The Aurora University celebrated Homecoming 2024 as the Spartan football team dominated the Concordia University Chicago Cougars on the field, winning 72-6. The standing room only crowd at Vago Field on the campus of AU saw the Spartans put up 541 yards of offense while the defense held Concordia Chicago to 93 total yards an average of 1.8 yards per play.


FINAL SCORE: #22 Aurora University 72, Concordia University Chicago 6
LOCATION: Vago Field - Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 3-1 overall and 2-0 NACC; Concordia University Chicago 1-3 overall and 0-2 NACC
GAME TIME: 2:38
ATTENDANCE: 2,024


- Both teams were forced to punt on their opening possessions, for AU that be the only time Kevin Carden-Landa was called upon, while the CUC punter would get a workout on the afternoon.
- On their second possession, AU's Zackery Russell dashed 29 yards in three consecutive carries after the VCUC punt netted just 10-yards.
- On the fourth play, Tyler Adkins hit a wide open Robert Cooper in the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
- Russell would score a two-yard touchdown on the next AU drive to put AU ahead 14-0.
- After one quarter, the AU defense allowed minus-12 yards offense to CUC and led 14-0.
- On the second play of the second quarter, Adkins hit Trey Urwiler on a two-yard touchdown pass and the Spartans led 21-0.
- CUC's offense showed some life on the next drive but Andrew Nordland intercepted a pass and returned it deep into CUC territory to set up the offense.
- A few plays later, Adkins hit a Cole Jackson with a highlight diving catch and AU led 28-0.
- The visitors ended the Spartan defense scoreless streak with a long touchdown pass but AU still led 28-6.
- The Spartan offense remained locked in, scoring again in five plays with Adkins finding a wide open Avron Carter over the middle. Carter dashed 34 yards to the end zone for a 35-6 lead.
- AU headed to halftime leading 35-6.
- The third quarter saw AU score on all three of their possessions while the defense locked in and allowed just 23 yards in the 15 minutes of action.
- Adkins hit Steven Gonzalez (37-yards) and Ty Pruett (13-yards) while Ta'vioan Geanes scored from three-yards out.
- AU led 56-6 after three quarters of action.
- The second-half offense remained locked in as AU scored on two of the three possessions in the fourth quarter with the last possession ending with kneel downs.
- Sterling Williams, Jr got in on the action with a 19-yard scoring run early in the fourth.
- The following AU possession saw Williams take a fourth-down hand-off and when he was slowed, the ball popped loose and right into the arms of Anthony Salinas. Salinas took off and scored from 10-yards out and AU now led 70-6.
- The Carden-Landa kickoff pinned CUC at their own 14-yard line and when the snap went away from the quarterback, Hayden Hourany tracked him down in the end zone for a safety.
- AU led 72-6.
- The Spartans ran off the final 4:37 of the game with the final two plays being kneel downs and AU won 72-6.


Rushing:
 - Carries: Zackery Russell (11)
 - Yards: Zackery Russell (106)
- Touchdowns: Zackery Russell, Ta'vion Geanes, Sterling Williams, Jr and Anthony Salinas (1)
Passing:
- Tyler Adkins (18-23-0 for 227 yards and six touchdowns)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Trey Urwiler (8)
 - Yards: Trey Urwiler (60)
 - Touchdowns: Avron Carter, Cole Jackson, Steven Gonzalez, Robert Cooper, Trey Urwiler and Ty Pruett (1)
Defense:
- Tackles: Jaylen Jordan (8)
- Sacks: JP Chaney and Jaylen Jordan (2.0)
- Interceptions:  Andrew Nordland (1)
- Safety: Hayden Hourany (1)
- Forced Fumble: Andrew Nordland (1)
- Fumble Recovery: Sean Gillespie (1)
Spacial Teams:
- PATs: Cooper Winslow (10-of-10)
 

Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, October 5 when they travel to Wisconsin Lutheran College. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Vago Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.