ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University football team suffered its first home loss of the season on Saturday as Rockford fell 34-0 to Hope College.
The Regents struggled to get any sort of rhythm going offensively for nearly the entire day. Rockford was just 1-of-12 on third down attempts and was outgained 475-261. The Regents best drive of the day came in the fourth quarter when Rockford moved the ball 66 yards and entered the red zone for the first time in the game. However it simply was not Rockford's day as on fourth-and-three from the Hope 12 yard line, the Regents threw an interception that was returned 95 yards for a touchdown.
Defensively the Regents were able to keep the game close for most of the afternoon by intercepting a pass and forcing two turnovers on downs. After falling behind 10-0 early, the Rockford defense rose to the occasion on Hope's third possession of the day. With the Flying Dutchmen facing a fourth down and two at the Rockford 18-yard line, Michael Krieter (Rockford, Ill.) and Benjamin LeRoy III (Pacoima, Calif.) led the charge as Rockford stuffed the Hope runner forcing a turnover on downs. Rockford's lone interception of the day came just before the half when senior defensive back Reggie Haynes (Chicago, Ill.) turned away the Fighting Dutchmen in the end zone by intercepting a jump ball to keep it a 17-0 game entering the half. The other turnover on downs came late in the third quarter when Rockford forced an incomplete pass on fourth and seven from the Regents' 23-yard line.
The Rockford offense gained a total of 261 yards with 145 of them coming through the air and 116 coming on the ground. Freshman quarterback Adam O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.) threw for 145 yards and added 37 yards rushing. Senior Pete Berry (Ocala, Fla.) was the leading rusher for the Regents as he carried the ball 14 times for 54 yards. The Rockford receiving core was led by the duo of Mar Sean Vercher (Chicago, Ill.) and Joe Breeden (Burlington, Ill.). Vercher had a team-high 7 receptions for 52 yards while Breeden caught 5 passes for 48 yards.
Defensively Rockford had multiple outstanding individual efforts. Senior Tremaine Berry (Ocala, Fla.) led everyone with a game-high 11 tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker Michael Watson (Schaumburg, Ill.) continued to build on his impressive start to the year with 10 tackles. At the midway point in the season, Watson is currently third in the NACC with 43 tackles. Reggie Haynes and Micheal Krieter each tallied 8 tackles with Haynes also intercepting a pass and breaking up three more passes.
The Rockford University football team returns to action next Saturday, October 17 at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
