Football releases 2015 schedule

SEWARD, Neb. – On Monday the Concordia University football team announced its 10-game 2015 regular-season schedule. As of March 23, the Bulldogs sit 156 days out from their season opener, which features a visit to Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., as part of the inaugural GPAC-KCAC Challenge. The season’s opening kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 5.

The remaining nine games will be played against GPAC foes, beginning with Concordia’s home opener on Sept. 12 when Hastings invades Bulldog Stadium for Seward Fan Appreciation Day. The home opener will be Concordia’s only night game of the season at Bulldog Stadium.

The October home slate includes rivalry dates with Nebraska Wesleyan on Oct. 10 (Homecoming) and Doane on Oct. 24. Other key dates are Parent’s Day on Oct. 31 against defending GPAC champion Morningside and the regular-season finale, Senior Day, when Briar Cliff comes to Seward for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 14.

Head coach Vance Winter, who will enter his seventh season at the helm of the program this fall, has guided the Bulldogs to an overall mark of 17-16 over the past three seasons, including a 20-game stretch in which Concordia won 13 games. The Bulldogs have defeated at least one ranked opponent in each of the last three years.

In a season of close calls, five of last season’s six losses came by six points or less. The Bulldogs will carry a two-game win streak into 2015 after closing 2014 with wins over No. 24 Dakota Wesleyan, 27-19, and at Briar Cliff, 37-25. Under offensive coordinator Curran White, the 2014 Bulldogs broke a program record for total yards of offense per game.

Southwestern, Concordia’s first opponent, went 1-10 overall in 2014. The Moundbuilders finished last among the 10 teams in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Bulldogs will have a new quarterback running their pistol spread offense in 2015. Three-year starter Von Thomas has graduated after breaking program single-season records for touchdown passes (21), total offense (2,508), completions (197), passing attempts (334) and completion percentage (59.0). He owns program career records for total offense (7,260), passing touchdowns (49), total touchdowns (65), completions (510) and pass attempts (960).

Concordia is set to begin spring practice on Wednesday, April 8. The team will hold a scrimmage open to the public inside Bulldog Stadium on Friday, May 1. It will be held from 7 – 9 p.m.

2015 Varsity Football Schedule

Sept. 5 – at Southwestern College, 6 p.m.

Sept. 12 – vs. Hastings College, 6 p.m. (Seward Fan Appreciation)

Sept. 19 – at Northwestern College, 1 p.m.

Oct. 3 – at Dordt College, 1 p.m.

Oct. 10 – vs. Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)

Oct. 17 – at Midland University, 5 p.m.

Oct. 24 – vs. Doane College, 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 – vs. Morningside College, 1 p.m. (Parent’s Day)

Nov. 7 – at Dakota Wesleyan University, 1 p.m.

Nov. 14 – vs. Briar Cliff University, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)

To view the complete 2015 varsity and JV football schedules, click HERE.