2015 Football schedule/results

6-4 overall | 5-4 GPAC | Season Stats

2015 Football roster

No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Year	Hometown
1	Sandy Fisher	P	6-0	180	Sr.	Lakewood, Colo.
1	Carey Harrison	WR	6-0	180	So.	Winchester, Calif.
2	Vincent Beasley	WR	6-2	175	Fr.	Pearland, Texas
2	Tarence Roby	CB	6-3	205	So.	Rockford, Ill.
3	Jordan Slough	RB	5-10	190	Fr.	Doniphan, Neb.
4	Russell Denny	DL	6-0	225	Fr.	Centennial, Colo.
4	Matt Keener	DB	5-10	190	Jr.	El Segundo, Calif.
5	Clay Qyalan	RB	5-9	165	Fr.	Manvel, Texas
5	Adam Meirose	K	6-0	210	Sr.	Lincoln, Neb.
6	Jared Garcia	WR	6-3	205	So.	Pearland, Texas
6	Michael Hedlund	LB	6-0	220	Jr.	O'Neill, Neb.
7	Josh Davis	FB	6-1	220	So.	Katy, Texas
7	Justus Thompson	DB	5-10	190	So.	Parker, Colo.
8	Davon Hodge	CB	5-10	180	Jr.	Parker, Colo.
8	Demarques Saulberry	RB	5-9	210	Jr.	Beaumont, Texas
9	Bryce Collins	RB	5-9	205	Jr.	Boerne, Texas
10	LeDontrae Gooden	S	5-10	190	Jr.	Sacramento, Calif.
10	Andrew Perea	QB	6-1	195	Fr.	Pico River, Calif.
11	Feno Pearson	LB	6-1	225	Fr.	Austin, Texas
11	TJ Austin	QB	6-0	220	So.	Angleton, Texas
12	Brandon Luetchens	WR	6-1	210	Jr.	Murdock, Neb.
12	Garrison Swain	LB	5-11	190	Fr.	Sarasota, Fla.
13	Jordan Holguin	LB	5-10	170	Fr.	Clovis, N.M.
14	Donovan Hernandez	CB	5-10	170	Fr.	Aurora, Colo.
14	Aivery Scheffer	S	5-10	190	Fr.	Cedar Park, Texas
15	Parker Johnson	LB	6-3	215	Fr.	York, Neb.
16	Jess Kuehl	QB	6-1	190	Fr.	Flagstaff, Ariz.
16	Garrett Folchert	QB	5-11	190	Sr.	Ogallala, Neb.
17	Riley Wiltfong	QB	6-1	190	So.	Doniphan, Neb.
18	Shane Scott	LB	6-2	210	So.	Ranchos Palos Verdes, Calif.
19	Colby Trahan	WR	6-2	200	So.	Pearland, Texas
20	Joey Godinez	S	6-0	190	Fr.	Gering, Neb.
21	Sebastian Garces	DB	6-1	195	So.	Boerne, Texas
22	Brody Edwards	CB	5-9	175	Fr.	Clovis, N.M.
23	Trent Good	FB	5-9	215	Sr.	Gothenburg, Neb.
24	Caden Jameson	WR	5-11	185	Fr.	Thedford, Neb.
25	Hershell Pierre-Cahel	CB	5-11	185	Fr.	Lilburn, Ga.
26	Marcus Evans	LB	6-0	190	Fr.	Houston, Texas
27	Coby Cassidy	RB	5-11	185	Fr.	Burwell, Neb.
27	Cory Evans Jr.	CB	6-3	200	Jr.	Tampa Bay, Fla.
28	D'Mauria Martin	DB	5-10	190	So.	Converse, Texas
29	Devon Jackson	CB	6-0	190	Jr.	Calgary, Alberta
29	Tait Sibbel	LB	6-3	215	Sr.	O'Neill, Neb.
30	Patrick Skwara	LB	6-0	230	Jr.	Boerne, Texas
30	Parker Troester	LB	6-0	195	Fr.	Sterling, Colo.
31	Zack Moje	S	6-0	185	Sr.	Pilger, Neb.
32	Brandon Namuth	LB	6-1	220	Sr.	Lawellen, Neb.
33	Lane Wright	TE	6-2	215	Fr.	Norfolk, Neb.
33	Parker Hasenkamp	LB	6-1	225	So.	Hiawatha, Kan.
34	Nathan Stolze	K	5-11	170	Fr.	Norfolk, Neb.
34	Trey Barnes	DL	6-1	245	Jr.	Seward, Neb.
35	John Alexander	LB	6-2	225	Fr.	Pearland, Texas
36	Kordell Glause	LB	6-0	215	Fr.	Palmer, Neb.
37	Clay Mauro	LB	6-1	225	Sr.	Ely, Nev.
