2007 - Football schedule/results

4-6 Overall, 4-6 GPAC -Season Statistics

SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1	Briar Cliff University	Seward, Neb.	W 36-23
Sept. 8	Dana	Blair, Neb.	W 38-2
Sept. 15	Midland Lutheran College	Seward, Neb.	L 27-10
Sept. 22	Northwestern College	Orange City, Iowa	L 29-24
Sept. 29	Morningside College	Seward, Neb.	L 21-14
OCTOBER
Oct. 6	Doane College	Crete, Neb.	L 9-7
Oct. 13	Nebraska Wesleyan University	Seward, Neb.	W 30-14
Oct. 20	Dakota Wesleyan University	Mitchell, S.D.	W 31-24
Oct. 27	University of Sioux Falls	Seward, Neb.	L 48-3
NOVEMBER
Nov. 3	Open
Nov. 10	Hastings College	Hastings, Neb.	L 17-10

 
All Contests are Great Plains Athletic Conference Games
All Home Games in BOLD

2007 - Football roster

No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown
1	Derrick Woods	RB	6-1	210	So.	Phoenix, Ariz.
2	Kole Ficken	S	6-1	205	So.	Davenport, Neb.
3	Wade Houchin	RB/CB	5-8	170	So.	Lincoln, Neb.
4	Daniel Crowe	LB	5-11	210	So.	Glendale, Ariz.
5	Jake Griedl	WR	5-10	170	Fr.	Spring, Texas
6	Chad Wilshusen	QB	6-0	180	So.	Fremont, Neb.
7	Casey Makey	FS	6-2	190	Jr.	Gurley, Neb.
8	Christian Spaulding	QB	6-1	205	Jr.	Incline Village, Nev.
10	Jeff Neujahr	RB	5-9	170	Sr.	Gothenburg, Neb.
11	Preston Harris	DB	6-1	180	Fr.	Lincoln, Neb.
12	Nathan Sindt	QB	6-2	190	Fr.	Scottsbluff, Neb.
13	Jim Landers	CB	5-10	165	Jr.	Tulsa, Okla.
14	Zack Smetter	QB	6-0	200	So.	Seward, Neb.
15	Kyle Schmidt	QB	6-2	200	So.	Riverton, Neb.
16	Brett Mertens	FS	6-1	190	Sr.	Merino, Colo.
17	Micah Sirek	FS	6-2	195	So.	Lincoln, Neb.
18	Jeremy Walrath	LB	6-2	205	Fr.	Tucson, Ariz.
19	Darrin Macaluso	QB	5-11	170	So.	Santa Fe, Texas
20	Kane Dunbar	RB	5-8	180	So.	Magnolia, Texas
21	Martin Fontenont	CB	5-10	170	Fr.	Beaumont, Texas
22	JaMaine Lewis	RB	6-0	220	Sr.	St. Louis, Mo.
23	Curtis Miller	K	6-0	210	So.	Sioux Falls, S.D.
24	Jared Oswald	WR	6-2	210	Sr.	Madison, Neb.
25	Michael Saalfeld	K	6-2	165	Jr.	David City, Neb.
26	Jonathan Sims	FS	6-0	180	So.	Bellevue, Neb.
27	David Fowler	CB	5-10	180	Sr.	Houston, Texas
28	Alex Niederklein	CB	5-10	170	So.	Hastings, Neb.
29	Marcus Nathan	TE	6-1	215	Sr.	Golden, Colo.
30	Grant Rolfsmeier	DB	5-10	180	Fr.	Seward, Neb.
32	Brett Riemenschneider	LB	6-2	210	Fr.	Berthoud, Colo.
33	Austin Freudenburg	RB	6-0	190	Fr.	Madison, Neb.
34	Mitchell Nathan	FB	6-2	215	Fr.	Golden, Colo.
36	Ryan Fricke	WR/P	6-0	170	Fr.	Arapahoe, Neb.
38	Chad Harmon	FB	5-10	225	Sr.	Wichita, Kan.
39	Marshall Swerdfeger	LB	6-1	205	Fr.	Glendale, Ariz.
40	Austin Thies	FB	5-11	200	Jr.	Rushville, Neb.
42	Nathan Bramley	LB	5-11	210	Jr.	Seward, Neb.
43	Eric Kym	SS	5-11	200	Jr.	Tomball, Texas
44	Luke Staab	LB	6-0	215	Sr.	Ord, Neb.
45	Rusty McConnell	LB	5-10	195	Fr.	Peoria, Ariz.
46	Nathan Hannemann	LB	5-11	210	Sr.	Lincoln, Neb.
47	Frank Ohlinger	LB	6-0	195	Jr.	Wheat Ridge, Colo.
48	Michael Stelling	LB	6-1	210	Fr.	Plainview, Neb.
49	Jordan Brockman	LB	6-3	205	Fr.	Lincoln, Neb.
50	James McCoy Jr.	LB	5-11	230	Jr.	Pasadena, Texas
51	Jonathan McDaniel	OL	6-0	250	Jr.	Cypress, Calif.
52	Brenton Whitaker	OL	6-0	245	Fr.	Caddo Mills, Texas
53	Carlos Villasenor	LB	5-11	220	Fr.	Tucson, Ariz.
54	Marcus Rust	DL	6-3	230	So.	Geneva, Neb.
55	Nicholas Yosten	LB	5-10	210	So.	Plainview, Neb.
56	Trent Laune	LB	5-11	230	Sr.	Ashland, Neb.
57	Greg Mueller	DL	6-2	170	Fr.	Arnold, Mo.
61	Joshua Menke	OL	6-0	220	Fr.	Pflugerville, Texas
62	Scott Lacey	OL	6-0	250	Fr.	Austin, Texas
63	Alwin Borgmann	NG	5-8	250	Jr.	Owensville, Mo.
65	Andrew Sunderman	OL	6-0	290	Jr.	Norfolk, Neb.
66	Dustin Ehlers	OL	6-0	240	So.	Gothenburg, Neb.
67	Jordan Hinrichs	OL	6-2	255	Jr.	Geneva, Neb.
68	Taylor Austin	OL	6-2	225	Fr.	Colo. Springs, Colo.
69	Ryan Clark	OL	6-3	305	Fr.	Denver, Colo.
70	Matthew Ridge	DE	6-1	235	Fr.	Glendale, Ariz.
71	Tom Schutte	OL	6-2	290	Jr.	Grand Island, Neb.
72	Corbin Jones	OL	6-3	230	Fr.	Loveland, Colo.
74	Jakob Schomaker	OL	6-5	290	Fr.	Cheney, Kan.
75	Seth Elley	OL	6-4	350	Fr.	Hastings, Neb.
76	Ruy Larios	NG	5-11	270	Jr.	Houston, Texas
77	Trevor Patterson	DL	6-2	240	Fr.	Staplehurst, Neb.
79	Marc McPhillips	OL	6-3	305	So.	Lindsay, Neb.
80	Bryant Schweers	TE	6-3	225	So.	Greely, Colo.
81	Tariq Smith	WR	6-1	175	Fr	Phoenix, Ariz.
82	Thomas Struble	WR	6-5	190	Fr.	Omaha, Neb.
83	James Refenes	TE	6-7	230	So.	Westland, Mich.
84	Zach Fisher	WR	5-11	185	Fr.	Houston, Texas
85	G.T. Tipton	WR	5-10	170	Fr.	Casa Grande, Ariz.
86	Barry Eitzmann	TE	6-2	210	Jr.	Bryon, Neb.
87	Dayton Daberkow	WR	6-5	200	Jr.	Madison, Neb.
88	Brett Baller	DE	6-4	250	So.	Milligan, Neb.
89	Daniel Uden	WR	6-3	190	So.	Kenesaw, Neb.
91	Benjamin McGee	DE	5-11	210	So.	St. Joseph, Mo.
94	Matt Baller	NG	6-2	280	Jr.	Milligan, Neb.
95	Travis Taylor	NG	5-11	225	So.	Tomball, Texas
96	Aaron Hannemann	DL	6-0	260	Fr.	Eureka, Mo.
97	Kyle Rust	DE	6-3	235	Sr.	Geneva, Neb.
98	Kyle Kapels	DE	6-5	250	So.	Creston, Neb.
99	Brock Simonsen	DE	6-2	260	Jr.	Lyons, Neb.

