SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs are ready to regroup after struggling in a 51-21 home loss last week to 10th-ranked Morningside. A new week will bring about the 25th all-time meeting between the football programs of Concordia University and Dakota Wesleyan University. Saturday’s kickoff from Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D., is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs emerged victorious (20-12 final score) from their most recent trip to Mitchell in 2022.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad checks in at 1-1 following the loss to the Mustangs. Concordia had hoped this would be the year it would be ready to compete with the powerhouse Morningside program. However, the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome the 481 passing yards surrendered and a pair of Mustang pick-sixes. Concordia has played in two games with large point spreads having defeated Waldorf in a 45-7 blowout back on Aug. 31. The Bulldogs will now be on the road for five of the season’s final eight games in the regular season.
Meanwhile, Dakota Wesleyan is seeking its first win since the hiring of Alex Kretzschmar as head coach. The Tigers stand at 0-2 with losses to two in-state South Dakota foes: Dakota State University, 34-3, and Mount Marty, 24-17. The DWU offense has mustered only a combined 384 total yards through two games. The Tigers lost last week to the Lancers despite allowing only 167 yards. DWU found a way to squeak out a 16-12 win last season inside Bulldog Stadium.
GAME INFO
Concordia (1-1, 1-1 GPAC) at Dakota Wesleyan (0-2, 0-1 GPAC)
Saturday, Sept. 14 | 2:30 p.m.
Joe Quintal Field | Mitchell, S.D.
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: Presto Stats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
Tickets: sold on site
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2024 national rankings out of 95 NAIA football programs (65 teams have played at least one game in 2024)
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 33.0 (T-29th)
Defensive PPG: 29.0 (T-59th)
Total Offense: 418.0 (24th)
Pass Offense: 236.5 (24th)
Rush Offense: 181.5 (28th)
Total Defense: 365.0 (54th)
Pass Defense: 275.0 (T-75th)
Rush Defense: 90.0 (25th)
Turnover +/-: -2
Dakota Wesleyan
Offensive PPG: 10.0 (T-79th)
Defensive PPG: 29.0 (T-59th)
Total Offense: 192.0 (78th)
Pass Offense: 63.5 (85th)
Rush Offense: 128.5 (46th)
Total Defense: 266.0 (30th)
Pass Defense: 123.5 (25th)
Rush Defense: 142.5 (46th)
Turnover +/-: -3
2024 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (33-37, 8th season)
Passing: DJ McGarvie – 35/66 (.530), 371 yards, 5 td, 3 int, 116.2 effic.
Rushing: Carlos Collazo – 29 rushes, 169 yards, 5.8 avg, 2 td
Receiving: Austin Jablonski – 15 receptions, 149 yards, 9.9 avg, 2 td
Defense: Michael Grindey – 22 tackles, 3 tfl’s, 1.5 sacks
Dakota Wesleyan
Head Coach: Alex Kretzschmar (0-2, 1st season)
Passing: Carter Robinson – 22/40 (.550), 121 yards, 1 td, 3 int, 73.7 effic. (127 rushing yards)
Rushing: Koby Kayser – 36 rushes, 135 yards, 3.8 avg, 1 td
Receiving: Cole Holden – 10 receptions, 70 yards, 7.0 avg, 0 td
Defense: Joseph VanOverschelde – 11 tackles, 1 tfl, 1 sack
2024 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (1-1, 1-1 GPAC)
8/31 vs. Waldorf, W, 45-7
9/7 vs. (10) Morningside, L, 21-51
9/14 at Dakota Wesleyan, 2:30 p.m.
9/21 at Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
9/28 vs. Dordt, 1 p.m. (homecoming)
10/5 at Northwestern, 1 p.m.
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.
Dakota Wesleyan (0-2, 0-1 GPAC)
8/29 at Dakota State, L, 3-34
9/7 vs. Mount Marty, L, 17-24
9/14 vs. Concordia, 2:30 p.m.
9/28 at Midland, 1 p.m.
10/5 at Hastings, 1 p.m.
10/12 vs. Doane, 1 p.m.
10/19 vs. Dordt, 1 p.m.
10/26 at Northwestern, 1 p.m.
11/2 at Waldorf, 1 p.m.
