SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Football will wrap up spooky season by welcoming Doane to Seward for a Halloween clash. Concordia hopes to continue to make Bulldog Stadium a house of horrors for the Tigers, who have fallen in each of their last three trips to Seward. The Bulldogs stand at 3-4 while Doane carries a 3-5 overall mark into the contest. The two sides have met 70 previous times, dating back to 1935.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad has not played at home since Sept. 26 when it hosted Dordt. In playing on the road for the third straight outing, Concordia was defeated last week at No. 6 Morningside, 61-21. On the other hand, Head Coach Jonathan Johnson’s outfit outlasted Briar Cliff, 24-18, in an overtime game played in Crete. Doane overcame a 430-195 total yards disadvantage by picking off Charger quarterback Brock Saya four times.
GAME INFO
Concordia (3-4, 3-4 GPAC) vs. Doane (3-5, 2-5 GPAC)
Saturday, Oct. 31 | 1 p.m.
Bulldog Stadium | Seward, Neb.
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: Presto Stats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
Tickets: Hudl Ticketing (also sold on site)
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2026 national rankings out of 96 NAIA football programs that have reported statistics this season.
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 33.7 (35th)
Defensive PPG: 34.3 (63rd)
Total Offense: 400.9 (31st)
Pass Offense: 253.4 (21st)
Rush Offense: 147.4 (45th)
Total Defense: 462.7 (86th)
Pass Defense: 258.9 (80th)
Rush Defense: 203.9 (77th)
Turnover +/-: +6
Doane
Offensive PPG: 18.0 (78th)
Defensive PPG: 35.4 (T-67th)
Total Offense: 258.0 (84th)
Pass Offense: 119.1 (89th)
Rush Offense: 138.9 (54th)
Total Defense: 411.0 (71st)
Pass Defense: 204.9 (48th)
Rush Defense: 206.1 (80th)
Turnover +/-: -7
2026 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (50-45, 10th season)
Passing: Gideon Stark – 102/187 (.545), 1,450 yards, 15 td, 2 int, 142.2 effic.
Rushing: Carlos Collazo – 82 rushes, 408 yards, 5.0 avg, 6 td
Receiving: Adam Van Cleave – 46 receptions, 565 yards, 12.3 avg, 6 td
Defense: Kaden Thompson – 54 tackles, 4 int, 4 pbu, 3.5 tfl, 1 TD return
Doane
Head Coach: Jonathan Johnson (8-21, 3rd season)
Passing: Cannon Crowder – 77/164 (.470), 834 yards, 7 td, 11 int, 90.3 effic.
Rushing: Cannon Crowder – 93 rushes, 360 yards, 3.9 avg, 2 td
Receiving: Trent DePompa – 22 receptions, 267 yards, 12.1 avg, 3 td
Defense: Dylon Lueking – 65 tackles, 7.5 tfl, 2.5 sacks, 1 int, 1 blocked kick
2026 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (3-4, 3-4 GPAC)
8/29 vs. Waldorf, W, 77-7
9/12 at Hastings, L, 27-38
9/19 vs. Mount Marty, W, 42-24
9/26 vs. (16) Dordt, L, 21-51
10/3 at (21) Northwestern, L, 24-38
10/10 at Dakota Wesleyan, W, 24-21
10/24 at (6) Morningside, L, 21-61
10/31 vs. Doane, 1 p.m.
11/7 at Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/14 vs. (18) Midland, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Doane (3-5, 2-5 GPAC)
8/29 vs. Texas College, W, Forfeit
9/5 at Dakota Wesleyan, L, 21-34
9/12 at (7) Morningside, L, 10-70
9/26 vs. Waldorf, W, 35-7
10/3 vs. Mount Marty, L, 16-36
10/10 at (15) Dordt, L, 3-38
10/17 at Northwestern, L, 17-45
10/24 vs. Briar Cliff, W, 24-18 (OT)
10/31 at Concordia, 1 p.m.
11/7 vs. (18) Midland 1 p.m.
