The Aurora University Spartan football team had their hands full with the St. Norbert College Green Knights at Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoon. AU led 7-6 at halftime and prevailed 28-6 but not without some needed defensive stops and timely scoring.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 28, St. Norbert College 6
LOCATION: Spartan Athletic Park - Montgomery, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 6-1 overall (5-0 NACC); St. Norbert College 4-3 overall (3-2 NACC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU kicked to St. Norbert to start the game and the Green Knights marched 74 yards on 18 plays and 8:57.
- The Spartan defense came up with a goal line stand on fourth and goal with inches to go.
- AU would punt the ball back and SNC scored a touchdown to cap a 10-play drive. After a missed pat, AU trailed 6-0.
- The Spartans would answer on the following drive, match the SNC drives with a 14-play, 65-yards drive over 5:28. Josh Swanson hit Michael Boland on a one-yard pass and catch. The pat from Matt Hylek was good and AU led 7-6.
- The teams traded punts on the next five drives and with a SNC interception, the Green Knights had the ball in AU territory late in the first-half.
- With four seconds left in the half, SNC attempted a 33-yard field which was blocked by Ben Slatcoff.
- AU led 7-6 going to halftime.
- The Spartans received the second-half kick-off and on the fourth play Jhe'Quay Chretin sprinted 54 yards up the middle to pay dirt and AU now led 14-6.
- After trading punts, SNC again drove on the Spartans going 83-yards on 11 plays. On another fourth and goal, Ben Slatcoff came up with a pass break-up to stone the Green Knights for a second time.
- AU turned to the ground game early on the following drive, marching 71 yards on six rushes from Chretin, Ta'Vion Geanes and Swanson before the third quarter ended.
- Chretin scored from two-yards out on the second-play and AU now led 21-6.
- A penalty on the ensuing kickoff gave SNC the ball at midfield. In the red-zone four plays later, the AU defense and Slatcoff stepped up again.
- Slatcoff stepped in front of a pass in the endzone and returned it 18-yards to end the Green Knight scoring threat.
- The Spartans offense marched down the field in 10-plays with Swanson hitting Trey Madsen from seven yards out on the 10th play and AU led 28-6.
- After trading punts and a defensive stop, AU ran out the clock out and were victorious 28-6.
SPARTAN LEADERS
Rushing:
- Carries: Jhe'Quay Chretin (21)
- Yards: Jhe'Quay Chretin (142)
- Touchdowns: Jhe'Quay Chretin (2)
Passing:
- Josh Swanson (17-of-27 for 143 yards with two touchdowns)
Receiving:
- Catches: Michael Boland (7)
- Yards: Connor Bright (51)
- Touchdowns: Trey Madsen and Michael Boland (1)
Defense:
- Tackles: Ernesto Ramirez (11), Marcellus Romious (9) and Ben Slatcoff (8)
- Interceptions: Ben Slatcoff (1)
- Quarterback Sacks: Cole Tandy (1.5), Jared Pratt and Steven Tinsley (1.0)
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Saturday, October 29 when they travel to Benedictine University. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. in Lisle, Illinois.
Original source can be found here.
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