SEWARD, Neb. – There is just one more stop left on the journey as it relates to the 2018 Concordia University football season. After four-straight losses, the Bulldogs have hopes of heading into the offseason with positive momentum. Concordia will kick things off at Doane’s Al Papik Field at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday. Head coach Patrick Daberkow led the Bulldogs to a 29-18 victory over the Tigers in last season’s meeting.
Concordia knows it must get out of the gate better than it did last week when it found itself trailing sixth-ranked Northwestern, 42-7, after three quarters. A passing game sparked by quarterback Andrew Perea and receivers Vincent Beasley and Korrell Koelmoos got rolling in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs outscored the Red Raiders, 21-0. Perea’s 455 passing yards broke the program’s single-game record. However, Concordia came up empty on four red zone trips and surrendered 542 yards on defense.
It's been an up-and-down season for Doane, which is under the direction of a first-year head coach in Chris Bessler (formerly defensive coordinator). The Tiger defense dominated last week in a 30-3 win at Dakota Wesleyan. Doane picked off four passes and held Dakota Wesleyan to 243 total yards. Three of those interceptions were produced by senior Seth Majerus (Seward High School product), who returned one for an 18-yard touchdown. As a result, Majerus was named the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week.
GAME INFO
Concordia (3-6, 2-6) at Doane (5-4, 4-4)
Saturday, Nov. 10 | 1 p.m.
Al Papik Field | Crete, Neb.
Webcast: News Channel Nebraska
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Tyler Cavalli and Roger Fitzke
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*National rank out of 90 NAIA football programs in parentheses
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 15.1 (87th)
Defensive PPG: 27.8 (T-39th)
Total Offense: 278.2 (86th)
Pass Offense: 180.4 (65th)
Rush Offense: 97.8 (85th)
Total Defense: 429.2 (64th)
Pass Defense: 241.1 (65th)
Rush Defense: 188.1 (T-65th)
Turnover +/-: +4 (T-26th)
Doane
Offensive PPG: 27.2 (47th)
Defensive PPG: 22.3 (25th)
Total Offense: 330.3 (68th)
Pass Offense: 222.4 (38th)
Rush Offense: 107.9 (82nd)
Total Defense: 393.0 (49th)
Pass Defense: 207.9 (36th)
Rush Defense: 185.1 (62nd)
Turnover +/-: +13 (5th)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (9-10, 2nd season)
Passing: Andrew Perea – 72/152 (.474), 997 yards, 5 td, 5 int, 106.7 effic.
Rushing: Ryan Durdon – 195 rushes, 759 yards, 3.9 avg, 7 td; 14 catches, 161 yards, td
Receiving: Vincent Beasley – 43 catches, 521 yards, 12.1 avg, 3 td
Defense: Lane Napier – 130 tackles, 11.5 tfl, 4 sacks, ff, blocked PAT
Doane
Head Coach: Chris Bessler (5-4, 1st season)
Passing: Jack Kalina – 206/336 (.613), 1,968 yards, 16 td, 6 int, 122.7 effic.
Rushing: Garrett Sonderup – 127 rushes, 563 yards, 4.4 avg, 2 td; 24 catches, 210 yards, 2 td
Receiving: Jacob Beller – 39 catches, 406 yards, 10.4 avg, 2 td
Defense: Chayton Crow – 74 tackles, 4.5 tfl, 2 int
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (3-6, 2-6)
9/8 vs. Buena Vista, W, 27-20
9/15 at Jamestown, W, 16-13
9/22 vs. Midland, L, 7-35
9/29 at Dordt, L, 19-38
10/6 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, W, 14-9
10/13 at Briar Cliff, L, 14-23
10/20 vs. Hastings, L, 13-21
10/27 at (1) Morningside, L, 0-49
11/3 vs. (6) Northwestern, L, 28-42
11/10 at Doane, 1 p.m.