11/14 vs. Hastings, 1 p.m.
In the rankings
Concordia rose as high as No. 17 last season in the official NAIA coaches’ polls before settling as a “receiving votes” team to end 2025. The Bulldogs also concluded 2024 at No. 18 in the poll. Concordia began the 2026 season listed in the “receiving votes” category of the poll. The Bulldogs have not received votes since their loss at Hastings on Sept. 12.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 4th
NAIA Performance Index: 49th
Doane
GPAC preseason: 10th
NAIA Performance Index: 64th
Team 100
The 2026 season marks the 100th in the history of Concordia University, Nebraska Football. On record, the first official season was 1925 when Professor Walter Hellwege presided over the Concordia Teachers College gridiron squad as its first ever head coach. In the time since then, there have been three years without football, including 1926 and 1927 and 1943 (during World War II). In program history, Concordia has won conference championships in 1929, 1931, 1944, 1945, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1970, 1981 and 2001. The championship team of ’01 remains the lone NAIA playoff qualifier in program annals. In December 2016, Patrick Daberkow became the 10th head coach in program history.
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 19th season as part of the program’s staff – 10th as head coach. He served as defensive coordinator for seven years before being named 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, Assistant Coach Grady Koch (who specializes in coaching the offensive line, among other duties) and former Nebraska Wesleyan assistant Kevin Crume. The graduate assistants are Tanner Ingle and Grant Huss. Daberkow owns a career coaching record of 50-45. His 50 wins are the fourth most among all head coaches in program history. The top three are Courtney Meyer (70), Larry Oetting (63) and Herb Meyer (62).
Collazo/Mika split carries
Top running back Carlos Collazo missed the road games at Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan while recovering from injury. Collazo gave it a go last week at No. 6 Morningside and rushed eight times for 45 yards and a touchdown. He did not play in the second half. When Collazo has been sidelined, the bulk of the carries have gone to freshman Dylan Mika of Apsen, Colo., who has started two games at running back. Mika burst onto the scene in the season opener versus Waldorf when he took his first collegiate carry 75 yards for a touchdown. In five games this season, the 5-foot-8 back has rushed for 334 yards and two touchdowns on 56 attempts (6.0 per carry). Mika scored a touchdown in last week’s loss at Morningside. In his career, the 2025 Second Team All-GPAC selection Collazo has rushed for 1,555 yards on 267 carries (5.8 yards per rush) in 17 games. Collazo has crept up on the program’s all-time top 10 list for rushing yards. Current assistant coach Devin Zeigler sits at No. 10 with 1,800 yards. The Aurora High School product Collazo has rushed for 100 yards six times in his collegiate career.
Collazo 100-yard rushing games
283 at Mount Marty, 2025
176 vs. Mount Marty, 2026
171 vs. Midland, 2025
124 vs. Waldorf, 2024
116 at Dakota Wesleyan, 2024
113 vs. Dordt, 2025
Stark makes return to field
Like Collazo, Gideon Stark sat out the games at Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan due to injury. The Magnolia, Texas, native returned to the lineup this past Saturday and completed 18-of-42 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown at Morningside. In Stark’s absence, backup Camden Jensen of Grand Island, Neb., gained experience and started two games. In five total games this season, Jensen has thrown for 324 yards and three touchdowns and has rushed for 196 yards and two scores. In the contest at Morningside, Stark eclipsed 4,000 career passing yards. He is the sixth quarterback in program history to reach that mark. In his collegiate career, Stark has amassed career totals of 4,026 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns. He’s completed 309-of-582 passes (.531) in 24 career games played. Stark is nearing the program’s top five all-time in passing yards – No. 5 on the list is Kurt Earl with 4,158 yards.