Big plays, defense propel Bulldogs to opening win

1 SEP 2007

The Concordia University, Nebraska football team opened the 2007 season with a 36-23 win over the Chargers of Briar Cliff on Saturday evening at Bulldog Stadium in Seward.

This marks the first time since 2004 that Concordia (1-0, 1-0 GPAC) has defeated the Chargers (0-1, 0-1 GPAC).

Concordia used a solid performance from senior running back JaMaine Lewis and a handful of big plays en route to the 13-point victory. Lewis finished the game with 150 yards of 18 carries (8.3 yds/carry) and a pair of TDs.

The Chargers opened the scoring with a one-yard TD plunge by running back Adam Robards with 9:14 left in the first quarter. Briar Cliff took advantage of great field position after picking off Bulldog QB Kyle Schmidt and returning it to the one yard line.

On the ensuing kickoff senior Jeff Neujahr got to the outside, rambling 98-yards to paydirt to pull the Bulldogs within one. Concordia was unable to convert the extra point, as the snap was bad. Neujahr had two kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2006 and led the GPAC with an average of 31.4 yards per return.

After an inadvertent whistle forced the replay of a punting situation that saw the Bulldogs recover a Briar Cliff fumble, the Bulldogs snapped the ball over the punter, James Refenes' head into the endzone for a safety, giving the Chargers a 9-6 advantage.

In the second quarter the Bulldogs took over on downs, holding the Chargers on a fourth and two play from the Concordia 29. Two plays later Lewis scampered 68 yards down the sideline, using a nifty stop and go move for the TD.

Michael Saalfeld tacked on a 34-yard field goal with 1:40 left in the half to give the Bulldogs a 16-9 lead at intermission.

The Bulldog defense came up big in the third quarter, allowing just 39 total yards in the frame, including just two yards on the ground by the Chargers. Concordia had a pair of sacks in the third quarter, one by freshman linebacker Jeremy Walrath, the other by junior defensive lineman Matt Baller.

Lewis scored the other touchdown of the quarter on a two-yard plunge, making it 30-9. Concordia had great field position thanks to a 27-yard punt return by Neujahr. On the drive Lewis had 15 of the Bulldogs 22 yards.

After taking over on downs in the fourth quarter, junior fullback Chad Harmon broke free up the middle, out running the defense for a 65-yard TD, the Bulldogs final score of the game. The PAT failed.

Briar Cliff added a pair of scores in the fourth quarter, including a 46-yard TD pass from back-up QB Claussen to Lindsey. The Chargers finished with 118 yards through the air in the fourth quarter alone. For the game Briar Cliff had success via the pass, completing 19 of 37 passes for 220 yards.

Defensively for the Bulldogs defensive back Jim Landers led the way with 5.5 tackles. Also in the secondary, freshman Preston Harris and sophomore Micah Sirek each hauled in interceptions. Senior linebacker Trent Laune had the other takeaway of the night, recovering a fumble.

Walrath finished with a pair of sacks for Concordia, as did Matt Baller. Luike Staab also added a sack to go along with 3.5 tackles.

Offensively, in addition to the big night by Lewis, Neujahr finished with 138 all-purpose yards. Sophomore Derrick Woods hauled in three balls for 28 yards, while Schmidt went 7-of-16 for 91 yards with one interception and a touchdown.

Concordia travels to Blair, Neb., next Saturday to take on the Dana College Vikings at 1 p.m.

Big plays and defense continue to carry Bulldogs

8 SEP 2008

The Concordia University, Nebraska football team remained perfect on the young season with a convincing 38-2 victory over the Vikings of Dana College on Saturday afternoon at Viking field in Blair, Neb.

The Bulldogs (2-0, 2-0 GPAC) used the veteran combination of JaMaine Lewis and Jeff Neujahr for offensive production. Dana (0-2, 0-2 GPAC) struggled to find an offensive balance, finishing with negative yards on ground.

