(ST. NORBERT COMMUNICATIONS) – RIVER FOREST, Ill. – St. Norbert College got the jump with a quick start and rode that momentum to a convincing 59-28 win over Concordia University Chicago in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener for both teams at Concordia Stadium.
The Green Knights sprinted out to a 28-0 lead after the first quarter and were never seriously threatened in winning their eighth-consecutive conference game, now the longest active winning streak in NACC play.
St. Norbert recovered a fumble at the Concordia 5-yard line on the game’s second play from scrimmage and cashed in a play later when Will Darden (pictured) found the pay window just 48 seconds into the game. The Green Knights started a drive at their own 41 about midway through the first quarter and used eight plays to travel 59 yards, scoring on a 2-yard run by Darden with 5:16 left for a 14-0 lead. Following the score, the game was delayed for about an hour due to thunderstorms in the area.
Things escalated quickly when play resumed, with St. Norbert scoring again when Michael Meneguzzo hit Nick White on a 12-yard touchdown strike with 1:07 left. The Green Knights picked another score before the end of the opening quarter when Payton Ponteras forced a fumble and Cory Burton scooped up the loose change and fashioned a 35-yard touchdown return with 9 seconds left in the stanza and a 28-0 lead.
Concordia would connect on a pair of long passes early in the second period to get on the scoreboard at 28-7, but two possessions later Ponteras returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown and a 35-7 edge with 11:11 left before halftime. The Cougars would score again on their ensuing possession, but the Green Knights again made it a four-score lead with a 13-play, 77-yard drive finished by a 19-yard aerial from Meneguzzo to Hunter Thiel for a 42-14 nod with 1:11 left before the rest stop.
St. Norbert scored the only points of the third quarter when Jacob McVane popped a 36-yard touchdown run to lead 49-14 with 5:05 left in the period.
The Green Knights found the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter when Jordan Thomas cashed in from 15 yards out. Concordia cut its deficit to 56-21 on the next series, but St. Norbert got three point back when Brandon Schaefer converted a 42-yard field goal try with 3:50 left. The Cougars scored a consolation touchdown with 39 seconds remaining.
St. Norbert outgained Concordia 393-325. Meneguzzo completed 13 of 23 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. McVane finished with 79 rushing yards on 11 carries and one touchdown, while Darden carried 14 times for 54 yards. Thomas added 51 yards on six carries with one score. Bailey Turenne caught six passes for 104 yards.
Colton Bosch led Concordia, completing 17 of 36 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
Ponteras and Brian Treacy led the St. Norbert defense with six tackles apiece.
Other state football scores
Cornell 20, Lawrence 0
Stevens Point 36, Pacific (OR) 13
Whitewater 26, Mary Hardin-Baylor 6
Platteville 28, Springfield (MA) 12
La Crosse 31, Wayne State (MI) 22
Eau Claire 42, Martin Luther (MN) 6
River Falls 65, Bellhaven (MS) 0
Oshkosh 38, Roosevelt (IL) 21
Stout 56, Northwestern (MN) 13
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