Doane (5-4, 4-4)
8/25 at Friends, W, 57-3
9/15 at Dordt, W, 24-21
9/22 vs. Jamestown, W, 44-13
9/29 at (5) Northwestern, L, 25-28
10/6 vs. Hastings, L, 19-22
10/13 at (1) Morningside, L, 7-69
10/20 vs. Briar Cliff, W, 17-7
10/27 vs. Midland, L, 22-35
11/3 at Dakota Wesleyan, W, 30-3
11/10 vs. Concordia, 1 p.m.
In the rankings
Concordia cracked the NAIA top 25 national poll last Nov. 6 but then dropped out after falling in the 2017 finale. The Bulldogs did not receive any votes in the preseason national poll this preseason or in the first eight regular-season polls. They were picked fourth among the 10 GPAC football schools by both the coaches and media in the preseason. Massey Ratings currently lists Concordia as the 45th ranked team nationally in the NAIA.
Following a 3-0 start to the season, Doane jumped into the receiving votes category of the NAIA national poll. The Tigers held onto receiving votes status until back-to-back losses led to them disappearing from the rankings. Doane has already guaranteed itself of finishing above its GPAC preseason placements of seventh by the media and eighth by the coaches. The computers like the Tigers, who are ranked 24th nationally by Massey Ratings.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 4th (coaches); 4th (media)
NAIA coaches’ poll (Nov. 5): not ranked
Massey Ratings: 45th
Doane
GPAC preseason: 8th (coaches); 7th (media)
NAIA coaches’ poll (Nov. 5): not ranked
Massey Ratings: 24th
End of the line for senior class
This will be it for a small group of 10 seniors who were honored prior to kickoff of last week’s home finale. The starters among the senior class heading into the Doane game include receiver Vincent Beasley, safeties Kordell Glause and Caden Jameson, defensive end Parker Johnson, offensive tackle Grady Koch and fullback Dan Langewisch. Both Glause and Koch were named honorable mention all-conference last season. Now a safety after starting for two years at linebacker, Glause has made 142 tackles (five sacks) in his career and a personal best 54 tackles this season. Unfortunately, Koch has missed all but two games due to injury. In the passing game, Beasley has been the team’s go-to target. He’s made 43 catches for 521 yards.
Perea breaks single-game school record
Once it got rolling, the passing game clicked last week versus Northwestern. Quarterback Andrew Perea threw for a school single-game record 455 yards to go along with three touchdown passes. Those scoring strikes covered nine and 37 yards to Vincent Beasley and 41 yards to Korrell Koehlmoos. Seven of Perea’s 24 completions went for 20 or more yards. Beasley, Koehlmoos and Ryan Durdon each caught at least one pass that covered more than 30 yards. The big plays helped Perea shatter a record that had stood for nearly 50 years. The previous school standard for most passing yards in a game was 334 by Rod Giesselman versus Nebraska Wesleyan in 1970. Jarrod Pimentel produced three 300-yard passing performances in his fine career that spanned the 2001 GPAC championship season.
Most passing yards, single game
1. Andrew Perea – 455 (vs. Northwestern, 2018)
2. Rod Giesselman – 334 (vs. Nebraska Wesleyan, 1970)
3. Jarrod Pimentel – 333 (vs. Nebraska Wesleyan, 2001)
4. Jarrod Pimentel – 329 (vs. Hastings, 2000)
5. Garrett Folchert – 315 (vs. Midland, 2015)
5. Jarrod Pimentel – 315 (vs. Northwestern, 2001)
Napier pads stats
Sophomore linebacker Lane Napier had already broke the program’s GPAC era record for tackles in a single season in the Oct. 27 game at No. 1 Morningside. He added 13 tackles last week to bring his season total to 130. Napier leads all NAIA players in both total tackles and tackles per game (14.4). His season stat line also includes 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. Napier was even Johnny on the spot last week after a bad Northwestern punt snap. The David City, Neb., native was the first to greet on the punter on a play that resulted in a 24-yard loss and turnover on downs. In his career, Napier has made 226 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
100+ tackles, single season (GPAC era)
1. Lane Napier (2018) – 130
2. Erik DeHaven (2001) – 110
3. Michael Hedlund (2016) – 107
4. Michael Hedlund (2015) – 105
4. Josh Conrad (2000) – 105
6. Sean Stewart (2001) – 102
7. Troy Schlueter (2000) – 100
Durdon eclipses 2,000 career rushing yards
The yards have not come easy in recent weeks, but Ryan Durdon has managed to become the seventh player in program history to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards. So far in 2018, the Decatur, Texas, native has carried the ball 195 times for 759 yards (3.9 per carry) and seven touchdowns. Durdon will need a monster day at Doane to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the second year in a row. He rushed for 1,247 yards and eight touchdowns last fall. This week Durdon goes up against a Tiger defense that has allowed an average of 4.2 yards per rush. In last season’s meeting with Doane, Durdon ran 15 times for 62 yards. Even in games where opposing teams have put their focus on stopping the run, Durdon has found ways to make plays as a receiver and in the kickoff return game. He ranks 24th nationally in all-purpose yards per game (133.9).