Lewis notched his second consecutive game of 150-plus yards, finishing the game with 153 yards on 17 carries (8.9 yds/carry) and a touchdown while Neujahr added 163 all-purpose yards (76 yards rushing, 69 yards receiving, a kick off return for 20 yards) and a touchdown.

The Vikings took advantage of the Bulldogs punting woes to open the scoring. Faced a punting situation on their opening drive, the Concordia snap sailed over punter Michael Saalfeld's head and into the end zone for a safety. It proved to be the only points the Vikings would manage on the afternoon.

The Bulldog defense came up with big plays at opportune times all day. On the ensuing possession the Vikings were able to drive to the Concordia eight yard line, but after a pair of incomplete passes, Dana attempted a 25-yard field goal that sailed wide right. The Bulldogs then used a six-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a touchdown by sophomore quarterback Kyle Schmidt on a quarterback sneak.

The Viking offense then was forced into a quick three and out by the Bulldog defense and on fourth down senior linebacker Trent Laune blocked Matt Dargy's punt and Senior safety Brett Mertens scooped up the loose ball and took it 25-yards to paydirt, putting the Bulldogs up 14-2.

After another quick stand by the defense the Bulldog offense took the field at their own 34 yard line. On first down Lewis took a hand off from Schmidt and scampered 66-yards for the score, picking up a downfield block by Neujahr. After the extra point for Saalfeld the Bulldogs had a commanding 21-2 score to end the first quarter.

After another Dana punt in the second quarter the Bulldogs took over at their own 15-yard line. Schmidt connected with sophomore tight end James Refenes for a 13-yard gain to start the drive. On the next play Neujahr went in motion and took a reverse 72 yards for Concordia's final score of the half.

Concordia didn't score again until the fourth quarter when Saalfeld hit a 40-yard field goal with 12:13 remaining. Junior quarterback Christian Spaulding hooked up with freshman wideout Tariq Smith for a score from 24 yards out to close the scoring for the Bulldogs.

As team the Bulldogs finished with 361 yards of total offense (215 rushing, 146 passing). Schmidt finished the day 8-of-16 for 98 yards and an interception, while Spauling went 4-of-5 for 48 yards and a TD. Sophomore Derrick Woods added 21 yards on the ground.

Defensively, Concordia held Dana to negative 12 yards rushing on 20 attempts while snatching four interceptions. Senior cornerback Jim Landers led the defense with 5.5 tackles and two interceptions. Alex Niederklein and Micah Sirek also had interceptions on the day.

The leading tackler for the Bulldogs was freshman outside linebacker Jeremy Walrath with seven total tackles. The defensive line duo of Matt Baller and Brock Simonsen accounted for seven total tackles (one sack) and a forced fumble.

Concordia will be at home this Saturday, Sept. 15 against Midland Lutheran with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

Midland hands Bulldogs first loss of season

15 SEP 2007

The Concordia University, Nebraska football struggled to find a rhythm on offense and didn't have an answer for Midland Lutheran College as the Warriors downed the Bulldogs 27-10 on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium in Seward.

After back to back-to-back weeks of big games on the ground, the Bulldogs (2-1, 2-1 GPAC) only mustered 95 yards rushing against the Warriors. Midland (1-2, 1-2 GPAC) bounced back to pick up their first of the season after getting trounced by Sioux Falls a week earlier.

Midland dominated the time of possession on the afternoon, holding the almost 40 minutes, compared to just 20 minutes for the Bulldogs. Concordia also struggled on third down, converting just one out of 13 opportunities.

The Warriors put up points on two of their first three drives, getting a pair of field goals from 36 and 37 yards out by Andrew Hunt.

In the second quarter it Bulldogs took lead thanks to a big passing play. Junior QB Kyle Schmidt hooked up with sophomore Daniel Uden for a 43-yard touchdown kick to cap a three-play, 58-yard drive.

After a punt by Midland the Bulldogs drove to the Warrior 26 yard line before the drive stalled. A Michael Saalfeld field goal attempt from 43-yards out had the distance, but was just right.

On the ensuing possession Midland marched 74-yards on nine plays, taking 3:30 off the clock. Dustin Lindtrom went into the endzone from one-yard out to cap the drive.

Concordia had a chance to pull within three before halftime, but a 50-yard field goal attempt by Saalfeld came up short.

Midland took control on the opening drive of the second half, mixing things up through air and on the ground, going 80 yards in 12 plays. The drive took just over five minutes. Tyler Swanson, the Warrior QB, ran for the touchdown, going in from nine yards out on a naked bootleg to make it 20-7.

The final Concordia points came with 60 seconds left in the third quarter as Saalfeld split the uprights on a 32-yard field goal.

Swanson added a passing touchdown for Midland with 3:55 remaining, connecting with Steve Hromas to put the game out of reach for the Bulldogs.

Offensively, the Bulldogs finished with 201 total yards compared to 347 for Midland. Senior running back JaMaine Lewis finished with 96 yards on 18 carries to pace the Bulldogs.

Freshman Jeremy Walrath had a game-high 11.5 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for a loss, a pair of sacks and a pass break up. He also forced a fumbled on the afternoon. Senior Trent Laune finished with eight tackles while Brett Mertens and Matt Baller each recorded sacks. Mertens also had an interception.

For Midland, QB Swanson was 17 of 25 for 251 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a net of five yards and a TD

Concordia is at Northwestern College next Saturday. The Red Raiders are coming off a 44-20 loss to NAIA No. 1, the University of Sioux Falls. Kickoff is schedule for 1 p.m.

Near upset in Orange City bounces the wrong way for the Bulldogs

22 SEP 2007

The Concordia University, Nebraska football team seemed to have pulled the upset over the 11th-ranked Northwestern College Red Raiders, but a wild and woolly final play spelled doom for the Bulldogs as Northwestern prevailed, 29-24, on Saturday afternoon in Orange City, Iowa. 

It was a game in which the outcome wasn't clear until every tick of the game clock was spent and the game officials had huddled to decide what it was they just saw happen. 

