16th Ranked Lakers Fall Just Short in 16-14 Loss to Fifth Ranked Concordia

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – In a battle of NAIA Top 20 teams, the 16^th ranked Roosevelt University football team fell just short versus fifth ranked Concordia University (Mich.), losing by the score of 16-14 on Saturday, September 18 at Cardinal Stadium.  The loss evened the Lakers record at 1-1 on the year.

Both teams were unable to generate any offense on their first possessions, but the Cardinals converted on their second possession with a 24-yard field goal with 4:52 to go in the opening quarter to cap off a six-play, 37-yard drive.  Concordia then ended the first quarter with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Brooks to Luke Wilson to push its lead to 10-0 after one quarter and the score remained the same at the half after neither team was able to add any points in the second quarter.

The Lakers offense was finally able to get itself going in the third quarter with Jack Sheehan connecting with Denzel Tolliver on a 57-yard pass play to cut the deficit to 10-7 with 10:03 to play in the third quarter.  Both teams were forced to punt on their next two possessions and the score stood at 10-7 heading into the final quarter.

The Cardinals ate up the clock with a long 12-play, 68-yard drive in the fourth quarter, concluding their march down the field with a two-yard touchdown run by Keirell Jackson to increase their lead to 16-7 with 5:53 left to play.  However, the Lakers answered back quickly with a touchdown of their own when Sheehan threw his second TD pass, this time a 25-yarder to Blaize Griffin to pull to within 16-14 with 2:24 to go in the game.

The Roosevelt defense needed to come up with a big stop and that it did, forcing a three and out of the Cardinals offense to give the Lakers offense the ball back with 1:20 to play.   Sheehan connected with Griffin on a 19-yard pass play and followed up with a 32-yarder to Griffin to move the ball to the Concordia 36-yard line.  Following two incomplete passes, the Cardinals pressured Sheehan, forcing and recovering a fumble with just seconds left to play to secure the win over the Lakers.

GAME DETAILS

Score:   Roosevelt            0              0              7              7              14
                Concordia            10           0              0              6              16

Records: Roosevelt 1-1, Concordia 2-0

Location: Cardinal Stadium | Ann Arbor, Mich.

KEY STATS

• Jack Sheehan went 22-of-33 for 297 yards with 2 touchdowns & 2 interceptions
• Denzel Tolliver made 8 catches for 133 yards & a TD
• Blaize Griffin had 5 receptions for 105 yards & a TD
• Jayden McFadden made 6 catches for 57 yards
• Ke'von Johnson was held to 57 yards rushing on 25 carries
• Corties Draper led the Lakers with 7 tackles with 1 ½ for a loss
• Ernest Potts, Caleb Smith, & Collin Schmutzler each had 5 tackles
• RU had 18 first downs to 12 for CUAA
• The Lakers generated 323 yards of total offense to the Cardinals 262 yards
• RU held a 32:24 to 27:36 time of possession advantage over CUAA

NEWS & NOTES

• The Lakers came into the game rated 16^th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll
• Concordia was rated 5^th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll
• This was the first-ever meeting between the Lakers & Cardinals in football

NEXT UP

The Lakers host Lawrence Tech in another MSFA crossover contest on Saturday, September 25 at 2pm at Morris Field in Arlington Heights, Ill.