Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - Several big offensive plays and
sophomore Eric Zeitler's (Waukesha, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran)
school-record 21 tackles helped lead Wisconsin Lutheran College to
its third straight victory, a 27-14 win over Aurora University
Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Raabe Stadium.
After forcing an Aurora (3-6, 2-4 NAC) punt, the Warriors struck
first on their opening drive when junior quarterback Zach Shaw
(Gurnee, Ill. Warren Township) found junior wide receiver Josh
Stodola (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) for a 26-yard touchdown to give WLC
an early 7-0 lead.
That would account for all the scoring in the opening half as
Zeitler and the stingy Warriors defense held the Spartans scoreless
in the first 30 minutes. The defense held Aurora to just 95 yards
in the first half. The defense also forced a fumble in the opening
half that was recovered by senior Jared Cardarelle (West Bend,
Wis./Living Word Lutheran).
The Warriors offense then took center stage in the third quarter
as they had all three drives result in touchdowns. Nothing could
stop the forest green and white in the third as the Warriors racked
up 261 yards on just 10 plays during the 20-point outburst.
The opening drive of the second half saw senior running back
Jesse Muldrow (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) take the first
hand-off 24 yards before Shaw connected with Stodola on a
play-action pass for a 70-yard touchdown. The extra point was
blocked to keep the WLC lead at 13-0.
Aurora would answer with a 5-play, 44-yard drive of its own when
Victor Balundis found Evan Hackbarth for a 25-yard touchdown to cut
the lead to six points at 13-7.
The Warriors had an answer, however, as this time Shaw found
junior tight end John Klein (West Allis, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran)
for a 62-yard touchdown to make the score 19-7. After the
three-play, 73-yard drive, Wisconsin Lutheran went for two and
converted with Shaw hooking up with Stodola for the 21-7 lead.
After a fourth-down stop by the defense, the WLC offense went to
work again this time going 94 yards in five plays capped off by a
Michael Reeves (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) one-yard
touchdown run to put the Warriors on top 27-7. A 65-yard run on
third and one by Reeves highlighted the drive that also included a
19-yard pass from Shaw to Muldrow.
That would be all the scoring until the 3:19 mark of the fourth
quarter, when Spartans running back Brandon Trujillo threw a
22-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Brayboy to make the score
27-14.
Aurora then recovered the onside kick but the Warriors defense
provided one last stop and walked away with the 27-14 victory.
Shaw finished the day completing 8-of-14 passes for 260 yards
and three touchdowns. He averaged 32.5 yards per pass completion as
the big play was working for the Warriors all afternoon. Stodola
finished with two catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns to lead
the receiving corps. Senior Matt Lopata (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy) added
three catches for 53 yards, while Klein had the 62-yard
touchdown.
Muldrow led the ground attack with 76 yards on 16 carries, while
Reeves ran for 73 yards on just four carries, highlighted by his
big 65-yard run in the third quarter.
The Spartans were led offensively by Trujillo as he ran the ball
54 times in the contest for 167 yards and also added the touchdown
pass on his only pass attempt of the game.
Defensively, Zeitler broke Phil Hahm's previous record of 19
tackles in a game as he finished with 21 tackles, seven being solo
and one recorded for a loss. The Warriors also had two
interceptions in the game as Jordan Rabe (Oshkosh, Wis./West) and
Mitch Ronacher (Safety Harbor, Fla./Countryside) each picked off
passes.
Derek DiNino led Aurora on the defensive side of the ball,
finishing with eight tackles, including half sack and one tackle
for a loss.
The Warriors (5-4, 4-2 NAC) will look for the program's first
four-game winning streak next week when they travel to
conference-leading Benedictine University (7-2, 6-0 NAC). The
Eagles, who bring a 16-game conference winning streak into next
week's contest, and WLC will kick-off at 1 p.m. at the Village of
Lisle-Benedictine Sports Complex.
