September 23, 2006

Chicago Defeats Macalester 34-7

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Sophomore tailback Chuck Little (Plano, Texas/ St. Mark's) rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns as the University of Chicago football team defeated Macalester College 34-7 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools Saturday at Macalester Stadium.

Little, who averaged 7.8 yards on 11 carries, scored both of his touchdowns in the second quarter as the Maroons took a commanding 20-0 lead at the half.

Chicago (2-1) traveled 57 yards in eight plays on the game's opening possession, capped by a 1-yard plunge by junior tailback Nick Schey (Barrington, Ill./ St. Viator).

On the Maroons' next possession, Little scored on a 21-yard run at the 11:39 mark of the second quarter as the Maroons covered 75 yards on a 16-play, 8:53 drive.

Following a Macalester punt, Chicago took possession at the Scots' 42-yard line with 3:35 left in the first half. Five plays later, Little ran in from 14 yards out for his second touchdown of the day.

Macalester (1-3) got on the board late in the third quarter when Nate Vernon broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run. Vernon led the Scots with 60 yards on eight attempts.

Chicago answered on its next drive to put the game out of reach. Senior quarterback Matt Rinklin's (New York, N.Y./ Fordham Prep) 8-yard touchdown run concluded a five-play, 54-yard drive which featured three carries by Little for 34 yards.

Chicago scored the only points of the final stanza, when junior fullback Kyle Cepeda (LaPorte, Ind./ LaPorte) scored on a 50-yard run -- the longest of his career and his first-ever touchdown.

Entering the game with the 11th-rated rushing offense in the NCAA Division III, Chicago amassed 304 yards on 41 attempts for a 7.4 yard average per carry. Rinklin gained a career-best 84 yards, while Schey and Cepeda finished with 69 and 57, respectively.

Rinklin also completed 16 of 24 pass attempts for 185 yards and one interception. Sophomore wideout John Kiernan (Joliet, Ill./ Catholic) caught seven passes for 80 yards. He also connected with junior Laurence Frank (Skokie, Ill./ Niles West) for a two-point conversion in the second quarter.

Junior linebacker Tony Insalaco (Mokena, Ill./ Lincoln-Way East) led the Maroons defensively with three sacks, while Frank collected a pair. Chicago limited the Scots to 73 yards rushing and 166 passing.

Macalester signal caller Nick Slobe was successful on 15 of 26 attempts for 166 yards and an interception.

Box Score