The Aurora University Spartan football team played host to the first NCAA Division III playoff game at AU in program history on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Athletic Park. The AU defense was stifling all afternoon as the Spartans prevailed 20-7 over the Kohawks of Coe College.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 20, Coe College 7
LOCATION: Spartan Athletic Park - Montgomery, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 11-0 overall (8-0 NACC); Coe College 9-2 overall (7-1 ARC)
ATTENDANCE: 2,189


- AU hosted the first home football NCAA playoff game in program history.
- The Spartans defense did not surrender a point in the game and forced seven turnovers.


- The visiting Kohawks received after AU won the toss and deferred. 
- The AU defense forced a punt and the offense went to work for the first starting series of the year for quarterback Tyler Adkins.
- Adkins went five-of-six passing for 58 yards on the opening drive along with a 10-yard rush.
- On the 11th play, Adkins found Ty Pruett wide open in the end zone from five yards out and AU led 7-0.
- In a theme of the day, the Spartan defense forced a Coe punt to set up the Spartans on offense.
- The offense drove 59 yards with a 45-yard pass completion from Adkins to Pruett.
- But on third and goal, Adkins was sacked and fumbled to give the visitors the ball back.
- AU had the ball again on offense when the first quarter came to an end with the Spartans leading 7-0.
- A Coe punt pinned the Spartans at their own three yard line.
- Jhe'Quay Chretin and Adkins led the offense on a 12-play 97-yard drive that finished with a one-yard Chretin touchdown plunge and AU led 14-0.
- After a Coe turnover on the downs, the Spartans drove once again into field goal range but a 35-yard attempt went wide left to keep the score 14-0 Spartans.
- On the next Coe drive, Conner Nordmeyer forced a fumble that Ernesto Ramirez pounced on at midfield.
- AU would take the 14-0 lead to halftime.
- The Spartans received to start the second-half and on the third play, Ty Pruett was stripped of the ball which was recovered by the Kohawks. The turnover was a sign of things to come in the second-half.
- On the very next play, AU defensive back Aeneaus Gray stepped in from of a Coe pass giving the Spartans the ball back at the Coe 27.
- The Spartans would add on three points with a 29-yard field goal from Hylek and now led 17-0.
- The AU defense forced another turnover on the next series as Joel Coston forced a fumble and recovered it.
- After a pair of running plays from Jon Alstott and James Mautino, Adkins appeared to hit an open target in the end zone but a Coe defender stepped in front of the pass at the goaline and returned it 100-yards for a touchdown. Early in the third quarter, AU led 17-7.
- On the next two series, one for each team, Coe intercepted an Adkins pass but Gray responded with his second interception of the day.
- AU and Coe would both punt on each of their next two possessions as the game headed to the fourth quarter.
- Following two more punts as the Spartan and Kohawk defenses continued to tighten on the offenses, the turnovers began again.
- Christian Bower forced a fumble on the Coe running back with Jaylen Jordan jumping on the loose ball.
- After an AU punt, the AU defense generated their third interception of the day. Ernesto Ramirez stepped in front of a Kohawk pass at midfield to again thart any Kohawk rally.
- The Spartans were forced to punt with Kevin Carden-Landa's punt being muffed by the Kohawk return man and Ty Hopp recovering for AU at the Coe 21.
- AU would settle for a field goal from 33-yards from Hylek and a 20-7 lead midway through the fourth.
- The teams traded turnover on downs with the Spartan defense forcing two from Coe.
- Three AU rushing plays and a 43-yard punt from Carden-Landa as time expired rounded out the game.
- The Spartans were victorious 20-7 in their first home playoff game in program history.


Rushing:
 - Carries: Jhe'Quay Chretin (32) 
 - Yards: Jhe'Quay Chretin (70)
- Touchdown: Jhe'Quay Chretin (1)
Passing:
- Tyler Adkins (26-of-40 for 314 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions)
Receiving:
 - Catches: James Mautino (9) and Michael Boland (5) 
 - Yards: Michael Boland (99) and Ty Pruett (85)
 - Touchdowns: Ty Pruett (1)
Defense:
- Tackles: Christian Bower (9), Marcellus Romious and Ziah Smith (6)
- Sacks: Isaiah Conteh (1.0), Jaylen Jordan and Joel Coston (0.5)
- Interceptions: Aeneaus Gray (2) and Ernesto Ramirez (1)
- Fumble Recoveries: Jaylen Jordan, Ty Hopp, Joel Coston and Ernesto Ramirez (1)
- Forced Fumbles: Joel Coston, Conner Nordmeyer and Christian Bower (1)
Special Teams:
- Field Goals: Matthew Hylek (2 - 29, 33)