SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Football team had a bye this past week, allowing for additional time to process the monumental win at No. 2 Northwestern on Oct. 5. The breakthrough victory put the Bulldogs in the national discourse and legitimized the goals many of the upperclassmen discussed with media back in July. The stretch run of the 2024 season will come with an opportunity for Concordia to earn bragging rights within the state. The Bulldogs are getting set to meet up with Doane for the 69th time in the rivalry’s history. Kickoff on Saturday is set for 1 p.m. CT from Al Papik Field in Crete, Neb.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad stands at 4-2 after having navigated a gauntlet that has included the GPAC’s three teams currently ranked in the NAIA top 10. Entering the week, the Bulldogs were hoping to crack the top 25 poll (scheduled for release on Oct. 14) after landing as the first time in the “receiving votes” category on Oct. 7. Early last week, junior defensive lineman Carson Fehlhafer was named the NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week. Fehlhafer has since taken on a series of media interviews in light of the win over Northwestern. In addition, All-American receiver Austin Jablonski joined radio voice Parker Cyza on the Oct. 10 edition of the Bulldog Coaches Show (linked HERE).
Doane has struggled to a 1-6 record in the first season of a new era under Head Coach Jonathan Johnson. The Tigers were beaten last week in Mitchell, S.D., 47-21, by Dakota Wesleyan. The lone victory for Doane came at home on Sept. 14 when it toppled Waldorf, 26-7. This week is homecoming on the Doane campus, just as it was in Orange City, Iowa, when Concordia spoiled Northwestern’s homecoming.
GAME INFO
Concordia (4-2, 4-2 GPAC) at Doane (1-6, 1-5 GPAC)
Saturday, Oct. 12 | 1 p.m.
Al Papik Field | Crete, Neb.
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
Tickets: sold on site
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2024 national rankings out of 97 NAIA football programs in parentheses
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 37.0 (22nd)
Defensive PPG: 21.3 (32nd)
Total Offense: 443.8 (19th)
Pass Offense: 237.7 (29th)
Rush Offense: 206.2 (16th)
Total Defense: 345.7 (48th)
Pass Defense: 228.2 (T-67th)
Rush Defense: 117.5 (32nd)
Turnover +/-: +5
Doane
Offensive PPG: 11.1 (88th)
Defensive PPG: 36.7 (78th)
Total Offense: 236.1 (85th)
Pass Offense: 149.7 (71st)
Rush Offense: 86.4 (85th)
Total Defense: 474.9 (90th)
Pass Defense: 307.1 (94th)
Rush Defense: 167.7 (65th)
Turnover +/-: -8
2024 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (36-38, 8th season)
Passing: DJ McGarvie – 112/188 (.596), 1,244 yards, 15 td, 6 int, 135.1 effic.
Rushing: Mark Arp – 144 rushes, 696 yards, 4.8 avg, 8 td; 16 receptions for 111 yards
Receiving: Austin Jablonski – 43 receptions, 572 yards, 13.3 avg, 6 td
Defense: Grant Huss – 46 tackles, 3.5 tfl’s, 2 int, 1 pbu
Doane
Head Coach: Jonathan Johnson (1-6, 1st season)
Passing: Sam Hartman – 86/150 (.573), 973 yards, 4 td, 5 int, 114.0 effic.
Rushing: Rian Green – 62 rushes, 279 yards, 4.5 avg, 0 td
Receiving: John DeRiso – 26 receptions, 336 yards, 12.9 avg, 0 td
Defense: Jarrett Boggs – 43 tackles, 4 tfl’s, 2 sacks, 1 int
2024 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (4-2, 4-2 GPAC)
8/31 vs. Waldorf, W, 45-7
9/7 vs. (10) Morningside, L, 21-51
9/14 at Dakota Wesleyan, W, 42-7
9/21 at Briar Cliff, W, 63-13
9/28 vs. (9) Dordt, L, 22-33 (homecoming)
10/5 at (2) Northwestern, W, 29-17
10/19 at Doane, 1 p.m.
10/26 vs. Mount Marty, 1 p.m.
11/2 vs. Hastings, 1 p.m. (senior day)
11/16 at Midland, 1 p.m.
Doane (1-6, 1-5 GPAC)
8/31 vs. Graceland, L, 11-49
9/7 vs. Briar Cliff, L, 10-15
9/14 vs. Waldorf, W, 26-7
9/21 at (13) Morningside, L, 0-70
10/5 at (8) Dordt, L, 3-38
10/12 at Dakota Wesleyan, L, 21-47
10/19 vs. Concordia, 1 p.m.
