Running game, defense lead Football to Homecoming victory

MEQUON, Wis. – It doesn't matter to Concordia University Wisconsin what style it needs to play in order to earn a victory, evident by Saturday's 20-10 Homecoming victory over Macalester College at Tomasini Stadium.

The Falcons and Scots went nose-to-nose all game in a grind-it-out battle, but CUW's multiple defensive stands and 192 rushing yards were the difference.

CUW (1-1) recorded an interception on the final two MC drives, while juniors Austin Damaschke (Bristol, Wis.) and Shay Klitzke (Annandale, Minn.) ran for 99 and 94 yards, respectively.

After last week's offensive display, CUW's (1-1) defense played well, making eight tackles for loss, holding the Scots to 6-of-13 on third down and 1-of-3 in the red zone.

Two decisive drives were the difference in the game for the Falcons.

MC (1-1) drove 72 yards in nearly nine minutes to CUW's 1-yard line midway through the third quarter. The Scots threw an incomplete pass on first down before freshman Alex Giese (Green Bay, Wis.) and junior Brett Waldorf (Hartford, Wis.) stopped C.J. Smith for a 6-yard loss. On 3rd-and-goal, freshman QuRon Hall (Jacksonville, Fla.) made an impressive sideline tackle to force a 20-yard MC field goal.

Later, in the early stages of the final frame, during a missed 38-yard field goal by CUW the Scots committed an offside penalty, which gave the Falcons another attempt on 4th-and-1. Head coach Greg Etter sent his offense back onto the field and handed the ball to Klitzke for a tough 16-yard run up the middle for the game-changing score.

Klitzke, who made the first start of his career, carried the ball 20 times to lead CUW. He also had 34 receiving yards on two receptions. Offensively, Damaschke converted 21-of-30 attempts for 183 yards, while junior Garrett Wenzelburger (Hartland, Wis.) hauled in eight passes for 96 yards.

On the defensive side of the football, three Falcons recorded six total tackles. Hall, along with sophomore Aaron Krapfl (Anamosa, Iowa), each recorded their first career interception.

Samson Bialostok threw for a game-high 275 yards on 24-of-34 passing, one touchdown and two interceptions. John Johnson made 10 receptions for a game-best 146 yards, while Bialostok also ran for 75 yards.

CUW appeared ready to pile on the yards and points after driving 75 yards in eight plays in nearly three minutes during the games opening drive. After a Klitzke 7-yard rush, Damaschke hurried the offense to the line of scrimmage to convert a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown.

Junior David Gonzalez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) made the first of a two field goals in the game, a 27-yarder, to give the Falcons a 10-0 advantage in the second quarter.

The Scots answered with a 51-yard Bialostok to Johnson pass-and-catch on the ensuing possession to make the scoreboard 10-7 at halftime.

MC's Auburn Jimenez kicked a 20-yard field goal to even the score at 10-10 with 6:06 to play in the third. It was the only scoring play of the quarter.

Following Klitzke's go-ahead 16-yard scamper, Gonzalez added a 20-yard insurance field goal with 1:50 to play in the contest.

CUW makes its first road trip of the season on Saturday, Sept. 21 for a 12 p.m. (CDT) non-conference matchup against Trine University.