Freshman Gavin Sukup threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and backup Peyton O'Laughlin threw for two TDs as top-ranked College of DuPage overwhelmed host Erie Community College in the second half in its 48-0 win Saturday in Orchard Park, N.Y.
 
The Chaps, now 5-1 overall, travel to Detroit on Saturday to take on Christian Community College. Kickoff is 3 p.m. Central time.
 
Neither team made any headway on offense in the opening half, but the Chaps cleared out in the third quarter, scoring five touchdowns in less than nine minutes, thanks to the defense forcing fumbles on four straight Erie possessions.
 
Running back Samson Zander broke the tie on a 38-yard touchdown run with 9:03 left in the quarter.
 
The Chaps' Nick Sturgill recovered a fumble at the COD 11, and two plays later, Sukup tossed a 5-yard TD to Matthew Brown. The Chaps forced another fumble on Erie's next possession, this one recovered by Justin Gniedziejko, and three plays later, Sukup found daylight on a 51-yard run and COD led 20-0.
 
After another fumble, recovered by Joseph Holmes, Sukup and Vince Brown connected on a 7-yard TD, and Gniedziejko recovered another fumble, and Brian Trobel completed the third-quarter scoring with a 10-yard TD.
 
O'Laughlin threw fourth-quarter scores of 5 yards (Myles McKatherine) and 13 yards (Demetrius Kellie) for COD.
 
Sukup gained 88 yards on six carries, and Trobel rushed for 83 yards on seven carries. The Chaps gained 292 yards on 44 carries and threw for 184 yards. Through the air, Sukup was 13 of 20 passing for 134 yards and O'Laughlin was 5 of 8 for 73 yards.
 
LB Michael Walker totaled six tackles with four solos. DE Michael Simon had five tackles (two solos). Justin Gniedziejko and Nick Bucaro each had an unassisted sack, and Simon and Jordan Rice-Reno teamed up on a sack.
 
"Not sure if it was the travel or not, but for whatever reason, we came out flat,'' head coach Matthew Rahn said. "Beginning of the game, our offense struggled and the defense was not as sharp as we've been. Second half, offense rose to the level that we're capable of playing and our defense earned the shutout. We have to find a way to play four, full quarters of football every week. We got to get there.''
 
DuPage 0-0-34-14_48
Erie CC 0-0-0-0_0
Scoring Summary
Third Quarter
D — Samson Zander 38 run (Joshua Winslow kick), 9:03
Drive: 7 plays, 93 yards, 3:22                                                                                                  
D — Matthew Brown 5 pass from Gavin Sukup (kick failed), 6:26
Drive: 2 plays, 5 yards, :40                                                                                                       
D —Sukup 51 run (Winslow kick) 4:57
Drive: 3 plays, 57 yards, :52                                                                                                    
D —Vince Brown 7 pass from Sukup (Winslow kick) 3:49
Drive: 2 plays, 27 yards, :42                                                                                                    
D — Brian Trobel 10 run (Winslow kick) :21
Drive: 4 plays, 35 yards, 2:04                                                                                                  
Fourth Quarter
D — Myles McKatherine 5 from Peyton O'Laughlin (Winslow kick), 9:07
Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 4:48                                                                                                  
D — Demetrius Kelli 13 pass from O'Laughlin (Winslow kick), 3:13
Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 4:23