Resilient Dawgs overcome turnovers, celebrate senior day win

By Jacob Knabel on Nov. 2, 2024 in Football

SEWARD, Neb. – An uncharacteristically sloppy performance in the turnover department kept Hastings close for a half, but the Concordia University, Nebraska Football team seized control with the help of a strong defensive performance. The high-powered Bulldogs easily overcome their five turnovers while pummeling visiting Hastings, 42-6, on senior day Saturday (Nov. 2) at Bulldog Stadium. DJ McGarvie threw for four touchdowns, Carlos Collazo rushed for two and Kyle Sterup wreaked havoc in the Bronco backfield.

Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad has moved to 7-2 (7-2 GPAC) with one game remaining in the regular season. Not since 2001 has a Concordia Football team won at least seven of its first nine games of a season.

“We’ll take it. That’s kind of the approach that we’ll have,” Daberkow said. "I think we can play a lot better. We can play a lot cleaner. We’ll be looking to fix some things over the bye week now. Our ball security’s got to get better. We have to watch film and see what some of the issues are. We have to take care of it – that’s the No. 1 thing.”

Due to four first-half turnovers (two lost fumbles and two interceptions), the Bulldogs had only 21 points to show for their 346 total yards over the game’s opening 30 minutes. The ensuing Hastings first-half possessions following those miscues went interception, punt, touchdown, punt. The lone Bronco score came after a fumble set Hastings up with a first and goal at the Concordia 5. As part of the effort, the Bulldog defense held Hastings to 4-for-17 on third downs and came up with seven sacks.

Sterup and his fellow defensive line mates ate well at the line of scrimmage. Sterup notched seven tackles (three for loss) and two sacks while Devon Polley registered 2.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries and Carson Fehlhafer added a sack. An interception apiece came from safety Luke Penrod and linebacker Nick Leader. Late in the third quarter, Leader scooped up a fumble and returned it 22 yards to set up a Carlos Collazo touchdown. Hastings (2-8, 2-7 GPAC) had three of its own turnovers and managed a modest 303 total yards.

Said Daberkow, “We have a saying, ‘put the ball down.’ Coach (Corby) Osten had it put across the blue jerseys at practice. That’s got to be the mentality. It doesn’t matter where it’s at or how it got there, put the ball down and it doesn’t get to go any farther. That’s the mentality we have as a defense. I thought they did a good job of responding to the challenges that were put in front of them.”

When it secured the ball, Concordia had little trouble marching up and down the field. DJ McGarvie weathered three interceptions and piled up 326 passing yards and four touchdown tosses (80 for his career). His touchdown throws covered 67 yards and 42 yards, respectively, to All-American Austin Jablonski, 30 yards to tight end Daylan Russell and two yards to receiver Adam Van Cleave. Collazo also bruised his way to touchdown rushes of 13 and two yards.

The likes of McGarvie, Jablonski, Polley and Sterup are make up part of the 29-member senior class that was honored prior to kickoff. Each of them have made contributions in different ways while building momentum that has resulted in a season that may end up as the program’s best in more than two decades. During the pregame ceremony, each of the seniors were presented with tool belts.

Said Sterup, “It’s an unbelievably talented group. It’s a historic group. I can’t say enough about the seniors. It’s been a great run. It’s not over of course, but there has been a lot of reflection for all of us … It definitely hit before the game. You just get overcome with that emotion, but you have to suppress it and play the game.”

Linebacker Michael Grindey was also honored prior to kickoff. He accumulated eight tackles on Saturday and moved past 250 for his career. Also noteworthy, senior Stephen Hughes produced a sack and so too did Deegan Barnes. Hastings wound up with a mere 71 net rushing yards on 37 attempts. Bronco quarterback Cassius Campbell completed 21-of-42 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown.

The game breaking Jablonski finished with eight receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He pushed his receiving yards totals to 1,010 for the season and 2,627 for his career (now No. 2 in program history). Jablonski needs three more catches to reach 200 for his career. Meanwhile, running back Mark Arp has rushed for 1,098 yards on the season after picking up 58 on Saturday. In another solid performance, Van Cleave made six grabs for 71 yards and a score versus Hastings.

The Bulldogs will have a bye next Saturday (Nov. 9) to prepare for the 2024 regular season finale coming up on Saturday, Nov. 16. On that date, Concordia will be at Midland (5-4, 4-4 GPAC) for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff from Heedum Field in Fremont, Neb. Last season’s meeting in Seward was won by the Warriors in double overtime, 39-37. In this week’s action, Midland was clipped at Mount Marty, 28-27.