With three seconds left, Northwestern attempted the game-winning field goal only to have it blocked by Concordia's Preston Harris. The loose ball was scooped up by the Northwestern holder who completed a pass. The receiver, a few yards short of the endzone, lateraled while being tackled. The ball then was mishandled forward by Northwestern and found its way into the endzone where it was recovered by the Red Raiders.

Game over? Not quite. The stadium, thrown into pandemonium by the play, quieted down while the crew of officials gathered, deliberating for more than a minute before making their call: touchdown Northwestern. 

The memorable game began with the Bulldogs on their heels. Northwestern (3-1, 3-1 GPAC) scored 17 straight points in the first quarter. But Concordia (2-2, 2-2 GPAC) countered with a scoring outburst of its own, scoring 21 unanswered to take a 21-17 lead into the locker-room at intermission.

The Red Raiders first scoring drive went 66 yards in just five plays, a drive capped by a 26-yard TD pass from Craig Hector to Tyler Reichle.

The Red Raiders took advantage of good field position after a fumble by JaMaine Lewis on the Concordia 35. A 40-yard field goal by the Red Raiders Grant Mosier with 6:28 left in the first quarter made it 10-0 Northwestern.

The final score of the first quarter came on a trick play for Northwestern as they ran a reverse pass resulting in a 36-yard TD pass from Ryan Mitchell to Reichle. Mosier added the PAT.

The tide turned in the second quarter as Concordia took control. A drive that started at the end of the first quarter culminated on a 38-yard TD pass from Bulldog QB Christian Spaulding to Derrick Woods. Woods caught a well placed strike from Spaulding and scampered down the sideline to paydirt. The PAT was no good as the snap and hold caused problems.

Concordia's defense held the Red Raiders to a three-and-out on the next possession forcing a punt. It took just one play, a trick play, for the Bulldogs to score. Lewis took a direct snap, rolled to his right and lofted a pass towards freshman Tariq Smith who hauled it in for a 45-yard TD. Michael Saalfeld converted the PAT.

A fumble by Northwestern's QB Hector was recovered by Micah Sirek of the Bulldogs at the Concordia 37-yard line. Spaulding hooked up with split end James Refenes for 51 yards on the next play to set up Lewis' second TD of the day, a 12-yard run. Bulldog holder Jake Griedl had problems with the snap and after reversing his field crossed the goal line for the two-point conversion making it 21-17 Bulldogs at half.

Northwestern scored on the opening drive of the third quarter, marching 77-yards on 13 plays for a touchdown as Hector found DJ Hansen from 10-yards out. The PAT was blocked by Jordan Brockman of Concordia.

Neither team was able to muster any points the rest of the third quarter and the majority of the fourth. Northwestern had iyts opportunity, with a first and goal on the three after an interception by Concordia. 

Hector found his tight end for a TD, but it was taken off the board due to an illegal receiver downfield. On the next play Kyle Veldhorst to a handoff and rambled eight yards for what seemed to be a touchdown, but it was brought back after a holding call. 

The Concordia defense then came up with big plays, dropping Veldhorst for a three-yard loss and sacking hector for a loss of seven. On third and fourth downs the Bulldogs forced a pair of incomplete passes, taking over on downs. 

The teams traded a pair of turnovers and punts before Concordia held on fourth down again.

The Red Raiders faced a fourth and five from the Concordia 43-yard line and ran a fake punt. The pass by punter Brad Payne was incomplete, giving the Bulldogs the ball with 2:08 left. 

Concordia marched down the field, getting Saalfeld within field goal range with 45 seconds remaining. Saalfeld converted from 32 yards out and into the wind to give the Bulldogs a 24-23 lead. During the drive Concordia converted on a crucial fourth-and-five as Jeff Neujahr made an impressive catch in traffic.

After the kickoff the Raiders took over on their own 31-yard line with 41 seconds remaining and the wind at their back. A pair of nice catches on the sideline set up a 39-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining.

And it was those last three seconds, of course, that bounced the wrong way for the Bulldogs.

For the game, Concordia had 333 yards of total offense (95 rush, 238 pass). Northwestern went for 450 yards thanks to balanced attack (249 rush, 201 pass).

Playing the majority of the game as the Bulldogs signal caller, Spaulding went 15 of 26 for 193 yards, one TD and two interceptions. On the afternoon he completed a pass to eight different receivers. Neujahr led the receivers with four catches.

Lewis finished the game with 106 yards rushing on 26 carriers and went 1 for 1 passing for 45 and a TD. He also had a rushing TD.

For the Red Raiders, five different players rushed for 40 or more yards, led by Tim Naiman with 63 yards on three carries. QB Hector rushed for 46 yards and was 14 of 31 through the air for 165 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns.

Defensively for Concordia, Jim Landers led the way with eight tackles and a pair of pass break ups while Kole Ficken added seven tackles. A pair of seniors, Brett Mertens and Trent Laune, each hauled in an interception. As a team the Bulldogs had three sacks, one by Jeremy Walrath.

TJ Lensch led Northwestern with 7.5 tackles and a sack while Cale Blauwet and Reid Van Duyn each had interceptions.

Concordia is back at home this Saturday (Sept. 29) against Morningside College at 1 p.m. The Mustangs, ranked 18th in last weeks poll, are coming off a 34-28 loss to top-ranked University of Sioux Falls.

Rally falls short against Mustangs

29 SEP 2007

Morningside College jumped out to an early lead that proved to be too much for the Bulldogs to overcome as the Mustangs defeated Concordia University, Nebraska, 21-14 on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium in Seward, Neb.

Concordia (2-3, 2-3 GPAC) trailed 21-0 at the half but came up with a solid performance from the defense in the second half, holding the Mustangs (3-2, 3-2 GPAC) scoreless. The Concordia rally fell short as the Bulldogs finished with just 170 yards of total offense on the afternoon.

Morningside wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Junior QB Ian Gilworth hooked up with wide receiver Antuan Bloom on the second play from scrimmage for a 75-yard TD pass. Bloom did most of the damage, using his speed to break free down the sideline on the wide receiver screen. C.J. Gradoville added the PAT.

