Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College
football team took a 7-3 lead into the fourth quarter, but a late
turnover led to a Mayville State University touchdown and a 9-7
comeback win for the Comets at Raabe Stadium on Saturday
afternoon.
Both teams struggled offensively, but Mayville State dominated
the time of possession. Turnovers also haunted Wisconsin Lutheran
as the Comets recovered three of WLC's four fumbles on the
afternoon.
In the first quarter, sophomore quarterback Josh McCormick (Fond
du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) dumped a pass off to Larry Hairl
(Chicago, Ill./Clemente) who ran the ball for 27 yards to the
Mayville State 23 yard line. Looking for a receiver in the end zone
on the ensuing play, McCormick was hit, fumbled and the Comets
recovered.
The Warriors' defense looked strong in the first half, allowing
just a field goal with 1:03 left in the second quarter.
The score stayed 3-0 until late in the third quarter when
McCormick capped-off a 65-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown pass
to Dominique Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis./Vincent), who made a splendid
over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone to take a 7-3
advantage.
It appeared as if the Warriors were on their way to a victory in
their 2008 home opener. The Comets were threatening to score on the
Warriors' 15 yard line when Alex Allister (Lake Mills,
Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) recovered a Mayville State fumble. The
Warriors' offense moved the ball and removed some time from the
clock, but a fumble by McCormick put the Comets in good field
position with just under seven minutes remaining.
Mayville State found itself in the end zone three plays later,
but missed the point-after attempt to regain the lead, 9-7. With
over five minutes left in the game, the Warriors had yet another
chance. A 17-yard pass from McCormick to Johnson put WLC in
Mayville State territory, but the Warriors were unable to put
anything else together and were forced to punt. Mayville State
moved the football inside the Wisconsin Lutheran five yard line and
ran out the clock.
Johnson caught five passes for 105 yards to pace WLC
offensively. McCormick finished 15-for-27 through the air for 183
yards and one touchdown. Wisconsin Lutheran compiled 215 yards of
total offense, compared to 262 yards of offense for Mayville
State.
Defensively, Kaylan Gaines (Lake Worth, Fla./American Heritage)
finished tied with a game-high eight tackles for WLC.
Wisconsin Lutheran (0-2) hosts the College of St. Scholastica
next Saturday at 1 p.m. in its annual Homecoming game at Raabe
Stadium.