11/9 vs. Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/16 at Morningside, 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. The 2017 season also happens to be the most recent year that Dakota Wesleyan appeared in the NAIA top 25. The Tigers were ranked as high as 16th in the NAIA that season.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 5th
Current Massey Ratings: 40th
Dakota Wesleyan
GPAC preseason: 7th
Current Massey Ratings: 73rd
Last time out
A nightmarish start that included a pick-six eventually led to the Bulldogs finding themselves in a 44-6 hole while up against 10th-ranked Morningside. Coming off a shootout loss to No. 19 Benedictine College (Kan.), the Mustangs let quarterback Zack Chevalier and the passing offense cook. Morningside racked up 481 passing yards as Chevalier tossed five touchdown passes and Drew Sellon broke a program single game record with 18 receptions (for 201 yards and two touchdowns). Concordia finally found some degree of success in the third quarter when DJ McGarvie fired a six-yard touchdown strike to Austin Jablonski and Carlos Collazo battered his way into the end zone from nine yards out. The Bulldog offense was limited to 271 total yards and Concordia was forced to punt nine times. On the bright side, the Bulldog defense caused five Morningside punts in the second half. Linebacker Michael Grindey led the Concordia D with 12 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a sack while Daylan Henson picked off a pass. The Mustangs improved to 22-1 all-time against the Bulldogs.
Road Dawgs
Concordia will take its act on the road for the first time this season. The Bulldogs went 3-2 on the road last season with the wins coming at Jamestown, Hastings and Mount Marty. The most recent season that saw Concordia win more than three road games was 2013 when it went 4-2 on the road under then Head Coach Vance Winter. This year’s road schedule will feature additional trips to Briar Cliff (Sept. 21), Northwestern (Oct. 5), Doane (Oct. 19) and Midland (Nov. 16).
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 eclipses 7,000 career passing yards
DJ McGarvie made his 28th career start in the matchup with Morningside. The Lincoln North Star High School alum rose to the top of the program’s all-time passing charts in 2023. As part of the Morningside game, McGarvie eclipsed 7,000 career passing yards (7,050) and threw the 58th and 59th passing touchdowns of his career. He owns a career completion percentage of 56.7 (604-for-1,065) in 31 games. 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. Worth noting, McGarvie’s passing has helped a Concordia receiver lead the NAIA in receptions (during the regular season) in back-to-back years: Korell Koehlmoos (95) in 2022 and Austin Jablonski (91) in 2023.
Concordia all-time passing yards leaders
1. DJ McGarvie – 7,050
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 – 59
2. Von Thomas – 49
2. Jarrod Pimentel – 49
4. Rod Giesselmann – 47
5. Kurt Earl – 37
All-American Jabo among NAIA’s top returning pass catchers
Lincoln Pius X High School alum Austin Jablonski is undoubtedly McGarvie’s go-to receiver. In last week’s clash with Morningside, Jablonski hauled in nine catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. The scores represented his 12th and 13th career receiving touchdowns. As a Bulldog, Jablonski has also passed for four touchdowns and has run for five. The returning NAIA First Team All-American continues to climb the program’s all-time lists, currently ranking fifth in receptions (142), sixth in receiving touchdowns (13) and seventh in receiving yards (1,766). 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.
Concordia all-time reception leaders
1. Korrell Koehlmoos – 221
2. Ross Wurdeman – 168
3. Jared Garcia – 161
4. Eric Pralle – 147
5. Austin Jablonski – 142
NFL bloodlines
It was a busy evening this past Saturday for Braxtyn Koch, who punted nine times with those boots covering 342 yards for an average of 38.0 yards per attempt. His longest punt of the night covered 55 yards. Through two weeks, Koch ranks fourth among GPAC punters for punting average (39.2). Of Koch’s 11 punts so far, six have been fair caught and one landed inside the 20. Braxtyn is the son of former Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch, who spent 16 years in the NFL and was a member of the 2012 Super Bowl championship team. Braxtyn’s brother Kamdyn is a punter at the University of Nebraska.
