A 21-0 halftime lead may have seemed that top-ranked College of DuPage was in complete control in Saturday's home game against Christian Community College.
 
"Even though we had a lead, we weren't playing as well as we should have,'' head coach Matthew Rahn said. "They were in some fronts that we hadn't seen before, but that shouldn't matter. You still have to lineup and get after it.''
 
And that's what happened once the second half began. The Chaparrals scored three touchdowns in just over the first five minutes of the third quarter as they went on to defeat the Lions, 52-0 at Bjarne Ullsvik Stadium.
 
Running back Jaden McGill and quarterback Gavin Sukup each scored two rushing touchdowns, and Sukup threw for two more as COD improved its record to 4-0 entering next Sunday's game at Division I Iowa Central.
 
Kicker Joshua Winslow added a 26-yard field goal to close the third quarter and back-up QB Robert Brazziel connected on a 33-yard TD pass to Shamaree Brown in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring for the Chaps.
 
McGill capped the first half when he struck on a 51-yard run up the middle and gave COD the lead 21-0 with 6:24 to go in the half.
 
"We were frustrated as we stumbled in the first half,'' Rahn said. "We responded much, much better in the second and played to a level that we expect to play.''
 
COD immediately got going when kickoff returner LaFabian Fain took the opening kickoff for 28 yards and the Chaps set up at the Lions' 45. McGill then scampered on a 50-yard run and one play later scored from the five and COD was on its way, 28-0.
 
After a three-and-out on successive incomplete passes, the Chaps took over at the 50 and in three plays, Sukup connected on a 16-yard TD pass to Matthew Brown on a drive that took just 1:36.
 
The Lions were then stopped when defensive back Jarin Edwards made the first of two interceptions on the day, and the Chaps set up at CCC's 26, where Sukup scored on the first play from scrimmage.
 
"Defensively, Jarin played very well and Nick Bucaro was solid from beginning to end,'' Rahn said. "Our defense, like last year, has carried us through our four games and haven't take a step back. We can afford a few stumbles on offense and still get going.
 
"And on offensve, McGill provided us a spark and Gavin has some nice plays and showed how good he really is.''
 
 
Christian Community 0-0-0-0_0
COD 7-14-23-7_51
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
C — Gavin Sukup 1 run (Joshua Winslow kick), 8:43
Scoring Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:42 time)
Second Quarter
C — Marquel Porter 9 pass from Sukup (Winslow kick), 13:45
Scoring Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 3:30 time)
C — Jaden McGill 51 run (Winslow kick), 6:24
Scoring Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:43 time)
Third Quarter
C — McGill 5 run (Winslow kick), 14:07
Scoring Drive: 2 plays, 55 yards, :46
C — Matthew Brown 16 pass from Sukup (Winslow kick), 11:53
Scoring Drive: 3 plays, 50 yards, 1:36
C — Sukup 26 run (pass failed), 9:51
Scoring Drive: 1 play, 26 yards, :19
C —  FG 26 Winslow,  :41
Scoring Drive: 6 plays, 44 yards, 3:57
Fourth Quarter
C — Shamaree Brown 33 pass from Robert Brazziel (Winslow kick), 3:44
Scoring Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 5:42