first quarter. After one quarter, AU led 7-6.
- AU would have four offensive possessions in the second quarter and scored on each.
- The first drive ended with Josh Swanson hitting James Mautino on a 24-yard scoring strike and a 14-6 AU lead.
- On the next drive the AU defense stopped a fourth down attempt deep in Alma territory.
- A pair of runs from 13 and 18 yards from Chretin set up a three-yard strike from Swanson to Jackson Johnson. AU led 21-6 with 6:54 left in the second.
- The defense got the ball back immediately for the offense with a three and out.
- The offense then marched 10 plays and 65 yards in 3:44. Chretin found pay dirt on the 10th play and AU led 28-6 with 2:10 on the clock.
- Austin Wielgosz and the kick coverage team pinned Alma deep in their own territory and 21 seconds later, the AU offense had the ball again with time to score.
- The Alma punt went out of bounds at the Alma 35.
- Five plays later, Swanson found Cameron Moore in the end zone from 17-yards out. The pat was missed but AU led 34-6.
- The Spartans took the 34-6 to the halftime break.
- Alma took the second-half kickoff but the Spartan defense began the third quarter where they left off the first-half, forcing an Alma punt.
- A Spartan turnover on a fumble gave Alma some early life but the defense answered with their second fourth down stop of the day.
- For a second time on the day, the offense went on a 10-play drive that would result in a score. The Spartans held the ball for 4:39 with Josh Swanson running in from eight yards out, diving for the pylon and scoring. With 3:34 left in the third, AU led 41-6.
- After an Alma touchdown made the score 41-12 AU, the Spartan offense went to work again.
- A 12 play drive ended with Swanson finding a wide open Trey Madsen in the end zone. His 17th touchdown reception of the season gave AU a 48-12 lead.
- Alma scored two touchdowns around an AU punt and with six minutes to play, AU led 48-26.
- The ensuing kickoff was an onside attempt by Alma which they recovered. 
- Spartan Ben Slatcoff put the Alma rally to an end though when he intercepted his six pass and the 27th for AU on the season.
- The offense ran the ball with Ta'vion Geanes and Jhe'Quay Chretin nine times for 42 yards and Josh Swanson took three knees in the VICTORY formation.
- AU defeated Alma 48-26.
 

Rushing:
 - Carries: Jhe'Quay Chretin (38)
 - Yards: Jhe'Quay Chretin (225)
- Touchdowns: Jhe'Quay Chretin (2) and Josh Swanson (1)
Passing:
- Josh Swanson (22-of-37 for 284 yards, four touchdowns and one interception)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Trey Madsen and Cameron Moore (5)
 - Yards: Trey Madsen (82) and Tyler Duncan (57)
 - Touchdowns: Trey Madsen, Cameron Moore, James Mautino and Jackson Johnson (1)
Defense:
- Tackles: Connor Nordmeyer (14), Marcellus Romious and Cason Burress (7)
- Sacks: Jaylen Jordan (1)
- Interception: Ben Slatcoff (1)