Most passing yards in program history, career
1. DJ McGarvie (2021-24): 9,045
2. Jarrod Pimentel (1998-01): 6,435
3. Von Thomas (2011-14): 5,662
4. Rod Giesselmann (1967-70): 5,519
5. Kurt Earl (2001-04): 4,158
6. Gideon Stark (2022-26): 4,026
Puelz stars at Morningside
Senior Jonny Puelz stepped into the spotlight at Morningside and hauled in eight receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown. The Lincoln Lutheran High School product narrowly missed his career highs for a single game of nine receptions (2026 season opener versus Waldorf) and 176 receiving yards (2025 win over Dakota Wesleyan). In a given game, Gideon Stark has multiple options in terms of go-to receivers. Columbus Lakeview High School product Adam Van Cleave leads the receiver room with 46 catches for 565 yards and six touchdowns this season. Puelz has equaled AVC in touchdowns with six while making 31 grabs for 476 yards in 2026. The quality depth will grow at the position if/when Collin Fritton returns from injury. In three games, Fritton snagged 16 passes for 250 yards and a score and also had a 90-yard kick return for a touchdown in the win over Mount Marty. Van Cleave has moved inside the top five of the program’s all-time receiving lists (see below).
Most career receptions, program history
1. Korrell Koehlmoos (2018-22): 221
2. Austin Jablonski (2022-24): 203
3. Adam Van Cleave (2023-26): 181
4. Ross Wurdeman (1998-01): 168
5. Jared Garcia (2014-17): 161
Most career receiving yards, program history
1. Korrell Koehlmoos (2018-22): 2,894
2. Austin Jablonski (2022-24): 2,723
3. Jared Garcia (2014-17): 2,495
4. Ross Wurdeman (1998-01): 2,458
5. Adam Van Cleave (2023-26): 2,143
6. Clarence Woods (1984-88): 2,011
O-line shuffles the deck
Six different players have started games along the offensive line this season. The Bulldogs shuffled the deck a bit last week as Ethan Olson stepped in at right tackle in place of Thomas Thomas. Three players have started all seven games at the same position: left guard Layne Bugarske, center Joshua Luehr and right guard Carter Meier. A returning Second Team All-GPAC performer, Derek Campbell has started five games at left tackle (missed the Waldorf and Northwestern games due to injury). Meanwhile Thomas has started six games and Olson has opened three contests at right tackle. In 2026, the line has surrendered only seven sacks while paving the way for the run game to average 4.5 yards per carry. The Concordia o-line surrendered a combined seven sacks over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The group is coached by Grady Koch, a former all-conference offensive lineman for the Bulldogs.
Offensive line starts in 2026
Layne Bugarske – 7 (all at LG)
Joshua Luehr – 7 (all at C)
Carter Meier – 7 (all at RG)
Thomas Thomas – 6 (4 at RT; 2 at LT)
Derek Campbell – 5 (all at LT)
Ethan Olson – 3 (all at RT)
Mujkic takes on placekicking duties
One of the most prolific kickers in school history, Peyton Atwood has been sidelined for each of the past two games. In his absence at Dakota Wesleyan and Morningside, Admir Mujkic has gone 6-for-6 on PATs while connecting for a 20-yard field goal. A Lincoln East High School product, Mujkic has handled kickoff duties throughout his Concordia career. Atwood holds the program standard for career PATs with 144 (out of 154 attempts). Atwood also owns the school record for longest field goal (50) and has converted 21-of-30 career field goal tries. The school record for career field goal makes remains in possession of Kenny Zoeller, who drilled 29 field goals in his career from 2009 through 2012. Zoeller was named an NAIA All-American as a senior. At punter, Braxtyn Koch has averaged 37.7 yards on 36 attempts (with eight nine downed inside the opposition’s 20). Braxtyn is the son of former Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch.
