Week 5: Aquin vs Forreston

A trip to Forreston in this NUIC South match between Forreston and the AP #2 ranked Aquin Bulldogs was highly anticipated, and through the first 21 minutes of the game it was a great battle. However, Aquin would put up 2 scores in the last 3 minutes of the 1st half and scored on every possession in the 2nd half to walk out with a 41-8 win.

Aquin would get the ball to start the game and the first play of the game would be a Will Gustafson pass to Christian Becke on the left sideline. Trying to get more yards, Becke would fumble the ball as Logan Dyson fell on it for the Cards.

Starting with the ball at the Aquin 42 yard line Forreston would go to work grinding out 3 yard run after 3 yard run from their stable of backs. At the Bulldog 3 yard line Lukas Lingel dove off right guard, got hit, and fumbled the ball as Aquin's Andrew Bowman fell on it.

Aquin wasted no time getting Ty Stykel and Will Gustafson going on the ground, as the two of them moved the ball to the Bulldog 26. On the next play Gustafson would fake the dive to Stykel on the QB option, pull it back and run off right tackle for 74 yards and the score down the right sideline. Evan Broge added the PAT to give Aquin a 7-0 lead with 6:14 to go in the 1st that remained the same heading into the 2nd quarter.

Forreston would go on an 8:25 drive and Lingel would get retribution with a TD run to cap the drive. He would add the 2 point conversion to give Forreston an 8-7 lead they would hold until the 2:41 mark.

The Bulldogs saw Forreston's long drive and returned the favor on a 59 yard drive that lasted 7:03 and ended when Gustafson ran for his 2nd TD on the night. With the PAT by Broge Aquin regained the lead at 14-8.

The Dawgs would force Forreston into a quick turnover on downs to take over at their own 41 yard line with 1:28 left until halftime.

This time they would go 59 yards in just 48 seconds as Gustafson connected with Andrew Bowman for 10 yards, Becke for 12 yards, keep the ball on a 10 yard run, and hit Brennan Carlson on a 27 yard pass in the right corner of the end zone. After the PAT Aquin had a 21-8 lead at the half.

Right away in the 3rd quarter Lingel fumbled a snap that Drew Ege recovered for Aquin at their own 48 yard line. A 52 yard drive that lasted 5:23 was ended as Ty Stykel punched it in for 6 from 4 yards out. Another Broge PAT pit Aquin up 28-8 with 5:41 left in the 3rd, where the score remained going to the final quarter.

Aquin would force the Cards into another turnover on downs at the Bulldog 17 yard line. The Dawgs would move 83 yards in 5:16 as Carlson got separation down the right sideline and hauled in his 2nd TD pass, this one from 29 yards out. Aquin would extend their lead to 35-8 with 10:29 remaining in the game.

On the ensuing drive Forreston would go 4 and out giving Aquin the ball at the Cardinal 37 yard line. Aquin would cover that ground in 3:17 as Gustafson rushed for his 3rd TD of the game from 4 yards out. The PAT was no good, but it would give Aquin the 41-8 lead they would walk out with.

The TD would give Gustafson his 87th career offensive TD which puts him in a tie with former EPC great Jon Lower for most in NUIC history.

The Bulldogs were led by Will Gustafson who was 15-20 passing for 171 yards and 2 TD's, and added 149 yards rushing on 18 attempts with 3 TD's. Brennan Carlson hauled in 7 passes for 100 yards and 2 TD's on the night. He would add an interception on defense to close out the 1st half. Christian Becke and Andrew Bowman both pulled in 4 passes each for 36 yards and 30 yards, respectively. Ty Stykel would run the ball 21 times for 103 yards and 1 TD. Cade Geiken had a big game on both sides of the line to neutralize Forreston at the line of scrimmage.

Forreston was led by Devonte King-Black who had 43 yards rushing on 6 attempts. Jordan Neuschwander would add 42 yards on the ground, Braden Politsch chipped in 32 yards rushing, and Lukas Lingel would have 19 yards rushing with 1 TD.

The Bulldogs (5-0) will look to remain perfect as they host West Carroll (0-4) next week in the season finale.

Forreston (2-2) will get a rivalry game with EPC (2-3) in Lanark at The Bowl to finish the season.