WAUWATOSA, Wis. --- The Aurora University Spartan football team won the 2025 SmileyCookie.com Lakefront Bowl in record setting fashion led by Lakefront Bowl MVP Braeden Hellinger who blocked two kicks on the day, both of which resulted in touchdowns in the 49-14 win over Illinois College from the Midwest Conference. The Spartans set bowl game records for margin of victory and points scored on the afternoon.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 49, Illinois College 14
LOCATION: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin - Raabe Stadium
RECORDS: Aurora University 8-3 overall and 6-2 NACC, Illinois College 8-3 overall
GAME TIME: 4:21
ATTENDANCE: 453

HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU took the opening kick off and marched right down field in nine-plays going 68-yards with Liam Mickle hitting Connor Bright on a two-yard score.
- After the teams traded possessions, Braeden Hellinger got his MVP day started, intercepting a pass on a diving effort.
- Though the Spartan offense would not take advantage of the turnover, AU would lead 7-0 after one quarter.
- Hellinger struck again at the start of the second quarter, this time on special teams. He blocked a BlueBoy punt which was scooped up by Scott Carter at the two-yard line and when he dove into the endzone, AU led 14-0.
- The next three possessions were crazy with AU forcing an IC punt but the first play saw IC intercept a Mickle pass but the Spartans would get the ball back one play later when Joseph Holohan forced a fumble that JP Chaney landed on to set up the offense at the IC five yard line.
- On the first play on the field, Mickle dashed five yards for a touchdown and AU now led 21-0 with over 10 minutes left in the second.
- The craziness was not done as Illinois College scored two plays later but AU's Ian Collins blocked the extra point to give AU a 21-6 lead.
- The score would remain 21-6 until the final minute of play in the first-half.
- The final 35 seconds had even more craziness, starting with AU punter Kevin Carden-Landa downing a ball at the IC three-yard line.
- JP Chaney then added another tackle for loss to his season total, this time in the end zone for a safety and AU led 23-6.
- Spartan TJ Ramsey then set up AU on the free kick with a 47-yard return to the 21-yard line with 10 seconds left.
- Cooper Winslow would connect on a 38-yard field goal as time expired and AU led 26-6.
- The AU defense stepped up again on the first drive of the third quarter with IC driving to the AU-9 before Cameron Council grabbed a pass in mid air for an interception to end the Blueboy scoring chance.
- AU then took to the ground and took off 6:50 of game clock with a 13-play, 72-yard drive with ended with a 34-yard field goal from Winslow and AU led 29-6.
- Chaney rose to the occasion on the next defensive drive for AU, sacking the IC quarterback nd forcing a fumble that Logan Lawson landed on.
- AU would lead IC 29-6 after three quarters of play.
- Just as he had done early in the second quarter, Hellinger grabbed the games attention early in the fourth with his second blocked punt of the game. This time the punt was in the IC end zone and Fabian Mosley snagged it out of the air, kept both his feet in bounds for a touchdown and AU led 36-6.
- IC responded right away with a scoring drive to cut the AU lead to 36-14.
- After the defense turned IC over on downs deep in the opponents territory, the AU offense took advantage.
- Mickle scored on the ground for the second time on the day to push the AU lead to 42-14 after the AU pat was blocked.
- Spartan Jarett DelRose intercepted a IC pass for another AU defensive turnover on the day and the AU offense went back to work.
- Seven running plays and a pass play led to a Lucious Dones rushing touchdown and AU now led 49-14.
- The AU defense came up with one more turnover when Ty Hopp landed on a botched hand off.
- AU would celebrate the win, winning 49-14.

TOP PERFORMERS
Rushing:
 - Carries: TJ Ramsey (29) 
 - Yards: TJ Ramsey (146)
 - Touchdowns: Liam Mickle (2) and Lucious Dones (1) 
Passing:
- Liam Mickle (13-25-1 for 115 yards and one touchdown)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Connor Bright and TJ Ramsey (4)
 - Yards: Connor Bright (36)
- Touchdown: Connor Bright (1)
Defense:
- Tackles: JP Chaney and Mason Hulbert (5)
- Sacks: JP Chaney (1.0)
- Forced Fumble: JP Chaney and Joseph Holohan (1)
- Fumble Recovery: JP Chaney, Ty Hopp and Logan Lawson (1)
- Safety: JP Chaney (1)
- Interceptions: Braeden Hellinger, Jarett DelRose and Cameron Council (1)
Special Teams:
- Blocked Kicks: Braeden Hellinger (2 - punts) and Ian Collins (1 - extra point)
- Touchdowns: Scott Carter and Fabian Mosley (1)
- Field Goals: Cooper WInslow (2 - 34 and 38 yards)
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans finish the season with an 8-3 overall record and Lakefront Bowl Champions.