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Nov. 2, 2019 - The Concordia-Chicago Cougars and the Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors have made a habit of close games in recent years, and today was no exception. The visiting Warriors got a 43-yard field goal from Jake Buhler in the final minute to edge the Cougars 17-14 and bring a disappointing end to 10 CUC seniors that were playing their final games at Concordia Stadium.
The first 1 1/2 quarters produced no scoring as both defenses controlled play. The Cougars thwarted a second-quarter drive by the Warriors when Demetrius Rufus deflected a long pass by WLC into the hands of John Correa deep in CUC territory. However, the Cougars coughed up the ball on their first run of the ensuing possession, and Wisconsin Lutheran recovered at the Concordia-Chicago 25. Frpm there, it took five plays for the Warriors to cash it in, with quarterback Nick Yockey sneaking in from the one-yard line on third down. The extra point made the score 7-0, and that score would hold up through the end of the first half.
On the Cougars' first drive of the second half, they would even the score. Behind strong running from Tylor Martens, they would drive into WLC territory. Facing fourth-and-eight, the Cougars were preparing to punt, but a penalty flag on WLC for an illegal substitution made it fourth-and-three. The Cougars hustled the offense back onto the field, and the play call was for a handoff to Lance Moise. The Cougars' leading career rusher ran through a hole, broke a tackle as he reached the first-down marker, and completed a 31-yard rush to the end zone. Andrew Lechuga's extra point tied the game 7-7 midway through the quarter.
Wisconsin Lutheran responded immediately with a 10-play, 58-yard drive. Yockey made completions of 24 and 19 yards on the drive, but the touchdown would come on Yockey's second QB sneak of the day, this one from two yards out for a 14-7 lead.
Concordia-Chicago fought back again early in the fourth. They put together a 13-play, 76-yard drive with Moise, Martens, Juan Urrea and quarterback Jaxon Aubry keeping the ball on the ground for 12 of the play. Moise's 13-yard run would take the ball to the two, and Martens got the call on the next play, powering up the middle for the tying score.
The Warriors' punter, Skyler Christensen, was key in winning the field position battle all day, and his punt down to the one set up the eventual winning score. The Cougars were forced into a three-and-out, and WLC took over at the CUC 42 with 1:17 left. They would pick up one first down before the drive stalled at the 25. With 31.6 seconds left, Buhler's 43-yarder made it through the uprights with just a few yards to spare. A last-ditch rally by the Cougars ended as Aubry was intercepted by Ethan Ortiz in the final seconds.
For CUC (4-4, 2-3 NACC), they were led by Moise's 145 yards on 20 carries and Martens' 90 yards on 17 carries. The Cougars will play at Rockford University next Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.