Gonzalez kicks game-winner, Football escapes in season opener

CHICAGO – The game wasn't played clean on either side of the ball, but Concordia University Wisconsin used its experience and a 25-yard game-winning field goal to earn a 31-28 season-opening non-conference victory over North Park University at Holmgren Complex.

The offense highlighted the opening half with 28 points and 339 yards of total offense, but the defense kept the Falcons in the game down the stretch. CUW forced a pair of turnovers on downs, caused and recovered a fumble and held NPU to a punt, all in the second half.

Senior David Gonzalez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) capped an impressive 14-play, 70-yard drive that covered four minutes and 19 seconds with a 25-yard field goal that sneaked just inside the right post. It was a much-needed scoring drive for the Falcons, after their offense sputtered during the five previous possessions.

Neither team was able to get into a rhythm because of 23 penalties called by the officials, 14 of which were on the Falcons. Several of the whistles could have gone either way, but then again some were mental errors by players in the first game of the season.

The Falcons (1-0) appeared to be putting the game away by halftime, after scoring touchdowns on four-of six possessions stretch to take a 28-13 lead. CUW had two scoring drives over 10-plus plays and lasting around four minutes.

NPU (0-1) marked the scoreboard with a 10-play, 62-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter – the only score of the period – which included a two-point conversion. The Vikings then put together a seven-play, 66-yard touchdown drive to knot the scoreboard at 28-28 with 4:58 to play in the game.

CUW immediately answered with a game-winning drive, which ended with Gonzalez's only field goal of the contest. Most thought the game was over, as NPU needed to drive 73 yards for a touchdown with 35 seconds left on the clock.

The Vikings drove to their 47-yard line and received an untimely Falcons personal foul roughing the passer penalty to advance the ball past midfield. A 38-yard desperation throw sailed through the back of the end zone as the clock expired.

The Vikings proved to be a formidable opponent, despite their 3-7 record a season ago. NPU racked up 99 plays for 501 total yards of offense, including 397 via the passing game. T.D. Conway finished 35-of-62 for 397 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Dan Anderson hauled in 12 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings.

CUW senior quarterback Austin Damaschke (Bristol, Wis.) finished 35-of-50 for 298 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 61 yards. Damaschke's first touchdown of the game broke the school's career record for passing touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Garrett Wenzelburger (Hartland, Wis.) played well with seven receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, but it was sophomore Derrick Estfan (Phoenix, Ariz.) who had a career game with 10 receptions and 106 yards. Senior Dylan Krivoshein (Cedarburg, Wis.) had a a career-high eight receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown on a fade route. Sophomore Dominic Saragaglia (Schaumburg, Ill.) hauled in seven passes for 52 yards and his first career touchdown for a career game.

Defensively, numerous players for the Falcons had career tackle games. Senior Brett Waldorf (Hartford, Wis.) led the team with 13 tackles, while freshman Jeffrey Arredondo (Chandler, Ariz.) registered 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Sophomore James Thomsen (Mount Prospect, Ill.), junior Shannon Smith (Brandon, Fla.) and junior Aaron Krapfl (Anamosa, Iowa) had a career-best nine tackles.

While the CUW's passing game is always high-powered, the running game balanced the offense in the win. Senior Shay Klitzke (Annandale, Minn.) ran for a career-best 114 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Austin Kaatz (Pewaukee, Wis.) was strong on the defensive line with a career-high two sacks and seven tackles. Sophomore Bryan Thomas (Lowell, Ind.) had his first career interception and Krapfl also pulled down a timely interception in the first half.

CUW returns to the field on Saturday, Sept. 13 for its home opener against Augsburg College at 1 p.m. at Tomasini Stadium.