WAUWATOSA, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College fought back from an early 20-point deficit but came up short in a 41-27 non-conference loss to St. Scholastica on Saturday in the season opener for both teams at historic Raabe Stadium.
The Saints (1-0) struck first midway through the opening quarter when Jevon Williams capped a 51-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
St. Scholastica extended its advantage in the second quarter on two quick strikes: Andrew Burgess found Donald West for a 43-yard score, and just four minutes later West connected with Curtis Favors for a 78-yard touchdown to push the margin to 20-0.
WLC (0-1) responded with back-to-back scoring drives to climb back into the game. Sophomore
Liam Heiges (Appleton, Wis.) broke loose for a 12-yard touchdown run, and freshman quarterback
Quincy Rheams (Dallas, Texas) hit senior
Drew Mears (Appleton, Wis.) on a 15-yard strike with just 14 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 20-14 at the break.
The Saints regained control in the third quarter behind Williams, who dashed 38 yards for his second score of the day. WLC answered as Rheams found senior
Jamil Gordon (San Marcos, Texas) from 24 yards out, trimming the deficit to 27-20 with 3:58 to play in the third quarter.
Williams added two more rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, from seven and 13 yards, to seal the game despite a one-yard scoring plunge by Warriors' junior running back
Tywin McKinney (Milwaukee, Wis.) in between.
For Wisconsin Lutheran, Heiges carried 15 times for 83 yards and a touchdown, while McKinney added 33 rushing yards and a score. Rheams completed 17 of 24 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns, finding Mears five times for 47 yards and a score and Gordon six times for 47 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side, senior linebacker
Layson Handwork (Merritt Island, Fla.) led the Warriors with 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss, while freshman
Anthony Hill Jr. (Dacula, Ga.) contributed a sack.
Williams powered St. Scholastica's offense with a career day, rushing 31 times for 227 yards and four touchdowns, while also adding 57 receiving yards for 322 all-purpose yards. Quarterback Donald West went 12-for-27 through the air for 247 yards and a touchdown, and Burgess threw for a 43-yard score on a trick play. Favors led the Saints' receiving corps with four receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, linebacker Austin Mundt paced the visitors with 13 total tackles.
WLC travels to Storm Lake, Iowa next Saturday for a 1 p.m. non-conference matchup with Buena Vista (0-1). Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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