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WAUWATOSA, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College bounced back from a slow start by scoring all 38 points over the final three quarters for a 38-6 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and Homecoming win over Eureka on Saturday at Raabe Stadium.
Neither team mustered much offense on any of its three possessions in the opening quarter, as the Warriors (2-1, 1-0 NACC) turned the ball over on downs and had a field goal blocked on their first two drives.
WLC took advantage of a three-yard punt by the Red Devils to start the second quarter when junior Bryce Barbian (Cudahy, Wis.) connected with sophomore Emmitt Hawkins (Cudahy, Wis.) for a 37-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead with 10:28 left. Following another EC punt, Wisconsin Lutheran went 47 yards on six plays after freshman Liam Heiges (Appleton, Wis.) scampered 21 yards for a touchdown just past the midway point of the second quarter. Senior Arnulfo Ortega (Laredo, Texas) capped the first-half scoring with a 22-yard field goal as time expired for a 17-0 lead.
The Warriors' longest drive of the game of 10 plays, 84 yards resulted in a fumble into the end zone for a touchback with five minutes left in the third quarter. WLC answered on its next drive, however, as Barbian found junior Colin Amack (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) for a 14-yard touchdown for the only points of the third quarter.
Wisconsin Lutheran turned an interception by senior Connor Martin (Chino, Calif.) into points early in the fourth quarter. The Warriors went 37 yards on eight plays, capped by a Heiges one-yard TD pass to junior Malik Gordon (San Marcos, Texas). Barbian found Hawkins again for a 47-yard touchdown strike with 8:36 left in the game for WLC's final points of the night. Eureka got on the scoreboard late in the fourth following a 21-yard touchdown pass from Braden Tollett to Mondrel Boykins for its lone points of the game.
Wisconsin Lutheran out-gained the Red Devils 508-189. Barbian threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns while completing 25 of 36 passing attempts. Heiges had his second straight 100-yard rushing game with 23 carries for 113 yards and one touchdown. Hawkins hauled in six passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns, while Gordon grabbed 12 balls for 105 yards and a score.
Senior Savon Goodwin (New Orleans, La.) and freshman Jordan Miller (New Berlin, Wis.) had five tackles each for the Warriors defense, which forced two turnovers and eight punts.
Nshimirimana Ezechiele tallied a game-high 11 tackles for EC (0-3, 0-1 NACC).
WLC travels to Plymouth next Saturday for a 6 p.m. NACC matchup against Lakeland (1-1, 1-0 NACC). Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.