Wheaton Football Upset by Aurora, 32-25

(Aurora, Ill./Sept. 20) -- Wheaton College is 0-2 at the start of its football season for the first time since 1990, which also is the last year Aurora defeated Wheaton before this season. Aurora defeated Wheaton, 32-25, in Sept. 20 college football action at Aurora.

Three first-half turnovers led to all 19 Aurora points, as the Spartans led 19-3 at halftime, and after Wheaton took a 22-19 lead in the third quarter, Aurora scored on 2 long drives in the fourth quarter while Wheaton managed just a field goal.

After taking next Saturday, Sept. 27, away from game action, the Crusaders' football team plays next on Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 4, in a CCIW game against Augustana College, at 1:30 PM, at McCully Field. There will be no advanced ticket sale for that game.

Aurora linebacker Jason Stransky intercepted Wheaton quarterback Tim Hardy at the Wheaton 38-yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage after the turnover, receiver Chris Pfalzgraf caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mark Hancock to give Aurora a 6-0 lead with 2:43 left in the first quarter.

Wheaton sophomore receiver Ben Peays fumbled after a reception, and the ball was recovered at the Wheaton 28-yard line by Aurora defensive lineman Pat Smith with 10:55 left in the first half. On Aurora's second play from scrimmage after the turnover, running back Brent Runkle caught Hancock's 12-yard pass and ran it into the end zone. A two-point conversion pass was batted down, but Aurora led 12-0 with 10:10 left to play in the first half.

Senior placekicker Paul Boehms kicked a 36-yard field goal with 4:43 left before intermission, his first field goal of the season, for Wheaton's only points of the first half.

With 56 seconds left in the first half, Wheaton had the ball again at its own 9-yard line, but after gaining 19 yards on a quarterback draw, Hardy was hit by cornerback Brandon Kopf and fumbled the ball away with Kopf also recovering the ball at the Wheaton 29. Aurora wasted no time in capitalizing on Wheaton's third turnover with receiver Paulie Forsythe making a leaping grab of a 29-yard touchdown throw from Hancock with 17 seconds left, and the PAT made the score 19-3.

Wheaton totalled 137 offensive yards in the first half, and Hardy completed 5 for 12 for 56 yards. Running back Jeff Ford gained 42 yards on 10 carries to lead Wheaton's rushers. Aurora totalled 240 offensive yards, including 140 yards through air on 8 of 15 passing.

Wheaton started its second-half comeback on its first series with junior halfback Bjorn Johnson capping a 77-yard drive with an 11-yard run and a two-point conversion run to cut the Aurora lead to 19-11 with 10:13 left in the third quarter.

The Crusaders then wasted an opportunity provided by senior linebacker Todd Kinley who intercepted Hancock's pass and returned it to the Aurora 12-yard line. But on second down, Hardy lost control of a pitchout as he was hit, and Aurora defensive lineman Jeremy Benson recovered it at the 12.

After Aurora's 12-yard punt gave the ball back to Wheaton at the Spartans' 33-yard line, Hardy ended an 8-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run, and completed the two-point conversion to Ben Peays to tie the game at 19-19 with 3:48 left in the third quarter. Hardy then consumed over 5 minutes with a drive that resulted in Boehms' 24-yard field goal that gave Wheaton a 22-19 lead with 11:55 left in the game.

Aurora came right back to grab a 26-22 lead with 10:06 left in the game with running back Fonzie Medina capping a 76-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown run plus the extra point by Chris Wood.

Boehms cut the lead to 26-25 with a career-longest 43-yard field goal with 7:36 left in the game, but after the kick-off, Aurora covered 69 yards in 12 plays during a 5:35 drive that ended with quarterback Mark Hancock scoring from 1-yard out, and Aurora led 32-25 with 2:01 left.

Wheaton moved the ball on its last series to the Aurora 40 on a 16-yard reception by senior Gary Lavanchy on fourth down and 8, but Aurora's Brandon Kopf intercepted Hardy's pass at the Aurora 28, ending Wheaton's chances for victory.

Hardy completed 11 of 27 passes for 125 yards, and Bjorn Johnson rushed 17 times for a career-high 139 yards and a touchdown. Wheaton gained 246 yards rushing and 127 passing for a total of 373. Aurora gained 188 yards passing and 206 rushing for a total of 394.

Senior defensive tackle Craig Renz led Wheaton with 10 tackles and batted down a pass, and senior outside linebacker Brandon Cone made 9 tackles, 8 solos, including part of a four-yard sack of Hancock, and broke up a pass. Senior free safety Blake Stevens made 8 tackles and broke up a pass, and junior strong safety Jerry Hawkes made 7 tackles. Sophomore defensive end Drew Pearson sacked Hancock twice and made 5 tackles.

Senior defensive tackle Jason Sennese and senior outside linebacker Todd Kinley each had 6 tackles. Wheaton intercepted a pass (Kinley), batted 3 down, sacked Hancock three times, and sophomore cornerback John Peays recovered a fumble.