Despite a solid start, Chicago State — debuting as an independent in the Division I FCS ranks — lost its first football game in school history Saturday, falling to Division II Roosevelt 44-28 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
Chicago State opened a 7-3 lead after the first quarter, but Roosevelt outscored the Cougars 24-7 in the second quarter and never slipped again.
Roosevelt quarterback Tony Chachino, formerly of Geneva High School, completed 20 of 32 passes for 236 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Running back Jaden Bossie, a former Mt. Carmel star, rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown in 22 carries. He also caught five passes for 91 yards and another touchdown.
Chicago State was led by quarterback Ashton Pannell, who’s from Long Beach, Calif. He completed 29 of 40 passes for 264 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Chicago State has an enrollment of about 2,500, well below the average in the Northeast and across the FCS.
CSU’s roster includes 20 players from Chicago and five others from Illinois.
“We’re building it brick-by-brick,” wide receiver Arshawn Powell, who redshirted at Sourthern Illinois last season, told the Sun-Times last week. “It’s not about us. It’s for Chicago.”
Powell caught five passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.