On a windy day, the first quarter featured six kicks, four punts and a pair of field goal attempts by the two squads. Concordia's 44-yard field goal attempt by Michael Saalfeld was blocked, while a 40-yard attempt by Gradoville for Morningside came up short going into the wind.

After taking over on downs in the second quarter the Mustangs put together a six play, 64-yard drive to take a 14-0 lead. The drive was capped by Tyler Childress who went into the endzone from a yard out.

The Concordia defense came up with their first takeaway of the afternoon with 5:21 left in the half as Jeremy Walrath intercepted a Gilworth pass that was tipped. The Bulldogs got a pair of nice runs from JaMaine Lewis on the ensuing drive before it stalled and they were force to punt into the wind.

On the ensuing drive Morningside Gilworth hooked up with Bloom for his second touchdown of the day with 51 seconds left in the half, making it 21-0.

Concordia responded in the second half, blocking a Morningside punt on their first possession. Senior free safety Brett Mertens came up with the block which game Concordia great field position at the Mustang 20-yard line.

Six plays later Bulldog QB Christian Spaulding threaded the needle to Bryant Schweers who held on for the TD despite getting hit hard on the play. Saalfeld added the PAT.

Morningside put together a 14 play drive on the next possession but were forced to punt. Peter Olsen's kick pinned the Bulldogs inside the 10 yard line at the nine. After a false start and a rush by Lewis the Bulldogs were faced with a third and ten with the wind at their back and just seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Concordia opted to punt on third down to take advantage of the wind. The third down punt worked beautifully as Saalfeld's end-over-end punt sailed and then bounced for a total of 83-yards.

The punt set a new GPAC record, bettering the previous mark of 75-yards. Ironically, it wasn't the only 83-yard punt of the day in the conference, as the Doane punter also booted a kick the same distance.

Mertens continued to come up with big plays, intercepting Gilworth two plays later, returning it 30 yards to the Mustang six yard line.

On the ensuing drive the Bulldogs had four first and goal opportunities thanks to a handful of Morningside penalties. On fourth and goal Spaulding's pass to Tariq Smith was broken up, but a roughing the passer penalty gave the Bulldogs new life. Then, on third and goal from the 16, the Bulldogs were penalized for holding earlier; Morningside was called for a personal foul facemask, giving Concordia another opportunity.

On the next play Spaulding's pass was picked off by Aaron Klein of the Mustangs, who was called for pass interference, which by rule put the ball at the three yard line and gave the Bulldogs another first and goal situation. Two plays later Lewis went in for the touchdown, pulling the Bulldogs within seven, 21-14.

The Concordia defense came up with another turnover on the next possession, as Mertens grabbed his second interception of the day, returning this one 26 yards to the Morningside 49.
The Bulldogs marched as far as the Mustang 25-yard line before turning the ball over on downs, as a pass intended for Jeff Neujahr fell incomplete on fourth and seven.

Concordia did get the ball back with 62 seconds remaining, but a pass by Spaulding bounced off of the intended receiver and was pick off with 49 seconds left, sealing the Bulldogs fate.
For the game, Morningside had had 423 yards of total offense (122 rush, 301 pass). Of those yards, 297 came in the first half. Gilworth went 18 of 30 for 301 yards, two TD's and three interceptions.

For the Bulldogs, Spaulding completed 11 of 23 passes for 77 yards, one TD and one interception. Lewis accounted for 94 yards rushing on 21 carries and also hauled in three passes for 17 yards. As a team Concordia finished with 170 yards of total offense.

Mertens was the standout player for the Bulldog defense, coming up with a pair of interceptions and blocked punt to go along with 2.5 tackles on the day. Senior linebacker Trent Laune led Concordia in tackles with 7.5, including one for a loss and a pass break up. David Fowler and Nathan Hannemann each added 5.5 tackles. James McCoy, Jr., finished with 2.5 tackles for loss.

Concordia travels to Crete, Neb., on Oct. 6 to take on the Tigers of Doane College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Comeback falls short against Doane

6 OCT 2007

Kicker Drew Giesenhagen nailed three field goals to lead the Doane College Tigers to a 9-7 win over the Concordia University, Nebraska football team Saturday afternoon in Crete, Neb. The Bulldogs comeback fell short, as Michael Saalfeld's 50-yard field goal attempt was wide right with 11 seconds remaining.

Doane picks up their second win of the season (2-3, 2-3 GPAC) and betters the Bulldogs (2-4, 2-4 GPAC) for second time in as many years.

The defenses of each squad turned in solid performances, as the Bulldogs held Doane to 234 total yards (99 rushing, 135 passing) while the Tigers limited Concordia to just 208 of offense as a team (128 rushing, 80 passing).

Neither team was able to get on the board in the first quarter as the teams traded punts and turnovers. The Bulldogs coughed up the ball twice in the first quarter while Doane put the ball on the turf once. Senior Brett Mertens forced the Doane fumble which was recovered by freshman Aaron Hannemann.

Doane's first scoring threat came in the second quarter as they drove as far as the three yard line of Concordia before the Bulldogs held, forcing the first of three Giesenhagen field goals, a 24-yard attempt, with 9:21 left in the quarter.

The Tigers added another field goal, this one from 26-yards out with 1:17 left in the half.

Down 6-0 at the half, Concordia took their first possession of the second half to the Doane 28-yard line thanks in part to a 20-yard gain on a fake punt. That play led to a 45-yard field goal attempt by Michael Saalfeld which was blocked by the Tigers and returned all the way to the Concordia 11-yard line.

The Concordia defense again kept the Tigers out of the endzone, allowing just four yards, forcing another field goal attempt by Giesenhagen. Giesenhagen was again good, this time from 24-yards out, giving the Tigers a 9-0 advantage.

It looked like the Bulldogs had something going on their next possession driving inside the Tiger 15 to the 14-yard line, but a holding penalty followed by sack backed the Bulldogs up to the Doane 34. Saalfeld pinned the Tigers deep in their own territory with a 27-yard punt that was fair caught at the seven yard line.

