Box Score ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The 20th-ranked Roosevelt University football team opened its 2021 fall campaign in victorious fashion, holding off Mayville State (N.D.) for a 37-32 win at Morris Field on Saturday, August 28.
Playing in extremely hot conditions that had a feel of 102 degrees, a far cry from last season's snowy opener, the Lakers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on two big plays.
Amarion Evans blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt, and Collin Schmutzler picked up the loose ball and returned it 85 yards for the game's first touchdown.
After a Mayville State drive halted with a turnover on downs, the Lakers hit paydirt two plays later on a 71-yard pass play from Jack Sheehan to Ke'von Johnson that resulted in another quick TD.
The Comets used a six-play, 71-yard drive to score their first touchdown to end the first quarter. The Lakers responded on another touchdown pass by Sheehan, this time a 21-yard strike to Blaize Griffin, to make it 21-6.
Two second-quarter touchdown passes by MSU QB Tim Salmon brought the guests within two with 23 ticks left in the first half, but Roosevelt took advantage of the remaining time on the clock and needed just three plays to get Omar Beltran in position for a half-ending 37-yard field goal that extended the lead to 24-19.
The only score of the third quarter came on Tyler Tenner's first collegiate carry, a 52-yard run that was completed in the end zone to put the Lakers ahead 30-19.
Mayville State took advantage of an RU fumble and scored a touchdown on the next play, but Johnson capped a key three-minute drive with a crucial 12-yard touchdown run.
Mayville State got within five once again on Salmon's fourth touchdown pass of the afternoon with 2:47 left in the fourth. Roosevelt took almost two minutes off the clock on four Johnson rushes, and right after a Lakers punt, Matthew Olivella picked off Salmon to ice the game amidst steamy conditions for Roosevelt.
GAME DETAILS
Score:
Mayville State 6 13 0 13
Roosevelt 14 10 6 7
Records: Roosevelt 1-0// Mayville State 0-1
Location: Morris Field | Arlington Heights, Ill.
KEY STATS
NEWS & NOTES
- Johnson has rushed for 100-plus yards in all but one of his seven games in a Roosevelt uniform
- Roosevelt has won both of its season openers in program history, with both campaign-starting victories coming within 204 days of each other
- Saturday marked the first Roosevelt home football game allowing fans in attendance after a spring 2021 slate without spectators due to the global impacts of COVID-19
NEXT UP
The Lakers get time to rest before hitting the road to face Concordia (Mich.) on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 12 p.m. inside Cardinal Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