10/26 at Hastings, 1 p.m.
11/9 vs. Midland, 1 p.m.
11/16 at Mount Marty, 1 p.m.
In the rankings
Concordia landed at No. 5 in the 2024 GPAC preseason coaches’ poll. The Bulldogs did not generate any votes in the NAIA’s national poll this preseason. The program’s most recent NAIA top 25 appearance came in November 2017 when they checked in at No. 25. In last week’s official coaches’ poll (released on Oct. 7), the Bulldogs were situated as the first team in the “receiving votes” category. Concordia sat two spots out of the NAIA top 25 in the new rating unveiled on Monday, Oct. 14.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 5th
Current Massey Ratings: 27th
Doane
GPAC preseason: 1st
Current Massey Ratings: 11th
Last time out
The Bulldogs stunned the NAIA football world by upsetting then second-ranked Northwestern, 29-17, in Orange City, Iowa, on Oct. 5. In pulling off its first win in Orange City since 2002, Concordia ended Red Raider streaks of 20 straight home wins and 23 consecutive GPAC regular season victories. Never before in the GPAC era (2000-present) had the Bulldogs beaten an opponent ranked as high as No. 2 nationally. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad got it done thanks to advantages of 320-253 in total offense and 4-1 in turnovers. The pressure generated up front by Carson Fehlhafer (three sacks) and company helped lead to four interceptions on the back end. Each of Concordia’s starting safeties came away with a pick – Daylan Henson (two), Luke Penrod and Jaden Seier. Henson’s second pick led to Mark Arp scoring the touchdown that made it 29-17 and sealed the win. Quarterback DJ McGarvie threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and Arp grinded out 85 yards and two scores on the ground. Austin Jablonski (seven catches for 106 yards) and Adam Van Cleave (five catches for 48 yards) were on the receiving end of McGarvie’s touchdown tosses. On special teams, Peyton Atwood made a 26-yard field goal and Braxtyn Koch punted 10 times for an average of 37.5 yards per attempt.
Top 15 wins, GPAC era
Prior to the win at No. 2 Northwestern, Concordia’s highest ranked victim during the GPAC era had been two separate foes ranked seventh in the NAIA – Sioux Falls in 2000 and Doane in 2017. The list of Bulldog wins over NAIA top 15 teams during the GPAC era is included below. Former Head Coach Courtney Meyer was the only coach in the GPAC to lead a team to two wins over Sioux Falls, a former NAIA powerhouse that moved to the NCAA Division II level. In terms of magnitude, the win at Northwestern stands out as the program’s most significant victory since the 2001 NAIA playoff win over No. 13 St. Ambrose (Iowa).
· 10/5/24 – Won at No. 2 Northwestern, 29-17 (away).
· 9/23/17 – Won vs. No. 7 Doane, 29-18 (home).
· 9/6/14 – Won at No. 15 Sterling, 21-15 (away).
· 10/13/12 – Won vs. No. 11 Northwestern, 17-16 (home).
· 9/4/03 – Won at No. 15 Doane, 21-17 (away).
· 11/17/01 – Won vs. No. 13 St. Ambrose, 31-26 (home); NAIA playoffs.
· 10/27/01 – Won at No. 14 Doane, 14-3 (away).
· 9/15/01 – Won at No. 8 Sioux Falls, 17-14 (away).
· 9/16/00 – Won vs. No. 7 Sioux Falls, 43-24 (home).
Fehlhafer honored as NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week
In many weeks, the play of Carson Fehlhafer goes someone unnoticed. As a nose guard, Fehlhafer routinely eats up multiple blockers on the interior. In the win at No. 2 Northwestern, Fehlhafer was nearly unblockable as he registered eight tackles, three sacks and a pass breakup. Fehlhafer and company limited the Red Raiders to just 52 yards rushing on 31 attempts. Also an NAIA national qualifier in the shot put, Fehlhafer leads the team with five sacks on the season. He has also added 25 tackles and a forced fumble. The Utica, Neb., native was rewarded by the NAIA with the National Defensive Player of the Week honor following the victory in Orange City.