After a three and out by the Tiger offense the Bulldogs took over with 2:11 left in the third quarter on the Doane 23-yard line. A steady diet of senior running back JaMaine Lewis led to a Concordia touchdown as time expired on the third quarter. Lewis, who carried the ball on every snap of the drive, went in from five yards out to put the Bulldogs on the board. Saalfeld added the PAT to pull Concordia within a deuce, 9-7.

In the fourth quarter after a 44-yard punt return by senior Jeff Neujahr gave the Bulldogs prime field position at the Tiger 14-yard line the Bulldogs were again plagued by turnovers and penalties. After a false start Bulldog QB Kyle Schmidt fumbled and Kyle Coffie of Doane recovered.

After trading punts the Tigers coughed up the ball as their QB, J.R. Artozqui, had it knocked loose and recovered by Brett Baller of Concordia. The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize on the turnover, punting it away four plays later.

Concordia had one last chance, taking over at the Tiger 48-yard line with 2:54 left in the game. The Bulldogs seemed to be in position for a chance at a game winning field goal, as they drove to the Doane 18-yard line, facing a third and five. However, a pair of flags, a false start and a holding call, made it third and 20 from the Doane 33. Schmidt's pass to Lewis at the goal line was off Lewis' fingertips, forcing the 50-yard field goal attempt by Saalfeld which seemed to have the distance, but was off to the right.

For the Bulldogs, Lewis continues to put up impressive numbers, carrying the ball a hefty 30 times for 154 yards and a TD. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
Through the air, Christian Spaulding and Schmidt went a combined 6 of 18 for 60 yards and one interception, off the arm of Spaulding.

Defensively for Concordia freshman linebacker Jeremy Walrath led the way with 5.5 tackles. Mertens forced a fumble and had five tackles on the day. The Bulldogs were without a sack for just the second game this season.

The Tigers were led by Artozqui who complete 10 passes for 135 yards. Lukek Burson, Blake Erickson and Mark Newmyer all had two catches. Coffie led the Tiger defense with 13 tackles, four of them solo. He also had three sacks a pair of forced fumbles a fumble recovery and a pass break up.

Concordia hosts Nebraska Wesleyan University next Saturday on "Homecoming" weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Offense rolls in win over #23 NWU

13 OCT 2007

The Concordia University, Nebraska offense came to life, amassing 449 total yards as the Bulldogs came from behind to defeat the 23rd-ranked Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves, 30-14, on Saturday at Bulldog Stadium in Seward.

Concordia (3-4, 3-4 GPAC) scored 30 unanswered points en route to the homecoming win over the Prairie Wolves (3-3, 3-3 GPAC). It is the second straight loss for Nebraska Wesleyan at Bulldog Stadium.

Nebraska Wesleyan opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 25-yard touchdown run by Jordan Stutzman. Stutzman's run capped a seven play, 44-yard drive that was set up by a nice punt return (34-yards) by the Prairie Wolves.

On the ensuing dive the NWU defense came up with a big play as Phil Schroer picked off a Kyle Schmidt pass at the six yard line and streaked down the far side, 94-yards to paydirt to give the Prairie Wolves a 14-0 advantage. That proved to be the final points that Nebraska Wesleyan would score.

Senior Jeff Neujahr counted with a big play of his own on the next drive, breaking loose for a 60-yard TD scamper. Michael Saalfeld added the point after, cutting the lead in half.

The Bulldog defense came up with their first takeaway of the game on the next drive as senior Brett Mertens picked off Zac Rabe's pass at the Concordia seven yard line and returned it 45-yards into NWU territory.

Concordia capitalized on the turnover, getting a 34-yard field goal by Saalfeld to cut the lead to 14-10 with 4:40 left in the first half. That is where the scored stayed until the third quarter.

Defensively the Bulldogs came up with big plays all afternoon long, stopping the Prairie Wolves on key fourth down plays three times and coming up with a total of three turnovers (2 INTs, 1 fumble).

Senior Jeff Neujahr gave the Bulldogs great field position to open the second half, returning the kickoff 43 yards to the Nebraska Wesleyan 46-yard line. Concordia drove those 46-yards in eight plays, capped off by a five-yard TD run by senior JaMaine Lewis. Saalfeld's PAT attempt failed, giving the Bulldogs a 16-14 cushion.

Bulldog linebacker, senior Trent Laune, came up with another Rabe interception on the next possession, making a diving catch at the Bulldog 44-yard line.

Four plays later the Bulldogs added to their lead as Lewis hooked up with freshman wide receiver Tariq Smith on a halfback pass from 35 yards out for a touchdown. Lewis accounted for all the yards in the drive, carrying the ball three times for 21 yards. For Smith it marks his fourth TD catch of the year. Saalfeld's PAT was good, making it 23-14 with 9:35 left in the third quarter.

Still in the third quarter the Bulldogs took over with great field position at the Prairie Wolves 43, after a 28-yard punt return by Neujahr coupled with a 15-yard personal four penalty by NWU.

The Bulldogs were able to grind out an 11-play, 43 yard touchdown drive that took up just over five minutes. During the drive sophomore QB Kyle Schmidt completed five passes, including a three-yard TD toss to Bryant Schweers to cap the drive.

Defensively in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs came up with two stops on fourth down, both inside their own 20-yard line. Aaron Hannemann stopped Rabe a yard short with 11:01 left in the game and Luke Staab stuffed Rabe a yard shy on a fourth and four with 6:25 left at the Bulldog 11.

In addition, Mertens forced a fumble which was taken out of mid-air by freshman linebacker Jeremy Walrath who returned it 13 yards to the NWU 27 with 2:34 remaining.

Concordia nearly added another score as Lewis rushed to the two-yard line as time expired.
Offensively as a team the Bulldogs racked up 449 yards of total offense (254 rushing, 195 passing), including a pair of 100-yard rushers. Lewis led the Bulldogs, notching his fifth game of 100 yards or more on the season, finishing with 133 yards on 30 carries and a TD. He also passed for a TD and finished with 199-yards of total offense. Neujahr finished with 110 yards and a TD on 13 carries.

Through the air Schmidt completed 11 of 21 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown with just one interception.

