Football Falls To Hope In MIAA-NACC Challenge

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College football team fell to the visiting Hope Flying Dutchmen 53-12 Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Raabe Stadium as part of the MIAA-NACC Challenge Series. The visitors rushed for 393 yards and scored six times on the ground in the victory over the Warriors.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Hope 53, Wisconsin Lutheran 12
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (0-3), Hope (2-1)
• Location: Raabe Stadium, Milwaukee, Wis.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Warriors started out strong when Isaiah Butler (Ixonia, Wis.) scampered for a seven-yard touchdown run, giving Wisconsin Lutheran the early 6-0 advantage midway through the first quarter. The opening scoring drive went 15 plays for 65 yards and lasted over seven minutes.
• The Flying Dutchmen responded with 27 unanswered points on three first-half rushing touchdowns by Mike Miklusicak, and a punt block which was returned for a score.
• The Warriors found the end zone again with 3:50 to play in the first half when Jake Anderson (Oak Creek, Wis.) connected with Javion Morgan (Naples, Fla.) for a 14-yard pitch and catch. It was Morgan's first touchdown catch of the season.
• Hope kept the Warriors out of the end zone for the remainder of the contest, while scoring 26 unanswered points over the final three quarters. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Warriors recorded 245 yards of total offense, 196 of which came in the air.
• Anderson completed 18-of-33 passing attempts for 178 yards. He also totaled 45 yards on the ground behind 10 carries.
• Chrystyan Woyak (Juneau, Wis.) led the receiving corps with five catches for 74 yards, while Morgan caught four passes for 37 yards and a touchdown.
• Ty Castillo (San Antonio, Texas) led the defense with nine tackles, while Mat Guedel (Belvidere, Ill.) and Jody Styczynski (Coleman, Wis.) had seven tackles apiece.

FOR THE FOES

• The Flying Dutchmen racked up 508 yards of total offense, 393 of which came on the ground.
• Miklusicak rushed for 146 yards and three scores, while Mason Opple rushed for 93 yards and a score.
• Defensively, Hope forced two turnovers, blocked a punt, recorded two sacks, and were led by Tate Knapp's six tackles.
• Hope won its third straight game over the Warriors. It was the 12th meeting all-time between both teams.

UP NEXT

• The Warriors have next week off before opening NACC play vs. Rockford (1-2) Saturday, September 29 for a 1:00 p.m. Homecoming kickoff at Raabe Stadium. The Regents were defeated Saturday by Kalamazoo, 23-7. Live stats and video will be available for the game at WLCSports.com. For more information on WLC's Homecoming festivities, click here.