Coach Daberkow + staff
Patrick Daberkow’s history at Concordia dates back to his first season as a Bulldog football player in 2003. This is Daberkow’s 17th season as part of the program’s staff – eighth as head coach. He served as defensive coordinator for seven years before being named as head coach in December 2016. Daberkow assumed offensive play calling duties in 2022 before turning that role over to Greg Nelson, former Lincoln Lutheran head coach, in 2023. Meanwhile, his full-time staff includes Defensive Coordinator Corby Osten, Special Teams Coordinator Trent Laune and Assistant Coach Grady Koch (who specializes in coaching the offensive line, among other duties). Former Nebraska Wesleyan assistant Kevin Crume is in his second season at Concordia. Former Head Coach Courtney Meyer again works with the specialists and has spent more than 50 years coaching football.
McGarvie pads school record totals
DJ McGarvie made his 32nd career start in the win at No. 2 Northwestern. The Lincoln North Star High School alum rose to the top of the program’s all-time passing charts in 2023 and continues to pad his records. As part of the Morningside game on Sept. 7, McGarvie eclipsed 7,000 career passing yards (currently at 7,923). In the win at DWU, McGarvie threw his 60th career touchdown pass. He owns a career completion percentage of 57.4 (681-for-1,187) in 35 games. In addition to his 69 career touchdown passes, McGarvie has run for nine scores. While leading the GPAC in passing yards per game (264.2) in 2023, McGarvie became the first Bulldog quarterback in the GPAC era (2000-present) to be named either first or second team all-conference. By season, McGarvie has turned in touchdown-to-interception ratios of 19-7 in 2021, 18-6 in 2022 and 17-10 in 2023. Among GPAC quarterbacks in 2024, McGarvie ranks second in touchdown passes (15), second in passing yards (1,244), fourth in passer efficiency (135.1) and fifth in completion percentage (.596).
Concordia all-time passing yards leaders
1. DJ McGarvie – 7,923
2. Jarrod Pimentel – 6,435
3. Von Thomas – 5,662
4. Rod Giesselmann – 5,519
5. Kurt Earl – 4,158
Concordia all-time passing touchdowns leaders
1. DJ McGarvie – 69
2. Von Thomas – 49
2. Jarrod Pimentel – 49
4. Rod Giesselmann – 47
5. Kurt Earl – 37
All-American Jabo reaches career milestone
Lincoln Pius X High School alum Austin Jablonski is enjoying another ultra-productive season having pulled in 43 receptions for 572 yards and six touchdowns through the season’s first six games. In the homecoming game, Jablonski became the fourth player in program history to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards. On the program’s all-time lists, the returning NAIA First Team All-American currently ranks second in receptions (170), fourth in receiving yards (2,189) and tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns (17). Former teammate Korrell Koehlmoos remains the program all-time leader in receptions (221) and receiving yards (2,894). Jablonski’s 1,134 receiving yards in 2023 broke the school record for a single season. As a Bulldog, Jablonski has also passed for four touchdowns and has run for five scores. In the win at No. 2 Northwestern, Concordia even used Jablonski as a goal line cornerback.
Concordia all-time reception leaders
1. Korrell Koehlmoos – 221
2. Austin Jablonski – 170
3. Ross Wurdeman – 168
3. Jared Garcia – 161
5. Eric Pralle – 147
Concordia all-time receiving yards leaders
1. Korrell Koehlmoos – 2,894
2. Jared Garcia – 2,495
3. Ross Wurdeman – 2,458
4. Austin Jablonski – 2,189
5. Clarence Woods – 2,011
Offensive line shines in power run game
The veteran offensive line has helped pave the way for the likes of McGarvie, Jablonski and Arp to pile up impressive statistics. Over the first six games, Concordia has trotted out the same starting five up front: Cohen Carpenter and Blake Schlegel at the tackles, Tyler Walford and Christian Schlepp at the guard spots and Jackson Anderson at center. The group has surrendered only two sacks all season and has held its opponents without a sack in 10 of the past 11 games dating back to last season. In the win over Northwestern, the Bulldogs nearly tripled the Red Raiders’ rushing total, winning that statistic by a count of 147 to 52. Senior running back Mark Arp has been a beneficiary of strong line play. He leads the GPAC with 696 rushing yards on 144 attempts. Arp is tied with Morningside’s Ryan Cole for a GPAC high eight rushing touchdowns. With 1,539 career rushing yards, Arp is creeping up on the program’s top 10 all-time (Don Baker ranks 10th with 1,799 rushing yards).