Concordia all-time leading rushers
1. Cleve Wester (1982-85) – 3,731
2. Bryce Collins (2013-16) – 3,547
3. Gary Seevers (1953-56) – 3,257
4. Alex Alvarez (1999-03) – 2,959
5. JaMaine Lewis (2004-07) – 2,731
6. Phillip Elder (2002-05) – 2,027
7. Ryan Durdon (2016-- ) – 2,006
8. Jeff Towns (1978-79) – 1,930
9. Don Baker (1971-75) – 1,799
Beasley/Koehlmoos form emerging receiver duo
While Vincent Beasley gets ready to play his final collegiate game, freshman Korrell Koehlmoos has another three seasons to continue to make strides. The native of Pilger, Neb., could end up being the next star receiver at Concordia. Koehlmoos began getting more involved in the offense towards the end of September and has made himself a threat as a kick returner. Last week versus Northwestern, Koehlmoos piled up 249 all-purpose yards, including 162 receiving yards. He caught a touchdown pass of 41 yards and had another grab that covered 44 yards. Meanwhile, it was also a busy day for Beasley, who made nine catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Among GPAC players, Beasley ranks seventh with 43 receptions this season.
Koch solidifies right tackle position
The two most productive games for the Concordia offense, in terms of total yards, have both come in the games that offensive tackle Grady Koch has started. The senior from Doniphan, Neb., has battled injury, finally making his return in the seventh outing of this season. Patrick Daberkow and his staff have been forced to mix and match up front due to injuries and other circumstances. They seem to have settled on a starting group that includes Koch and Cole Baumgartner at the tackles, Evrett Shaw and Donnovyn Waller at the guard spots and Johnny Robinson III at center. The hope is that continuity will lead to more room in the running game this Saturday and into 2019.
Series vs. Doane
From Concordia’s perspective, this series had been all too one-sided up until last season. Doane entered the 2017 matchup having won 11-straight meetings with the Bulldogs. Concordia finally killed the streak by taking a 29-18 homecoming win over the Tigers. Doane actually led 13-0 after the opening quarter before the Bulldogs dominated the rest of the way. Concordia’s defense had its way, allowing only 234 yards while forcing four Tiger turnovers. Prior to last season’s get together, the Bulldogs had not beaten Doane since 2005. The Tigers own an all-time series lead of 40-20-3. The two sides matched up as early as 1925 and have played each other every year since 1958.
Scouting Doane
Doane sits squarely in the middle of the pack in the GPAC standings. Former head coach Matt Franzen (now Director of Athletics) built the Tiger program into an NAIA playoff qualifier in both 2015 and 2016. Last season Doane dipped to 5-5. At 5-4 this season, the Tigers have clinched at least a .500 record for the eighth year in a row. Head coach Chris Bessler’s squad, like Concordia, has struggled at times offensively. However, transfer Jack Kalina has provided efficiency at the quarterback position and sports a solid 16-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Doane has been adept at keeping the opposition off the scoreboard, ranking 25th nationally in scoring defense. It has a unit that has been opportunistic having collected 14 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. Safety Chayton Crow has been dependable in run support. He has made 74 tackles, including 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage. On paper, Saturday’s game projects as a low scoring affair.