Warriors Send Off Seniors With Season Finale Win Over CUC

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College celebrated Senior Day with a 28-21 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over Concordia Chicago on Saturday in its final game of the 2023 season at Raabe Stadium.

The Warriors (4-6, 4-4 NACC), who honored their 13 seniors during a pregame ceremony, jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead over the Cougars (1-8, 1-6 NACC) and never trailed.

WLC capped a nine-play, 65-yard opening drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Bryce Barbian (Cudahy, Wis.) to sophomore Jamil Gordon (San Marcos, Texas). Following a defensive stop, Barbian connected with Gordon again who sprinted down the sideline for a 76-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 7:35 left in the first quarter. Wisconsin Lutheran kept CUC off the scoreboard in the opening quarter after senior Carter Schneider (Jefferson, Wis.) blocked a 26-yard field goal try at the 1:39 mark.

Concordia Chicago found the end zone within the first minute of the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run, the only points of the quarter for either team.

The Warriors started the second half by stopping the Cougars on downs. Six plays later, Barbian found freshman Landon Neeley (Frisco, Texas) on fourth-and-goal from the 25-yard line for a 21-7 advantage. The Cougars scored on a six-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter to trail by seven after three.

Junior Savon Goodwin (New Orleans, La.) blocked a CUC punt less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, and WLC capitalized shortly after. Senior Mike DuPree (Milwaukee, Wis.) punched it into the end zone from seven yards out just four plays later for a 14-point lead.

Concordia Chicago climbed within a touchdown with six minutes left on a three-yard touchdown run, and then blocked a punt on Wisconsin Lutheran's next possession to setup inside the red zone with 2:50 on the clock. The Warriors' defense forced consecutive negative plays and a pair of incomplete passes to turn the Cougars over on downs and align the victory formation.

Barbian completed 18 of 28 passing attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns for WLC, which outgained CUC 427-247. DuPree and senior Trevion Green (Miami, Fla.) rushed for 63 and 50 yards, respectively. Gordon grabbed five passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns, while Neeley had five catches for 66 yards and a score. 

Sophomore Nathan Nevad (Merritt Island, Fla.) and senior Brandon Antczak (Mukwonago, Wis.) tied for a team-high seven tackles. Seniors Kyle Kubacki (St. Francis, Wis.) and Alan Tavarez (Brown Deer, Wis.) combined for five of the team's nine tackles for loss, while adding a sack apiece.

Wisconsin Lutheran, which has a week 11 bye, finishes its 2023 season 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the NACC.