Damaschke throws for record 490 yards, leads Football to win over Trine

ANGOLA, Ind. – It took a career-high 73 attempts, 41 of those completions, and 490 yards through the air from senior quarterback Austin Damaschke, but the Concordia University Wisconsin Football team was able to outlast Trine University, 49-46 in a high-scoring affair Saturday afternoon. The Falcons improved to 4-2 on the season with the win at Zollner Athletic Stadium, playing in front of 3,914 fans. 

Damaschke (Bristol, Wis.), who seemingly rewrites the record books every week, set three NACC and CUW single-game records in the non-conference win with the attempts, completions and yards. He finished with four touchdowns through the air, while adding two more on the ground for a second-consecutive six touchdown game.

As the score indicates, the game featured plenty of offense as the team's combined for 1,256 offensive yards. Trine outgained CUW with a 648-608 advantage, with the Thunder doing most of their damage on the ground by rushing for 319 yards.

Of Damaschke's 490 yards, 319 went to the duo of senior Garrett Wenzelburger (Hartland, Wis.) and sophomore Derrick Estfan (Phoenix, Ariz.). Wenzelburger broke his own NACC record with 14 receptions, while finishing with 210 yards and a pair of scores. He now has 3,116 receiving yards and is fast-approaching both the CUW (3,192) and NACC (3,534) records. The senior added a pair of touchdowns, one from 39 yards out and the other from 28.

Estfan finished with a career-best 13 receptions, while adding 109 yards. The sophomore hauled in a crucial two-yard touchdown with 3:07 to play that put the Falcons up 49-39. Trine would score with 1:36 remaining, but CUW was able to run out the clock from that point on to secure the three-point victory.

Sophomore Dominic Saragaglia (Schaumburg, Ill.) added a 36-yard touchdown reception for the Falcons, which put them up 42-31 early in the fourth quarter. Saragaglia finished with five catches for 73 yards, while senior Dylan Krivoshein (Cedarburg, Wis.) totaled 66 yards. Senior Shay Klitzke (Annandale, Minn.) also got into the passing game, hauling in a career-best five passes for 26 yards.

Klitzke added 57 yards on the ground on just 11 attempts (5.4 yards per carry). He scored from 21 yards out with 9:46 remaining in the first half to give the Falcons a 21-14 lead. Damaschke totaled 67 yards on the ground, including scores from two and 31 yards out. His scamper from 31 yards away gave the Falcons a 35-31 lead with just 31 seconds into the final quarter.

Defensively, CUW was paced by a pair of defensive backs in sophomore Bryan Thomas (Lowell, Ind.) and junior Aaron Krapfl (Anamosa, Iowa). Thomas led the way with 16 tackles, 10 solo and also forced a fumble, while breaking up one pass. Krapfl broke up a career-best five passes, while adding 10 tackles (seven solo).

Sophomore linebacker Cody Furey (Cedarburg, Wis.) also had a strong game with a career-best nine tackles, four of those coming in the opponent's backfield. He also forced a fumble, which was recovered by junior Austin Kaatz (Pewaukee, Wis.) with the Falcons leading by 11 (42-31) in the fourth quarter.

Senior David Gonzalez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points in the win, while Hunter Breunig (Lodi, Wis.) averaged 41.3 yards over three punts, including a long of 50.

Trine was led their own dual-threat quarterback, Taylor Masiewicz. He ran for a game-high 145 yards, while adding 309 through the air. All of touchdowns for the Thunder came in the ground game, with Masiewicz scoring three of those.

CUW will return to conference play next week by hosting Rockford University at Tomasini Stadium. The Falcons, who will close the regular season with four NACC matchups, and Regents are set for a 1 p.m. start.