Sackless streak ends at six games
The veteran Concordia offensive line went six games and more than 200 pass attempts without allowing a sack. That streak finally ended last week as Morningside was credited with two sacks of quarterback DJ McGarvie. The offensive line has trotted out a senior at all five positions. The starting group in each of this season’s first two games has included Cohen Carpenter and Blake Schlegel at the tackles, Tyler Walford and Christian Schlepp at the guards and Jackson Anderson at center. That crew helped pave the way for the 2023 team to average 30.3 points per game while breaking a school record for total yards per game (415.3). Two of the returners earned 2023 All-GPAC recognition: Walford and Schlegel. Both of whom started all 10 games last fall.
Projected starters
LT – No. 54 Cohen Carpenter, Sr. (6-4, 260)
LG – No. 69 Tyler Walford, Sr. (6-3, 305)
C – No. 56 Jackson Anderson, Sr. (6-1, 245)
RG – No. 58 Christian Schlepp, Sr. (6-2, 280)
RT – No. 74 Blake Schlegel, Sr. (6-6, 320)
The ‘Corn Dogs’
The 2024 Concordia roster comes with some Nebraska Cornhusker flavor as three current Bulldogs are former University of Nebraska walk-ons: tight end John Goodwin, receiver Austin Jablonski and linebacker Nick Leader. In addition, receiver Adam Van Cleave began his college career at Nebraska (student only). All four are starters at Concordia. Goodwin saw action in two games in 2023 for the Cornhuskers before joining Jablonski, his roommate and close friend, in Seward. It didn’t take long for Goodwin to announce his presence as he caught two touchdown passes in the win over Waldorf. Jablonski and Van Cleave are both talented receivers and Leader is back in the starting group at linebacker after missing the 2023 season. Leader posted 50 tackles as a Bulldog in 2022.
Arp-Collazo form 1-2 running back punch
The aforementioned veteran offensive line has helped Concordia average 4.5 yards per carry through the season’s first two games. The Bulldogs have put their trust in the running back duo of Mark Arp and Carlos Collazo. A senior from McCook, Neb., Arp has rushed 35 times for 147 yards and a touchdown and also has made three receptions for 31 yards. Arp needs 11 more rushing yards to reach 1,000 for his career. A sophomore out of Marquette, Neb., Collazo has toted the rock 28 times for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Collazo has scored a touchdown in both games this season. Concordia currently ranks 28th nationally in rushing offense.
Around the league
There was a full slate of GPAC games last week. In conference action, all the road teams were victorious as Dordt won at Midland, 38-20, Briar Cliff won at Doane, 15-10, Northwestern won at Hastings, 41-7, Mount Marty won at Dakota Wesleyan won at Mount Marty, 24-17, and Morningside won at Concordia, 51-21. In nonconference play, Waldorf was blown out by the University of St. Francis (Ill.), 70-14. There are only three GPAC teams that have yet to suffer a loss – Mount Marty (2-0), Dordt (1-0) and Northwestern (1-0).
Series vs. Dakota Wesleyan
The series has been closely contested with Concordia’s all-time record versus Dakota Wesleyan standing at 13-11. The first two meetings occurred prior to the formation of the GPAC in 2000. The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers, 36-29, in 1984 and then fell to them, 28-21, in 1985. The two programs finally met again in 2000 as GPAC members. DWU got the upper hand in 2023 as it left Seward with a 16-12 win. Concordia lost despite having a 457-317 advantage in total yards. A major reason for the final result was the Bulldogs scoring only one touchdown in four trips inside the red zone. Last time in Mitchell (2022), Concordia scored 20 third-quarter points (all on touchdown connections from DJ McGarvie to Korrell Koehlmoos) and came away with a 20-12 victory.
Scouting Dakota Wesleyan
The Tigers have new leadership as Ross Cimpl stepped away from the head coaching role after 12 seasons and is now the school’s Director of Athletics. The new head coach is Alex Kretzschmar, who spent the 2023 season on the DWU staff as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach. He takes the reins of a program that finished above .500 each year from 2011 through 2017 and then stayed below .500 from 2018 through 2022. The ’23 team then went 6-5 with five of the wins coming by one-possession margins. The most significant personnel departures from last season are First Team All-GPAC running back Jamin Arend and former All-American defensive back Adam DeJong. The anchor of the offensive line is returning Second Team All-GPAC honoree John Pica. Kretzschmar’s coaching staff includes Defensive Coordinator Chris Bessler, who previously spent six years as head coach at Doane. DWU went 3-3 at home last season.