On the defensive side of the ball the Bulldogs were led by Mertens. Mertens forced a pair of fumbles, an interception and had 10 tackles, all solo. Casey Makey also had a solid performance finishing with seven tackles (5 solo, 4 assist) while Laune added an interception to go along with six tackles.

For Nebraska Wesleyan offensively Stutzman finished with 83-yards and a touchdown while Rabe complete 24-of-30 for 203 yards but was picked off twice. Just Florian hauled in six catches for 45 yards to pace nine different players with a catch for NWU.

Concordia makes their longest trip of the season next week, traveling to Mitchell, S.D. to take on the Tigers of Dakota Wesleyan at 1 p.m.

Defense, Lewis carry Bulldogs to win

20 OCT 2007

JaMaine Lewis rushed for 261 yards and four touchdowns and the Bulldogs held off a late Dakota Wesleyan rally as Concordia University defeated DWU 31-24 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference football game under beautiful conditions on Saturday (Oct. 20) at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, S.D. The Bulldogs improve to 4-4 while DWU dropped its sixth straight to fall to 1-6.

After trailing 31-10, the Tigers made a fierce comeback and scored 14 fourth quarter points to pull within seven points. Concordia was able to convert three first downs in the final four minutes of the game to seal the victory for the Bulldogs.

Jon Doom hit the second of his three TD passes on a 39-yard pass to Bubba Slaba on the first play of a Tiger drive in the fourth quarter to pull DWU within two TDs. Freshman Jordan Gau then intercepted a Bulldog pass and returned it 48 yards to the Concordia six yard line. Doom brought the Tigers within seven points as he found Rudy Niewenhuis for an 11 yard TD reception.

The third quarter was the story of the game as Concordia rushed for 185 yards and the DWU offense managed just three total yards of offense in the quarter. The Bulldogs scored two TDs and opened up the 17-10 lead.

DWU got on the board first early as the Tigers took advantage of a short field as they recovered a Bulldog fumble at the 44 yard line. Doom capped the drive with a 13 yard TD completion to Jesse Ayers to put the Tigers up 7-0 with 10:51 to play in the first quarter.

Lewis then scored on TD runs of 3 and 39 yards and Michael Saalfeld connected on a 34-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs up 17-7.

The Tigers had a great opportunity late in the second quarter after Concordia quarterback Kyle Schmidt fumbled at his own three yard line to give the Tigers the ball 1st & goal at the 3-yard line. However DWU was out of timeouts so they were unable to run the ball and three incomplete passes force DWU to settle for a 20 yard Sergio Leon field goal.

Dakota Wesleyan finished with just 157 yards of total offense, averaging 2.5 yards per play. The Tigers had 74 rushing yards and threw for 83. Wide receiver Jesse Ayers led the DWU rushing attack with 34 yards on seven carries.

Jon Doom struggled through the air going 7-23 for 83 yards with an interception, but the sophomore signal-caller did have three TDs. Bubba Slaba led the DWU receivers with two catches for 44 yards with a TD.

Tiger linebackers Daniel Wysong and Lucas Sieve led the DWU defense with 16 tackles apiece. Wysong had 2.5 tackles for loss with a QB sack, while Sieve had 2.0 TFLs, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Nick Tolsma also was a star for DWU punting nine times for and average of 46.0, placing four inside the 20 with a long of 66.

JaMaine Lewis was the story of the game rushing 31 times for 261 yards with four TDs. Jeff Neujahr added 97 yards on the ground.

Concordia quarterback Kyle Schmidt had a rough day going 1-13 for -3 yards with an interception. The only positive pass completion was by Brett Mertens on a fake punt for a 28 yard completion to give the Bulldogs a first down.

Top-ranked USF rolls over Bulldogs

27 OCT 2007

The University of Sioux Falls Cougars proved why they are the top-rated team in the NAIA on Saturday, racking up 545 yards of total offense in route to a 48-3 win over the Concordia University, Nebraska Bulldog football team at Bulldog Stadium in Seward, Neb.

Concordia (4-5, 4-5 GPAC) had it's modest two game winnings streak snapped and will have next week off before traveling to Hastings, Neb., to take on the Broncos of Hastings College on Nov. 10.The Cougars (8-0, 8-0 GPAC) dominated both on the field and in the stats and have now won 22 consecutive games.

In the first quarter, the Cougars benefiting from great field position early in the game starting at the Bulldogs 39, 40, and 40 on their first three possessions. Concordia was able to keep the Cougars out of the endzone on first two possessions thanks to solid play be the defense and a turnover.

On USF's first drive tight end Josiah Fenceroy hauled in a pass from Chad Cavender and looked to be on his way to a touchdown, but a timely hit by Kyle Rust popped the ball free and David Fowler recovered on the three yard-line.

The Bulldog offense was unable to get on track, and after a pair of punts the the Cougars were able to grab a 7-0 lead, on a 12-yard touchdown run by Erik Cimpl. Later in the frame, Chad Cavender (Redding, Ca.) added to the lead, scoring on a six-yard touchdown, scrambling to his right. It gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead.

Concordia's offense struggled against the USF defense, ranked second in total defense coming into the game, and was forced to punt on their first seven possessions in the first half. In all the Bulldogs had eight first-half possessions, six which were resulted in three-and-out situations. Sioux Falls also picked off a Bulldog pass in the first half.

The Sioux Falls offense continued to put points on the board throughout the first half. Early in the second quarter, the Cougars upped their advantage to 21-0 when Cimpl added his second TD of the day, this time a one-yarder, making it 21-0. Ryan Lowmiller pushed the gap to 28, with a 22-yard touchdown burst. The Cougars added a field goal on the final play of the half as Matt Lindgren split the uprights from 19-yards out giving the Cougars a 31-0 lead at halftime.

The second half continued much as the first half ended as the Cougars had the ball first and made it 34-0 on a 31-yard field goal by Lindgren. Midway through the third quarter, Cavender was able to find Alex Andersonfor a five-yard touchdown pass, which gave the Cougars a 41-0 lead. Minutes later, Cimpl found the end zone for the third time, making it 48-0 in favor of USF going to the final frame.

