Luther Drops Final Game at Dubuque
Nov. 10, 2007
Luther dropped its final game of the season to the University of Dubuque 34-31 in Dubuque this afternoon. The loss dropped Luther's Iowa Conference record to 4-4, 5-5 overall.
After falling behind 17-7, the Spartans scored 20 unanswered points, taking the lead for good 27-17, following a 52-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Jermar Jackson to Brennan Relaford. Jackson was the difference in this ball game, rushing for 127 yards and three touchdowns, and throwing for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Luther pulled to within three points (24-27) with 8:39 remaining in the game, when Tyler Sherden scored the second of his two touchdowns on a two-yard plunge. His 16th touchdown run of the season capped off a 78-yard, 11-play drive. This touchdown also tied the single season school record set by Bernie Peeters in 1969.
Dubuque put the icing on the cake with a little over four minutes remaining. The Spartans recovered a forced fumble caused by a sack on quarterback Justin Feldt, on the Norse three-yard line. One play later, Dubuque took a 34-23 advantage, when Jackson scored his third and final touchdown of the afternoon.
Luther put its final tally on the scoreboard when Feldt connected with Tony Brantner on a four-yard pass with just 43 ticks left on the clock. A failed on-side kick, sealed the deal for the Spartans, who ended their year with an Iowa Conference record of 5-3, 7-3 overall.
Tyler Pease broke his own single season school record for field goals, driving a 24-yard attempt through the uprights, for Luther's first score of the afternoon. His field goal was his 12 of the year.
Sherden completed his record setting year with 127 yards on 40 carries, increasing his single season school record rushing total to 1,575. He broke the old mark of 1,442 set by Peeters in 1971, last week against Simpson College.
Brantner's team leading fifth touchdown reception of the year, secured the number three slot on the all-time charts, increasing his career total to 17.
For the second time this season, linebacker Marcus Hendrickson returned an interception for a touchdown. Hendrickson picked off Jackson on the Dubuque 19-yard line, and ran the ball into the end zone with 9:01 remaining in the first quarter. The pick was his third of the year and eighth of his career.
