Spartans Fall to Rockford in Home Opener

AURORA, Ill. September 2, 2006 - The Spartans of Aurora University dropped a heartbreaker to non-conference foe Rockford College 16-6 at AU Field on AU's season opener.

Despite being out gained 155 to 49 in the first half, the Spartans defense held strong, limiting the Rockford offense to one touchdown and one field goal to trail 10-0 at halftime. AU would finish with 240 yards of offense with Rockford tallying 291 yards.

The Spartans youth showed itself with an offense that struggled to find a rhythm through three quarters of play and a defense that Rockford would bend but couldn’t quite break.

Trailing 16-0 with 1:40 to play in the game, AU drove 87 yards on 11 plays behind freshman backup quarterback Matt McGary to score and cut the Regent lead to 10. An AU two-point attempt was denied by Rockford, only to have the Spartans (Danny Mackinson) recover the ensuing onside kick.

But the Spartan come back attempt was halted with 0:06 to play and the Regents sealed the 16-6 non-conference victory at AU Field.

Rockford opened the game's scoring one their first possession of the game on a 10-play 49-yard drive was capped off by a 28-yard field goal by George Anderson. AU and Rockford traded off possessions forcing one another to punt before Rockford would strike once again in the second quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Matt Muscia to Ben Powers. Anderson added the extra point for the 10-0 lead that Rockford took into the locker room at halftime.

Rockford struck first in the second half again scoring on their first possession of a quarter after forcing a Spartan punt. Running back Rob Frytz scampered 10 yards for the score and following the Anderson failed point after attempt, Rockford led 16-0 through three quarters.

AU made it exciting down the stretch as the cut the lead to 16-6 behind back-up quarterback McGary who was inserted in the game for starter Matt Nelleman halfway through the fourth quarter, only to have the valiant come back attempt come up short.

With the loss, the Spartans of Aurora University fall to 0-1 on the season, while Rockford College improves to 1-0 on the 3006 season.

Final Game Stat Leaders
Aurora University
Marcus Goedken had 12 tackles and one quarterback sack
Matt McGary was 9 of 18 passing for 133 yards, one interception and one touchdown

Rockford College
Matt Muscia was 10 of 21 passing for 150 yards and one touchdown
Ben Powers had five receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown
Rob Frytz had 19 rushes for 64 yards and one touchdown
Nick Colon had 10 tackles and one quarterback sack
Tom Marcum had seven tackles and one interception