For the game the Bulldogs offense crossed midfield just once, on the 12-play, 71-yard drive in the fourth quarter that resulted in a 27-yard field goal by Michael Saalfeld with 9:22 remaining. During that drive sophomore Zack Smetter completed three passes and Jeff Neujahr rushed for nine yards.

Offensively the Bulldogs finished with just 114 yards of total offense (52 rushing, 62 passing). The backfield duo of senior JaMaine Lewis and Neujahr was held to just 30 total yards (16-Lewis, 14-Neujahr). Lewis came into the game as the second leading rusher in the NAIA.
Smetter came off the bench in relief of starting QB Kyle Schmidt and went 5-of-12 passing for 48 yards and an interception

A pair of seniors, Trent Laune and Brett Mertens led the Bulldog defense. Laune finished with 7.5 tackles and a forced fumble while Mertens added 6.5 tackles. Rusty McConnel came up with the only interception of the day for Concordia.

Leading the way for the Cougars was Cavender, who went 21-of-29, for 286 yards, and two total touchdowns (one rushing, one passing). Cimpl rushed 14 times for 71 yards, and three touchdowns, while Lowmiller carried the ball eight times, gaining 94 yards, and a touchdown.

Trey Erickson caught seven passes for 81 yards, while Josiah Fenceroy hauled in six passes for 86 yards.

Concordia will have next week off before traveling to Hastings, Neb., to take on the Broncos of Hastings College on Nov. 10 in the final game of the season.

Lewis named GPAC offensive player of the week

Running back JaMaine Lewis of Concordia University, Nebraska was recognized as the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference offensive player of the week for games played on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2007-2008 GPAC player-of-the-week award program.

Lewis, a senior from St. Louis, Mo., ran for 150 yards on 18 carries as the Bulldogs defeated Briar Cliff 36-23 in their season opener at Bulldog Stadium. In the win he ran for two touchdowns, while averaging 8.3 yards per carry. His long run was a 68-yard touchdown score in the second quarter.

Concordia (1-0) will play at Dana (0-1) next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Blair, Neb.

Saalfeld, Mertens earn weekly GPAC honors

Brett Mertens and Michael Saalfeld of Concordia University, Nebraska were each honored as the Great Plains Athletic Conference/Hauff Mid-America Sports football players-of-the-week for games played on Saturday, September 29, 2007. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2007-2008 GPAC Players-of-the-Week and Players and Coaches-of-the-Year awards program.

Mertens, a senior from Merino, Colo., was named the GPAC defensive player of the week. Mertens, posted a solid defensive performance from his free safety spot in the Bulldogs 21-14 loss to Morningside. For the game he grabbed two interceptions with totaling 56 return yards and blocked a Mustang punt. He also chipped in with four tackles.

Saalfeld, a junior from David City, Neb., was named the Co-GPAC special teams player of the week. Saalfeld boomed an 83-yard punt in Concordia's game against Morningside, setting a new GPAC record for longest punt. He also made two PAT's in the game. Coincidentally, Saalfeld was one of two GPAC punters to turn in an 83-yard punt, the other being Doane's Josh Warren with whom Saalfeld shares the weekly honor.

Concordia (2-3) will play at Doane (1-3) on Saturday in a 1 p.m.

Concordia athletes named to World-Herald All-Nebraska Teams

Eight athletes from Concordia University, Nebraska were selected to the 2007 Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska College Teams. Five other Concordia athletes were honorably mentioned. The lists, released Christmas morning, were for football, soccer and volleyball.

Football led the way with five players being named to the World-Herald team and three more made the honorable mention list. Most notably senior running back JaMaine Lewis from St. Louis, Mo., was named the honorary offensive captain. Lewis was joined on the offensive side by junior offensive lineman Andrew Sunderman. On the defensive squad junior noseguard Matt Baller and senior safety Brett Mertens each garnered honors. Senior dual-threat back Jeff Neujahr was named as the team's punt returner. Juniors Brock Simonsen and Tom Schutte along with senior Trent Laune were honorably mentioned.

Concordia led all GPAC schools for volleyball with two World-Herald selections: senior middle blocker Katie Werner from Syracuse, Neb. and Kelli Ziegler, a sophomore from Lincoln, Neb.

Freshman sensation Arturo Vega, from El Paso, Texas, was the lone selection for either squad on the All-State soccer team. Anthony Reichwaldt, a freshman goal keeper from Lincoln, Neb., was honorably mentioned. Sophomore Carolyn Chrzan from Burbank, Calif., was honorably mentioned for the women's team.

Lewis and Neujahr tabbed as All-Americans

The Victory Sports Network has released the 2007 NAIA Football All-American Teams. Senior running back JaMaine Lewis was named to the second team with senior Jeff Neujahr being named an honorable mention at return specialist.

This marks the sixth season for the awards. A committee of NAIA coaches votes on nominees compiled by VSN.

For Lewis, the honor goes along with many other accolades the senior from St. Louis, Mo. has amassed throughout his career. Lewis was recently named to the Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska team and was selected as its offensive captain. He has also earned conference honors for each of the past three seasons.  

Lewis finished the 2007 season with 1,265 yards on 225 attempts with 11 touchdowns, with season highs coming against Dakota Wesleyan when he rushed for 261 yards on 31 carries and four touchdowns. Lewis finishes his career with 2,548 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Neujahr also finished his career with the Bulldogs with many decorations: He was the GPAC's first-team selection as a return specialist in 2006 and 2007. Neujahr, a senior from Gothenburg, Neb. finished his career with 2167 all purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.

"They both deserve all the awards and honors they receive," said Head Coach Courtney Meyer, "They are both such hard workers, and brought so much to our team they are going to be very tough to replace."

Concordia finished the 2007 season with a 4-6 record. The 2008 season kicks off September 6, 2008 as the Warriors of Midland Lutheran College visit Bulldog stadium.

Concordia's athletic teams are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). During the 2006-2007 season, the Bulldogs paced the conference with 54 scholar-athlete award winners. In the last four years Concordia has had 188 student-athletes garner the NAIA Scholar-Athlete award.