WAUWATOSA, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College bounced back in a big way on Saturday, defeating Concordia Chicago 28-6 at Raabe Stadium on Heroes Day for its first win of the season. The Warriors built a 21-point halftime lead and added a defensive score on their way to their 11th win in the last 12 meetings against the Cougars.
WLC (1-3, 1-1 NACC) struck first late in the opening quarter when sophomore
Liam Heiges (Appleton, Wis.) capped a 37-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run at the 4:04 mark. On the first play of the second quarter, Wisconsin Lutheran doubled its lead when senior quarterback
Nate Griffeth (Brighton, Colo.) connected with junior running back
Tywin McKinney (Milwaukee, Wis.) for a 63-yard touchdown strike, followed by a successful two-point conversion pass to senior
Keith Johnson (Amarillo, Texas). The Warriors extended their advantage just before halftime as Heiges punched in his second score of the day from three yards out, sending the hosts into the break with a 21-0 lead.
WLC's defense put the game out of reach late in the third quarter when graduate
Nathan Nevad (Merritt Island, Fla.) intercepted a CUC pass and returned it eight yards for a touchdown, pushing the margin to 28-0. Concordia Chicago avoided the shutout with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter as Ja'Shawn Hall hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jakob Redmond, but the extra point attempt was blocked.
Griffeth led Wisconsin Lutheran's offense with 107 passing yards on 8-of-13 attempts, including one touchdown. Heiges carried nine times for 57 yards and two scores, while McKinney paced the receiving corps with two receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed seven times for 39 yards. Defensively, the Warriors were anchored by sophomore
Sam Ehlke (Jackson, Wis.), junior
Chris Korb (Kirkland, Ill.), and Nevad, who each tallied eight tackles, while the unit as a whole forced three interceptions and four sacks.
For the Cougars (2-2, 0-2 NACC), Redmond completed 9-of-16 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Joron Brown led the ground attack with 84 yards on 16 carries. Wesley Jackson hauled in three receptions for a team-best 48 yards. Defensively, Kadin Stroer led all players with 10 tackles, while Jahmari Jackson and Brandon Shipp each recorded a sack.
WLC is idle next week for its bye, before returning to Raabe Stadium on Saturday, October 11 for a 6 p.m. NACC clash with St. Norbert (1-2, 1-0 NACC). Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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