Box Score ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The 18th ranked Roosevelt University football team wasted little time taking control of its MSFA Midwest League match-up versus Judson University, scoring three touchdowns in the first five minutes of the game and 35 points in the opening quarter to cruise to a 56-12 victory on Saturday, October 22 at Morris Field. The win raised the Lakers' league record to 3-1 and their overall record to 6-1 on the year.
The Lakers' defense got things started on the third play from scrimmage with Tony Pope intercepting a Judson pass and returning it 40 yards to the Eagles' 11-yard line. Three plays later, Luke Wilson hit Blaize Griffin in the corner of the end zone for a 7-0 Roosevelt lead with 13:04 to go in the opening quarter.
On the second Judson possession of the game, the Lakers forced another turnover, recovering a fumble at the Eagles' 46-yard line. Wilson connected with Ethan Cano on a 29-yard pass play to move the ball to the 18-yard line. Tyler Tenner followed with rushes of 10 and eight yards to push the RU lead to 14-0 just under five minutes into the contest.
Roosevelt's special teams followed suit with a big play of their own, recovering a squib kick that rolled all the way to the Judson six-yard line. Two plays later, Tenner scored on a one-yard run for his second touchdown of the game and a 21-0 lead with 10:01 remaining in the first quarter.
Judson marched down the field on its next possession to the Lakers' seven-yard line and faced a fourth and goal. The Eagles decided to go for it and scored on a seven-yard pass play to cut the RU lead to 21-6 with 4:43 to go after missing the extra point.
The first quarter scoring barrage continued with Cano setting the Lakers' offense up with a 44-yard kick-off return to the Judson 25-yard line, but the ball was moved back to the 40-yard line after an RU penalty. Tenner then broke a 31-yard run to the nine-yard line and Wilson threw his second TD pass of the game, hitting Jack Young Jr. to make it a 28-6 advantage.
The Lakers' defense came up with their third turnover of the opening quarter with Jalen Perkins picking off a Judson pass and returning it to the Eagles' 32-yard line. Wilson then completed three passes with the final one hitting Griffin on the run for an 11-yard score and a 35-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Malik Barbee forced a fumble and the fourth turnover of the game on Judson's next possession to give RU the ball at the Judson 19-yard line early in the second quarter. Ke'von Johnson then ran the ball three consecutive times and crossed the goal line on a two-yard run to up the score to 42-6 with 12:32 to go in the first half.
A blocked punt by Trey Bishop and the RU special teams gave the ball back to the Lakers in Judson territory at the 37-yard line. The RU offense proceeded to threaten again and Wilson threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game, this time hitting Tiron Washington on a six-yard completion for a 49-6 half-time lead.
The Lakers added to their lead on their opening drive of the third quarter with David Willis rushing for 47 yards in the sequence, including a six-yard touchdown run to raise the lead to 56-6. Judson added a touchdown of its own in the third quarter for the 56-12 final score.
KEY STATS
NEWS & NOTES
- The Lakers set a new program record for points scored in a game with 56, eclipsing the previous mark of 55 set earlier this season versus Mayville State
- RU is now 1-1 all-time versus Judson
- The Lakers entered the game ranked 18th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll
- Click here to view the current MSFA Midwest League standings
NEXT UP
The Lakers travel to Davenport, Iowa to take on St. Ambrose University in another MSFA Midwest League match-up on Saturday, October 29. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm at Brady Street Stadium.