Longest field goals in Concordia history, on record
50 – Petyon Atwood (2025)
47 – Kenny Zoeller (2011)
46 – Jess Boyd (2001)
46 – John Dumar (1980)
Thompson continues strong junior season
In his first season as a starter, safety Kaden Thompson has been a steady performer. The North Platte native and Hershey Public High School alum notched 14 tackles, including one for loss at Morningside. Thompson leads the team with 54 tackles. His season stat line also includes four interceptions, four pass breakups and 3.5 tackles for loss. Six others on the Bulldog defense have recorded at least 40 tackles: Drake Trent (51), Treven Weddle (47), Jett Farwell (44), Deegan Barnes (44), Will Potratz (42) and Dylan Meyer (42). Meyer paces the team in tackles for loss (8.5) while Drake Trent tops the leaderboard in sacks (4.0). Trent recovered a fumble that was forced by Luke Penrod last week at Morningside.
Feasting on turnovers
Last week’s minus-one turnover margin was a departure from the norm for the Bulldogs, who are plus-six for the season. Over seven games, Concordia has forced 14 turnovers (10 interceptions and four fumble recoveries). Kaden Thompson has picked off four passes. Four other teammates have plucked at least one interception: Luke Penrod (two), Drake Trent (two), Jett Farwell (one) and Tanner Frahm (one). The Bulldogs have scored three touchdowns this season on defense/special teams. In order, the non-offensive touchdowns came via Collin Fritton’s 90-yard kickoff return versus Mount Marty, Thompson’s 51-yard blocked punt return at Northwestern and Farwell’s 79-yard interception return at Dakota Wesleyan. Additionally, the Bulldogs nearly had a defensive touchdown versus Mount Marty. On the Lancer’s first play from scrimmage, linebacker Frahm intercepted a pass and returned the ball 23 yards to the Mount Marty three-yard-line.
Around the league
Five games were contested in the GPAC this past Saturday. Outside of Concordia-Morningside, Northwestern pummeled Waldorf, 68-10, Doane squeaked past Briar Cliff in overtime, 24-18, Midland held off Hastings, 21-14, and Dordt routed Mount Marty, 41-13. The race for the conference championship is a tight one and includes four contenders, each with one GPAC loss: Northwestern (7-1), Dordt (6-1), Midland (6-1) and Morningside (6-1). Five more GPAC games are coming up on Halloween: Hastings at Briar Cliff, Waldorf at Dordt, Morningside at Midland, Doane at Concordia and Northwestern at Dakota Wesleyan.
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 70 times. Doane leads the all-time series, 43-24-3. The Bulldogs have enjoyed more success in this rivalry under Patrick Daberkow, who is 6-3 against the Tigers. Concordia defeated Doane in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025 (won five of the last six). The victory in ’17 ended what had been an 11-game series win streak for the Tigers. The Bulldogs have won three straight meetings in decisive fashion, claiming victories by scores of 55-26 in Seward in 2023, 45-10 in Crete in 2024 and 35-7 in Seward in 2025. In last year’s matchup, Concordia outgained Doane, 401-252. Gideon Stark threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns while Carlos Collazo rushed for 95 yards and three scores. Adam Van Cleave hauled in 13 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the Bulldogs piled up eight sacks, including three from Terry Sebek. Daylon Henson caused havoc with two tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Scouting Doane
Jonathan Johnson is in year three as head coach of Doane. His teams have posted records of 3-8 in 2024, 2-8 in 2025 and 3-5 so far in 2026. With three games remaining, the Tigers are attempting to finish with a winning record for the first time since the 2018 squad went 6-4. The wins this season have come against Texas College (forfeit), Waldorf, 35-7, and Briar Cliff, 24-18 (OT). Johnson’s squad has struggled with turnovers (18 in seven games) and ranks 84th nationally in total offense (258.0). Doane managed to reverse its fortunes in the turnover department last week versus Briar Cliff as it came away with four interceptions, including two from Mark Anderson. A junior from Bellevue, Neb., Anderson returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown in the overtime victory. While the passing game has been limited, junior quarterback Cannon Crowder is a threat to run, as evidenced by his team leading 360 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The defense has been spurred by linebacker Dylon Lueking, who has amassed 65 tackles (7.5 for loss). Doane will end its season by playing its Nebraska rivals. After traveling to Concordia, the Tigers will host Midland on Nov. 7 and Hastings on Nov. 14.