Spartans Fall in Home Opener to Coe Kohawks

AURORA, Ill. September 8, 2007 - The Aurora University Spartan football team fell to 0-2 on the season Saturday afternoon on AU Field, after being defeated 37-7 by the visiting Kohawks of Coe College. Coe improved to 2-0 on the season with the win.

Leading the way for Coe was quarterback Andy TeKippe, who went 27-of-38 on the day with 328 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Daniel Wagner had 20 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown and seven receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown, while receiver Nick Ratchford had nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.

On the other side of the ball, Coe’s defense never allowed Aurora’s running game and back Ryne Reder to get going, as the visitors limited Reder to 25 yards on 14 carries. Despite the efficient play of Spartan quarterback Craig McQuade, who was six of 10 for 80 yards, Coe’s defense prevailed only giving up the lone Spartan score.

Coe‘s Wagner scored the first points of the game with 4:59 left in the first quarter. His rushing touchdown was quickly followed up by a Coe field goal (Elliot Rausa) in order to make the score 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. The field goal was the first of three on the day for Rausa (22 yards, 22 yards and 21 yards).

A TeKippe touchdown pass to Ratchford made the score 17-0 with three minutes left in the second quarter.

The big play of the game for Aurora came in the second quarter when McQuade connected with freshman wide receiver Levi Reeder on a 48 yard touchdown. The reception highlighted a solid day for the freshman receiver, as he went on to finish with three receptions and 55 yards receiving.

Coe struck back just 1:23 later and with 47 seconds on the game clock in the first-half on a TeKippe to Wagner eight yard touchdown reception.

The second half saw much of the same as Coe would out score 13-0 over the final 30 minutes. Coe’s Sam Hammes scored on a six yard run and Rausa connected on his second and third field goals.

Defensively, the Kohawks were led by Kyle Brockmeyer (seven tackles and a forced fumble) and Tate Harrison (seven tackles – one and one-half tackles for loss). Tom Breitbach had three punt returns for 62 yards and two kickoff returns for 50 yards.

Aurora was led by Matt Meyer (11 tackles and one pass break-up), Tony Musaraca (11 tackles) and Marcus Goedken (10 tackles, three for loss and half a quarterback sack). Meyer, the Spartan punter, had 10 punts for 373 yards and a long of 52.

The Spartans have next week off and play again on Saturday, September 22, against Illini-Badger Football Conference foe MacMurray College. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at AU Field.