Box Score Box Score
RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Concordia-Chicago struck early and often, jumping out to a 14-0 lead a little over four minutes in on its way to a 49-7 victory on Saturday, handing the St. Scholastica football team its first setback of the season.
The Cougars (2-1) received the ball first and after a 49-yard kick return, took only four plays to get the ball into the end zone on a Mike Marotta 6-yard touchdown pass to Mike Egebrecht. After a three-and-out by the Saints, the Cougars struck again in just four plays on a 28-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 10:45 left in the first quarter.
CSS would get a first down on their next possession, but again was forced to punt. Concordia-Chicago added to their lead, going up 21-0 on a 31-yard touchdown pass with four minutes to go in the first quarter.
The Saints moved the ball into Cougar territory for the first time at the start of the second quarter, but turned it over on downs after a failed 4th-and-9 attempt at the 27-yard-line. Later in the quarter following a CSS interception, the Cougars made it 28-0 on a 48-yard touchdown pass. Concordia-Chicago added another score at the end of the half on a four-yard touchdown run by Kyree Copeland to make the halftime score 35-0.
The third quarter would go scoreless with the Saints out-gaining the Cougars in the quarter. However, Mike Marotta threw his fifth touchdown of the day with 10 minutes to go in the game to make it 42-0. After another Cougar score made it 49-0, the Saints got on the board with a three-yard touchdown run by #Christopher Pierce#, his first collegiate score, to make the final score 49-7.
Concordia-Chicago out-gained the Saints 482-239 in the contest. The Saints threw for 226 yards, but gained just 13 yards on the ground, which is the second-lowest in the program's three seasons.
#Alex Thiry# threw for 89 yards, while #Jake Olson# threw for 87 yards. Freshman #Cole Houston#, in his first appearance in a Saints uniform, led the lone scoring drive, throwing for 50 yards. #Keegan O'Neill# and #Jonny Bennett# each had four receptions.
#Scott Greening# and #Sean Graskey# each had eight tackles to lead the Saints defensively. #JP Leary# had two tackles for a loss.
The Saints will be on the road again next weekend as they begin conference play at 2009 North Division Champion Martin Luther College. The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be heard live on ESPN Radio 560-WEBC with Charlie Johnson on the call.
