ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine University football team defeated of Concordia University Wisconsin, 21-16, in the home opener at Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium in Angola, Ind.
Following a scoreless first quarter, both teams got on the scoreboard in quarter number two with Concordia Wisconsin (2-1) striking first on a 21-yard field goal. Trine (3-0) quickly answered, however, by scoring on its ensuing possession that included a 52-yard pass completion from senior quarterback Brandon Winters (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) to fellow senior Jacob Chesney (Kirklin, Ind./Sheridan) on the second play from scrimmage that put the ball at the Falcon 13 yard line. Three plays later, junior Dylan Dowling (Alexandria, Ind./Alexandria) put the ball in the endzone from a yard out as the Thunder grabbed a 7-3 lead with 5:54 left in the first half.
The touchdown by Dowling ended the scoring in the half as Trine led, 7-3, at the break.
Trine came out of the locker rooms and looked sharp to start the third quarter. After receiving the kickoff, the Thunder marched 68 yards in five plays that included another large pass completion of 38 yards, this time from Winters to senior Seth Boggs (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) which was later followed by a 19-yard run by Dowling that resulted in a touchdown, his second of the day, and increased the margin to 14-3.
On Trine's next offensive possesion, Winters and Boggs connected again for a 55-yard completion that set up Dowling's third rushing TD of the afternoon, this time from three yards out, and put the Thunder in the driver's seat leading, 21-3, with a little under 10 minutes to go in the quarter.
Near the end of the third quarter, Concordia Wisconsin got back on the board on a blocked Trine punt that was recovered in the endzone with 35 seconds to go in the period. The extra point attempt following the Falcon scored sailed wide making it a 21-9 ball game heading into the fourth quarter.
CUW made things interesting in the fourth quarter with the only points of the frame that came with 4:39 remaining on a six-play, 62-yard drive that ended with a six-yard completion to make the score 21-16. The Falcons got one final attempt at possibly taking the lead, but three sacks by the Trine defense and a personal foul penalty against CUW that negated a 25-yard pass play that would have given the Falcons first down and 10 a their own 42-yard line, secured the victory for the Thunder who went on to win by the final of 21-16.
With the win, Trine's regular-season win streak increases to 23 straight games that dates back to the 2017 season.
As a team, the Thunder finished with 354 yards of offense (126 rushing and 228 passing). Individually, Winters completed 10-of-14 passes for 228 yards. He also rushed for 57 yards on 18 carries (3.2 yards per attempt).
Dowling was the game's leading rusher with 85 yards on 22 touches (3.9 yards per carry) to go along with his three scores.
Boggs led all receivers with 111 yards on three catches. Chesney finished with a game-high four receptions for 89 yards.
Defensively, seniors Simeon Washington (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) and Vince Hulme (Lake Worth, Fla./Forest Hill) both tallied a team-high six tackles. Washington also added two sacks and Hulme tacked on another as the Thunder defense recorded a total of seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss in the game.
Trine will have its "bye" week next weekend and will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 5 when the Thunder host Hope (Mich.) College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener at Zollner Stadium. The game will also be part of Homecoming weekend festivities with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
