Titans Top Spartans in AU Field Thriller

AURORA, Ill. September 20, 2008 - The Spartans of Aurora University dropped a heartbreaker to non-conference foe Illinois Wesleyan University 31-28 at AU Field on AU's season opener.

The game started off positively for the Spartans as junior defensive end Pat Funk sacked Titan quarterback Kraig Ladd and forced a fumble. Minutes later, Spartan junior quarterback Nate Peterson connected with sophomore wide receiver Mike Abel for a 19 yard touchdown pass.

The Titans would answer quickly, as Ladd found wide receiver Martin Ceisel in the end zone for a 19 yard score.

The two teams would trade punts during the opening minutes of the second quarter, until Peterson was intercepted by Titan linebacker Dan Rogers who returned the ball to the AU 18 yard line. Ladd would find wide receiver Tom Almanzo in the end zone three plays later to put the Titans ahead 14-7.

Yet, the resilient Spartans were not discouraged. Following a Spartan punt, the Titans had the ball at their own 38 yard line. Senior defensive back Matt Meyer proceeded to intercept a Ladd pass, and he returned the ball 38 yards for a Spartan touchdown. The interception was Meyer’s third of the season and second returned for a touchdown.

The Titans followed the interception with a drive that resulted in a 32 yard field goal by kicker Joe Duffy to put the Titans in the lead 17-14 at halftime.

The Spartans came out of halftime firing on all cylinders as Peterson would connect with senior wide receiver Cory Cowan on a 20 yard touchdown strike to put the Spartans up 21-17. The Spartan defense tightened up and would go on to hold the Titan offense scoreless the entire third quarter.

The Titans would score on their second possession of the fourth quarter when Ladd hit Almanzo to put the Titans in the lead 24-21. However, this time the Spartan offense would have no answer as the Titans forced them to punt. Yet, the Spartans stifling defense was up to the challenge as senior linebacker Chris Jackowiak intercepted Ladd on a pass deflected by Funk and returned the pass 13 yards for a touchdown to put the Spartans in the lead 28-24.

However, this would not be the Spartans day as the Titans drove 65 yards on 14 plays in the closing minutes to score the winning touchdown, as backup Titan quarterback Brien Rooner, who replaced Ladd, scored on a 4 yard touchdown run.

Top Spartan performers included Peterson, who finished with 156 yards on 13 of 29 passing and two touchdowns, junior linebacker Mike Budzinski (15 tackles), Meyer (13 tackles/one interception/one TD), and Funk (one INT, two sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and six tackles).

The loss drops Aurora to 2-1 on the young season while Illinois Wesleyan improves to 3-0. The Spartans return to action in two weeks when they open the Northern Athletics Conference schedule at home against Benedictine University.