Quarterback Jacob Tiberi, in his first start of the season, threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns in Chicago State’s victory. He also ran for a score. (Photo by GoCSUCougars.com)
By Barry Bottino
Chicago State’s last home game was also a day of firsts.
The Cougars (3-7) notched the first shutout of the season with a 45-0 victory Saturday against Virginia University Lynchburg at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
In his first start of the season, CSU quarterback Jacob Tiberi threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for a score.
The Cougar defense collected four sacks and forced three turnovers while limiting VUL (0-9), a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, to 158 total yards and only 19 on the ground.
Tiberi threw touchdowns of 7, 32 and 31 yards while rushing for a 2-yard score late in the third quarter to put the Cougars ahead, 42-0. He finished the day 21-for-33 passing.
Wide receiver Kymari Gray caught six passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow receiver Arshawn Powell had five receptions for 77 yards and a TD.
Tiberi and running backs Calvin Lee and Tre’ Hartwell scored touchdowns on the ground for CSU.
Four different players had a sack for Chicago State. Brooks Dupree intercepted a pass while Vernon Cole and Ethan Ridley each recovered a VUL fumble.
Game changers
7:28, 1st quarter: Lee plowed in from 1 yard out for the first CSU touchdown of the day.
11:26, 2nd quarter: Hartwell scored his team-leading sixth rushing TD of the season on an 11-yard run.
1:13, 3rd quarter: Tiberi scored his fourth total touchdown of the day on a 2-yard run.
What’s next?
The Cougars play the final game of their inaugural season on the road at Southern Utah. Kickoff is 11 a.m. on Nov. 21.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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