Defense shines in NACC opening win over Concordia Chicago

MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia University Wisconsin's defense forced three turnovers en route to a convincing 47-20 victory over Concordia University Chicago at Tomasini Stadium. The victory was the 11th-consecuive league win for the Falcons.

CUW scored a touchdown and safety, forced and recovered a pair of fumbles and intercepted a pass before halftime to set the tone early. They turned those CUC errors into 21 points, which is the most in head coach Greg Etter's tenure. As well, the Falcons recorded four sacks for 34 yards, tallied 13 tackles for loss and broke up eight passes in the dominating effort.

Overall, the Falcons defense stopped the Cougars from scoring on 15-of-18 drives, while forcing eight punts and stopping CUC on downs twice.

While the defense was putting on a show, the offense scored 33 unanswered points to put the game out of reach. They accumulated 624 total yards, scored five touchdowns and kicked a field goal. CUW's pass-oriented offense ended with 433 yards through the air, but its running game came alive with 214 yards, while senior Shay Klitzke (Annandale, Minn.) ran for three touchdowns.

It didn't take long for the Falcons to take control after Klitzke bulled his way in from three yards out for the first points of the game. On the next possession of the game, junior Austin Kaatz (Pewaukee, Wis.) sacked the Cougars quarterback and forced the fumble, which was picked up by sophomore Kevin Kern (Arlington Heights, Ill.) who ran it in for a 10-yard score.

It was the first defense score since junior Shannon Smith returned an interception 58 yards against Augsburg College in the season opener on Sept. 13. CUW allowed a rushing touchdown, before the defense again made a statement. With the Cougars backed up to their own seven yard line, senior Uzziel McDermit (Kansasville, Wis.) chased down and sacked quarterback Ryan Fischbach for a safety to put the Falcons in front 16-7 halfway through the second quarter.

From then on CUW's offense took over and piled on the yards and points with ease. They scored four times in the red zone and had five-consecutive drives that resulted in 31 points midway through the victory.

Seniors Bret Waldorf (Hartford, Wis.) and McDermit each had a team-high eight tackles, while McDermit recorded three tackles for loss. Kaatz finished with four solo tackles and two sacks for 18 yards, while sophomore Bryan Thomas (Lowell, Ind.) and freshman Richie Guess (Horner Glenn, Ill.) each broke up a pair of passes.

Klitzke had 98 yards rushing (8.8 yards per carry), including a 54-yard scamper for a score in the third quarter. Senior Austin Damaschke (Bristol, Wis.) threw for 426 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with 64 yards rushing. He completed 27 passes and had a 15.5 yards per completion average.

Senior Garrett Wenzelburger (Hartland, Wis.) hauled in 11 receptions for 171 yards and a pair of scores. Sophomores Dominic Saragaglia (Schaumburg, Ill.) and Derrick Estfan (Phoenix, Ariz.) combined for eight receptions and 137 yards.

Senior Hunter Breunig (Lodi, Wis.) helped in the field possession battle by placing two kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks.

CUC (0-3, 0-1 NACC) was led by Jakari Cammon who ran for 67 yards and a pair of scores, while Fischbach passed for 179 yards and ran for a touchdown. Ryan Allison hauled in seven passes for 91 yards. Defensively, Nick Hostetler and Tyson Burch led all players with 11 tackles, apiece. A.J. Seidler finished with eight tackles and team's only sack.

CUW returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 11 with a 1 p.m. NACC contest at Aurora University.