Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - After surrendering a 10-point
fourth-quarter lead, Wisconsin Lutheran scored on its final drive
and blocked a field goal with 28 seconds remaining in the game to
secure a 17-14 comeback victory over Hope College on Saturday
afternoon at Raabe Stadium.
The odds were against Wisconsin Lutheran as it came into
Saturday's contest having lost each of the previous eight meetings
against the Flying Dutchman. The Warriors offense did their best to
reverse that trend as they stormed down the field and scored on
their very first possession of the game. Sophomore quarterback Zach
Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) completed a pair of passes to
Josh Stodola (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) on the drive, the latter a
25-yard touchdown strike for a 7-0 lead.
Near the end of the first quarter, Shaw hit junior Matt Lopata
(Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy) for a 44-yard pass which put Wisconsin
Lutheran on Hope's 18-yard line. Sophomore kicker Philip Chaltis
(Bradenton, Fla./Manatee) put WLC on top 10-0 after he nailed a
32-yard field goal.
Chaltis had an opportunity for another field goal midway through
the second quarter, this one from 33 yards out, but his kick struck
the left upright. The score would remain 10-0 in favor of the
Warriors as the first half expired.
Both teams had trouble getting anything going in the third
quarter. Wisconsin Lutheran forced the Flying Dutchmen to punt
three times and senior Nate Rosenberg (Hortonville, Wis./Fox Valley
Lutheran) forced a fumble which was recovered by senior Josh
McCormick (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran). WLC was forced to
punt four times in the third period.
As the fourth quarter began, the Flying Dutchmen were in the
midst of their longest drive of the game. With possession on the
Warriors' one-yard line, Chris Feys ended the shutout bid with a
rush up the middle to cut Wisconsin Lutheran's lead to three
points, 10-7.
After forcing WLC to punt, Hope got the football back with 10:19
remaining in the game. The Flying Dutchmen marched down to WLC's
27-yard line, but a big sack by senior Brad Marshall (Cudahy,
Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) forced Hope into a fourth-and-long
situation. Needing 16 yards for a first down, Feys found Jared
Hudson streaking down the sideline for a 33-yard gain, putting Hope
on the Warriors' two-yard line. Tim Elzinga ran the ball into the
end zone and all of a sudden, WLC found itself down by three with
6:04 left on the clock.
Following a pair of first downs on WLC's next posession, junior
running back Jesse Muldrow (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran)
exploded for a 49-yard touchdown scamper to put the Warriors back
on top, 17-14.
The Flying Dutchman had plenty of time on the clock (2:34) to
remain undefeated against their former MIAA rivals, as their drive
began on their own 40 yard-line. HC earned three first downs,
including one on fourth down, and reached field goal range with 28
seconds remaining. Kicker Andrew Schofield attempted the game-tying
32-yard field goal, but senior Darnell Williams (Campbellsport,
Wis./Campbellsport) blocked the kick, giving the Warriors a
dramatic home-opening win.
Muldrow rushed for 113 yards on 15 attempts and scored the
game-winning touchdown. Shaw completed 13 of 25 passes for 146
yards and a touchdown. Stodola led the receiving corps with three
catches for 60 yards and a score.
Wisconsin Lutheran's defense allowed 294 yards of offense and
forced four turnovers. Senior Alex Allister (Lake Mills,
Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) led the defense with eight tackles and two
pass break-ups. Senior Kaylan Gaines (Lake Worth, Fla./American
Heritage) had six tackles and a sack. McCormick had two fumble
recoveries and senior Shaun Stannard (Merton, Wis./Wisconsin
Lutheran) recorded three tackles, a forced fumble and a sack.
Tim Elzinga led the Flying Dutchmen (0-2) on the ground with 78
yards on 17 carries. Feys finished 21-of-46 through the air and was
intercepted twice. Jared Hudson pulled down eight catches for 95
yards and Kyle Warren led the Hope defense with a game-high 11
tackles.
Wisconsin Lutheran (1-1) remains home at Raabe Stadium next
Saturday when it hosts the University of Minnesota-Morris in its
final non-conference contest of the season. Kickoff between the
Warriors and Cougars is scheduled for 1 p.m.
