Wisconsin Lutheran comeback defeats CUW 13-12

Mequon

After 9 consecutive head-head losses Wisconsin Lutheran finally beat the odds, coming back from an early 12 point deficit to defeat Concordia (2-6) for the first time in their school's history 13-12 Saturday afternoon in Mequon.

Concordia missed a first half extra point and suffered a botched game-winning field goal attempt in the closing minute during a frustrating afternoon.

CUW managed a pair of first half field goals from Dan Winsey and then added a 48 yard second quarter interception return for a TD by John Palese to take a 12-0 lead but a shanked extra point would come back to haunt the Falcons.

WLC (6-2) got a 60 yard kickoff return after the CUW TD and that set up their first touchdown after a short 35 yard drive. Larry Hairl leaned in for that score to make it 12-7 at the half.

WLC got the game winner after another short 39 yard drive (via an interception) that ended with Zach Shaw sneaking in from a yard out.

Concordia's valiant last ditch effort started at their own 15 with just over two minutes remaining. CUW quarterback Pat Czerwiek hit Tommy Guest with strikes for 14 and 32 yards to set up a 43 yard field goal attempt that would have given Concordia the win, but things went awry.

Greg Etter's team outgained the Warriors 250 yards to 181 with Czerwiek throwing for 205 of those yards on 15-41 passing.

The Falcons have outplayed their two most recent foes statistically, but this third consecutive loss guaranteed Concordia a losing season for the first time since 1994 when the Falcons finished 4-5.