Box Score
Box score
AURORA, Ill. - With its Northern Athletics
Conference title hopes on the line, Wisconsin Lutheran rallied from
a 14-0 deficit, but had its fourth quarter lead slip away as Aurora
University connected on a game-winning 23-yard field goal with four
seconds remaining to hand the Warriors a 24-21 loss Saturday
afternoon at Vago Field.
Only four first downs were earned in the first quarter as both
teams held each other in check in the opening frame. The first
score of the game came from a Warriors turnover on their first
possession in the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback Zach Shaw
(Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) was intercepted at the Aurora
44-yard line and was returned for a touchdown by AU's Mike
Langhurst.
Aurora drove the field on its next possession and took a 14-0
lead with a Jimmy Bevell touchdown pass. On the ensuing kickoff,
freshman Donavin Tucker (Brookfield, Wis./East) dashed for a
49-yard return to the Aurora 21-yard line. He was rewarded with a
three-yard TD rush to make it 14-7 in favor of the Spartans.
Wisconsin Lutheran would get one more possession in the first
half with 37 seconds remaining on its own 41-yard line. It only
took one play to tie the game at 14-14 as Shaw nailed sophomore
Josh Stodola (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) with a 59-yard touchdown pass
to tie the game at halftime.
A short punt by the Spartans gave the Warriors good field
position to begin the second half. Wisconsin Lutheran used eight
straight running plays to stuff the football in the end zone. Shaw
finished the drive with a QB sneak to put the Warriors in front
21-14. After that drive, the Spartans had the only other first down
of the quarter.
A couple of big pass plays put the Spartans within striking
distance. Spencer Adams tied the game with an 18-yard pass to Ryan
Mizgate with 6:28 remaining in the game. The next two possessions
for WLC resulted in turnovers and their last one proved costly. A
fumble put the Spartans on the Warriors 20-yard line with 2:25
remaining in the fourth quarter. Aurora worked the clock and the
ball to the Warriors one-yard line and kicked a game-winning
23-yard field goal with four seconds left.
The Warriors out-rushed the Spartans 171 yards to 65, but were
out-gained through the air 234 to 134. WLC turned the ball over
five times in the game, compared to twice for AU.
Shaw went 10-for-23 for 134 yards, one touchdown and four
interceptions. Stodola caught three passes for 86 yards and a
touchdown. Junior Jesse Muldrow (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin
Lutheran) ran effectively, rushing for 124 yards on 21
carries.
Senior Josh McCormick (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) led
the way defensively with 10 tackles. Senior Colin Makepeace (Cape
Canaveral, Fla./Cocoa Beach) and sophomore Ben Wilde (Elkhorn,
Wis./Burlington Catholic Central) each recorded interceptions, with
Makepeace also breaking up three passes. Senior Shem Biebert (Inver
Grove Heights, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) also recorded eight
tackles along with a sack.
Bevell completed 10-of-20 passes for 91 yards, a touchdown and
two interceptions. Adams also was 6-for-15 for 143 yards and a
touchdown. Mizgate led the receiving core with five catches and a
TD and Jordan Peterson brought down three catches for 102 yards.
Anthony Dillabough had a game-high 14 tackles and a forced
fumble.
Wisconsin Lutheran (6-3, 4-2 NAC) concludes its 2010 season next
Saturday, November 13, hosting Benedictine University (7-2, 6-0
NAC) in a 1 p.m. Parents' Day/Senior Day kickoff at Raabe
Stadium.
