Box Score
Box score
ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Wisconsin Lutheran College
football team racked up 519 yards of total offense, 263 of those on
the ground en route to a 49-28 Northern Athletics Conference win
over Rockford College Saturday at Sam Greeley Field.
Sophomore running back Donavin Tucker (Brookfield, Wis./East)
ran for a school-record 220 yards in the win, breaking the previous
record of 217 yards set by Matt Kehl in 2005. Tucker also scored a
touchdown, and averaged 8.5 yards per carry.
The Warriors built their lead by throwing the football, however,
as they struck first with 6:33 left in the opening quarter when
quarterback Zach Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) found tight
end Kinte Collins (Chicago, Ill./Clemente) for a 31-yard touchdown
to give WLC a 7-0 lead. Shaw completed both of his passes on the
three-play, 62-yard drive.
Wisconsin Lutheran then built its lead to 14-0 when Michael
Reeves (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) punched it in from
one yard out with 11:56 remaining in the first half. Rockford cut
the lead to 14-7, but the Warriors scored with just 12 seconds left
in the half when Shaw connected with Matt Lopata (Cudahy,
Wis./Cudahy), giving the forest green and white a 21-7 halftime
lead.
The Warriors kept that momentum from the end of the first half
as they gained 35 yards in six plays to build their lead to 21
points. Shaw scampered in from 11 yards out, his first of three
second-half rushing touchdowns.
Rockford used an interception return for a score to bring the
lead back to 14, but WLC responded with another Shaw rushing
touchdown, this time from four yards out, to put the margin back to
21 points at 35-14.
The Regents would not go away, however, as they scored twice in
the opening 4:40 of the fourth quarter, cutting the Warriors lead
to just seven points with 10:20 remaining in the game.
Wisconsin Lutheran had the answer as it marched 55 yards in
seven plays to build the lead back up to 14 points with 6:42 to
play. Tucker was the key to the drive, gaining 34 yards on four
carries including his nine-yard touchdown rush.
A Tyler Schoen (Marion, Wis./Marion) interception gave the
forest green and white the ball back late in the fourth quarter and
Tucker and the Warriors offense went back to work, putting the game
away with a six-play, 84-yard touchdown drive. Tucker ran five
times for 83 yards on the drive and Shaw capped it off with his
third rushing touchdown of the contest.
Shaw finished with five total touchdowns, two through the air
and three on the ground. He was 19-of-28 through the air, throwing
for 256 yards. Collins hauled in six passes for a team-high 120
yards, while Lopata and Josh Stodola (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) each
had 61 receiving yards. The Regents Anastacio Zamba led all
receivers with nine catches and 150 yards.
The Warriors defense forced three turnovers as Schoen and Jason
Kramer (Oconomowoc, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and Eric Zeitler
(Waukesha, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) each recorded
interceptions.
The defense provided much pressure, recording four sacks on the
day. Jake Zautner (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie), Sam Boyd (Delray
Beach, Fla./American Heritage) and Josh Paape (Fredonia,
Wis./Ozaukee) each had a sack, while Zeitler and Andrew Kamenz
(West Allis, Wis./Nathan Hale) each notched half a sack. Kramer led
the defense with nine tackles.
Wisconsin Lutheran (3-4, 2-2 NAC) will return home next weekend
when it hosts rival Concordia University Wisconsin (3-4, 3-1 NAC)
in the annual Lutheran Bowl game. Kickoff at Raabe Stadium is set
for 1 p.m.
