Box Score Coach Matt Foster summarized his team's play in 2019 as a program that fought through adversity.
 
The adversity showed against during Saturday's Red Grange Bowl against Itasca College. And the end result put a big smile on the seven-year head coach's face.
 
The Chaps put aside four turnovers and relied upon sound defensive play in walking off Saturday with a crowd-pleasing and hard fought 14-0 victory over the Vikings in the fourth annual bowl game that highlights non-scholarship NJCAA football.
 
"I'm so proud of how we responded after some misplays and fumbles,'' Foster said. "We found a way to win and pull through. That's been our season; finding ways to overcome tough spots and pulling through together. Our effort was there all day long.''
 
Quarterbacks Tom Vatter and Benjamin Little Jr. rotated throughout the game and it was Little who provided a spark when the Chaps needed one.
 
Two plays after Camron Harrell's 29-yard punt return put the ball at the Itasca 45, Little broke through on a keeper around the left side and gave the Chaps the 7-0 lead with 8:05 remaining in the half.
 
The game remained 7-0 late into the fourth quarter before the Chaps put the game on ice.
 
Lavale Hill's 26-yard gain gave the Chaps the ball at the Itasca 26 with 9 minutes to go in the game. Four plays later on first-and-10 from the 15, he bounded through the middle for the score and the Chaps had their two-possession lead.

Hill led the Chaps in rushing with 150 yards on 14 carries. Little, thanks to his big first-half TD, had 100 yards on six carries.
 
"We really needed an extra score to put the game on ice,'' Hill said. "But it wasn't about me doing it by myself. We've trusted each other all season long and the line created the opening.''
 
The Chaps finished the season 8-4 overall and it marks their third Red Grange Bowl victory in the last four years.
 
Defensively, the Chaps secured their second shutout of the season, thanks to the play of defensive lineman Christian Wills. He had 2 1/2 sacks and 3 1/2 tackles for loss on the day.
 
"I can't say enough about our defense to stop a potent offensive attack by Itasca,'' Foster said. "Anthony Fordham and Christian were so tough today. And guys like Cam (Harrell), Alaric Wooten and Nathan Clark. Our defense stepped up and played like they wanted to keep Itasca from scoring. It was just a great way to end the season.''

Clark led the Chaps' defense with 10 solo tackles and three unassisted tackles. Wooten, Fordham and Ethan Perakis each had an interception; Perakis' featured a 22-yard run.
 
Itasca, which was playing in its first-ever postseason contest, finished 8-4.
 
2019 Red Grange Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019
College of DuPage def. Itasca (Minn). 14-0
Itasca 0-0-0-0_0
College of DuPage 0-7-0-7_14
 
Scoring summary
2^nd Quarter
COD — Benjamin Little Jr. 45 run (Leslie Nartey kick) 8:05
Drive summary: 2 plays, 45 yards, 1:47 elapsed time
4^th Quarter
COD — Lavale Hill 15 run (Nartey kick) 8:14
Drive summary: 7 plays, 60 yards, 3:44 elapsed time