CUW Hands Calvin First Loss in Program History

MEQUON, Wis. – It was a historic day at Tomasini Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Concordia Wisconsin football team hosted Calvin. The Falcons handed Calvin its first loss in program history with a 34-24 victory.

Sophomore Logan Navis (Cedar Grove, Wis.) started his busy day with a 22-yard field goal after the Falcons marched down the field on their opening drive.

The Knights responded with a stellar drive of their own and claimed the lead with a nine-yard pass.

The Maroon and Gold took advantage of a turnover and hit a 25-yard field goal to close the first quarter scoring.

The Falcons did not fold and methodically marched down the field and the drive was capped off by a 19-yard scamper from sophomore Roman Funk (Scottsdale, Ariz.) to tie the game.

Calvin reclaimed the lead four minutes later with a 41-yard field goal.

The Knights had the momentum with a quick three-and-out for the Falcons, but Calvin fumbled the punt at the 30-yard line and senior Gio Nowotarski (Reading, Pa.) scooped up the ball and ran the ball back for a touchdown.

Gio Nowotarski struck again to end the first half with an interception to end the Calvin threat.

The third quarter started with an interception for senior Matthew Torres. A short pass to the left saw senior Ashar Thomas (Punta Gorda, Fla.) cruise 32 yards to the two-yard line that set up a two-yard rush for a touchdown to sophomore Jacob Pugh (Atlanta, Ga.) to push the lead to 24-13. The touchdown was the first career touchdown for Pugh. 

The Knights quickly fought back and tied the game at 24 to send the teams into the fourth quarter.

The Falcons reclaimed the lead with just over 10 minutes remaining with a 12-yard pass from Funk to junior Jason Leonard (Tampa, Fla.).

Calvin marched down the field and tried to tie the game, but the Falcons stopped the Maroon and Gold on the 27-yard line with some pressure on fourth down.

The Birds did an excellent job of chewing up time on the responding drive and made it a two-possession game with a 28-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining.

The Knights had a quality drive as a response, but a missed field goal secured the victory for the Falcons.

Ashar Thomas ran wild for Concordia on the afternoon with 121 yards on 16 rushes.

Roman Funk was a threat through the air and on the ground on Saturday with 221 passing yards, 53 rushing yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. He also had a punt land inside the 10-yard line.

Senior Kekoa Carmichael (Las Vegas, Nev.) led the Falcons through the air with 69 yards.

Logan Navis was perfect on the day with two field goals and four extra points.

Senior Justice Kaneta (Brighton, Colo.) led the game with 14 tackles.

The Falcons will have a second bye week this week and open Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play at Benedictine on Sept. 28.