Defensive line wreaks havoc
The play of the defensive line may have been the single greatest factor in Concordia’s upset win at No. 2 Northwestern. The Red Raiders had no answer for the 6-foot-4, 300-pound nose guard Carson Fehlhafer, who came away with three sacks. Fehlhafer is a junior while fellow defensive line stalwarts Devon Polley and Kyle Sterup are seniors. All three were named GPAC All-Conference award winners in 2023. Sterup was named to the first team after ranking among the national leaders in tackles for loss. As Daberkow has stated, Polley and Sterup get a lot of the stats while Fehlhafer faces consistent double teams in the middle. The two deep on the defensive line also includes seniors Stephen Hughes, Reed McFadden and Tal Solo.
Career Stats
--Fehlhafer: 71 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks (23 games)
--Polley: 131 tackles, 46.0 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks (32 games)
--Sterup: 175 tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks (33 games)
Henson emerges as ballhawk in secondary
Following the win over Northwestern, Daylon Henson moved to the top of the GPAC leaderboard in interceptions with four on the season. He twice picked off Northwestern quarterbacks with the latter interception setting up a touchdown that sealed the upset. On his four picks, Henson has racked up 80 return yards and had a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown at Briar Cliff. The junior from Pearland, Texas, has also totaled 31 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery this season.
Grindey moves up tackle charts
Now in his fourth and final season as a Bulldog, Michael Grindey keeps racking up tackles. With 42 stops in 2024, Grindey has run his career total to 240 tackles. During the GPAC era (2000-present), that number ranks as the fifth highest for the program (see list below). Grindey’s career high for tackles in a season is 92 (in 2022). He has twice been named a GPAC All-Conference award winner. The Chandler, Ariz., native began his college career at Creighton University, where he was a member of the club rugby team.
Most tackles by a Bulldog, GPAC era
1. Lane Napier – 535
2. Sean Stewart – 290
3. Michael Hedlund – 261
4. Ben Klein – 246
5. Michael Grindey – 242
Around the league
The weekend of GPAC football began with a Friday (Oct. 11) night game as Dordt (5-0) remained unbeaten with a 35-17 win at Mount Marty. With Concordia, Northwestern and Waldorf on byes, it made for a lighter than usual Saturday. In action on Oct. 12, Dakota Wesleyan defeated Doane, 47-21, Midland won at Briar Cliff, 45-30, and Morningside pummeled Hastings, 52-7. Dordt and Morningside are both 5-0 in GPAC play with Northwestern (4-1) and Concordia (4-2) next in line.
Series vs. Doane
Prior to recent years, Doane had Concordia’s number, triumphing in 13 of the 14 meetings from 2006 through 2019. The two rivals first met in 1935 and have played each other 68 times. Doane leads the all-time series, 43-22-3. The Bulldogs have enjoyed more success in this rivalry under Patrick Daberkow, who is 4-3 against the Tigers. Concordia defeated Doane in 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023. The victory in ’17 ended what had been an 11-game series win streak for the Tigers. Last season’s meeting in Seward was no contest as the Bulldogs built a 42-10 lead on the way to a 55-26 win. It was the most lopsided final score in the series since 1996. Quarterback DJ McGarvie threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Austin Jablonski made 10 catches for 156 yards and a score. On the defensive side of the ball, Deegan Barnes scooped up a fumble and returned it 21 yards or a touchdown. Concordia has won three of the past four matchups with Doane.
Scouting Doane
After finishing last season at 2-9 (2-8 GPAC), Doane replaced Chris Bessler (now the defensive coordinator at Dakota Wesleyan) with Jonathan Johnson in the head coaching role. Johnson previously served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at NCAA Division III Hilbert College in New York. He is tasked with rebuilding a program that qualified for the NAIA playoffs as recently as 2016. The Tigers return 2023 First/Second Team All-GPAC players in linebacker Jarrett Boggs, offensive lineman David Garcia and kicker/punter Kelen Meyer. A junior from Ord, Neb., Meyer is a weapon in the punt game. He averages 46.0 yards per punt (No. 1 in the NAIA) and has pinned opponents inside their own 20 on 17 of his 45 attempts. Boggs tops the defense with 43 tackles. The secondary has struggled mightily and ranks 94th nationally in passing yards allowed per game. Doane has been blown out in five of its six losses. It managed a 26-7 home win over new GPAC member Waldorf on Sept. 14.