39	Christopher Hendricks	DB	5-9	175	Jr.	Cedar Park, Texas
40	Erik Small	FB	6-1	245	Jr.	Anaheim, Calif
41	Chris Amaya	LB	6-0	220	Fr.	Thornton, Colo.
42	Chris Guitierrez	LB	6-0	210	Fr.	San Antonio, Texas
43	Kerry Grigsby	DL	6-3	240	Jr.	San Diego, Calif.
44	Trey McGhee	LB	6-0	210	Fr.	Rutherfordton, N.C.
45	Adam Christiansen	LB	6-2	210	Fr.	Palmer, Alaska
45	Kolton Stone	FB	5-10	240	So.	McCook, Neb.
46	Sam Jakabcic	CB	5-9	185	Fr.	Brunswick, Ohio
47	Daniel Langewisch	FB	5-10	210	Fr.	Lakewood, Colo.
47	Josh Slechta	TE	6-6	260	Sr.	Kennard, Neb.
48	Derek Luzum	TE	6-2	210	Fr.	Milligan, Neb.
49	Seth Fitzke	TE	6-5	250	Jr.	Seward, Neb.
50	Rhett Miller	LB	6-1	180	So.	Lufkin, Texas
50	Keddrick Fuselier	OL	6-1	300	So.	Houston, Texas
51	Zach Jackson	LB	5-11	240	So.	Lincoln, Neb.
52	Michael Winckler	OL	6-1	285	Jr.	Fremont, Neb.
53	Dakota Coon	LB	5-11	220	Jr.	North Platte, Neb.
54	Matt Chilman	DE	5-11	230	So.	Las Vegas, Nev.
54	Hafeez Oladipo	LB	5-11	220	Fr.	Chicago, Ill.
55	Grady Gardner	DL	6-0	235	Sr.	Grand Island, Neb.
56	Austin Taylor	OL	6-2	280	So.	York, Neb.
57	Rosten Coon	DL	6-0	290	So.	Casa Grande, Ariz.
58	Stuart Kolpin	LB	6-3	200	Fr.	Overland Park, Kan.
60	Nathan Macleod	LB	6-1	195	Fr.	Steilacoom, Wash.
60	Corey Washington	OL	6-0	275	So.	Houston, Texas
61	Trey Anderson	OL	5-11	255	Jr.	Lincoln, Neb.
61	Dylan Pierquin	DL	5-10	250	So.	Vilvoorde, Belgium
63	Aiden Rourke	OL	6-2	315	Fr.	Toronto, Canada
64	Evrett Shaw	OL	6-1	275	Fr.	Centennial, Colo.
65	Matt Romero	OL	6-1	265	Fr.	Centennial, Colo.
66	Dalton Goodenberger	OL	6-1	265	Fr.	McCook, Neb.
67	Adam McShane	OL	6-1	230	Fr.	Blaine, Wash.
70	Austin Reese	OL	6-1	275	So.	Melissa, Texas
70	Kierre Vaughns	OL	6-1	350	Fr.	San Antonio, Texas
71	Kelby Feddern	DL	5-11	265	So.	Atkinson, Neb.
71	John-Robert Hicks	OL	6-0	270	Fr.	Ewa Beach, Hawaii
73	Grady Koch	OL	6-5	260	So.	Doniphan, Neb.
74	Camren Fraser	OL	6-1	265	Fr.	Boise, Idaho
75	Ben Balduc	OL	6-3	290	Sr.	Roanoke, Texas
77	Hallick Lehmann	OL	6-5	275	Jr.	Albion, Neb.
80	Trae Owens	WR	5-9	185	Jr.	San Jose, Calif.
81	Riley Herren	WR	6-0	185	Sr.	Lone Tree, Colo.
82	Kiyoshi Brey	WR	5-9	175	So.	Winchester, Calif.
83	Cameron Christiansen	TE	6-3	220	Jr.	Palmer, Alaska
84	Ben Hulett	WR	6-2	190	Jr.	Gary, Ind.
85	Miles Bailey	WR	6-1	200	Fr.	Norfolk, Neb.
85	Tony Shelton	WR	5-7	185	Jr.	Oceanside, Calif.
86	Julius Smith	WR	6-5	190	Fr.	Houston, Texas
87	Charles Sims	WR	5-11	185	Fr.	Castle Rock, Texas
88	Cody Eitzmann	WR	5-10	170	Sr.	Deshler, Neb.
89	Clinton Gardels	DL	6-5	245	Sr.	Wilcox, Neb.
91	Kalen Garrett	DL	6-1	230	Fr.	Doniphan, Neb.
91	Nixon Nerud	TE	6-5	195	Fr.	Dorchester, Neb.
92	Collin Christiansen	DL	6-1	225	Sr.	Palmer, Alaska
93	Ronald Jackson	DL	5-10	310	Jr.	Houston, Texas
94	J.R. Rascon	DL	6-1	245	So.	Tucson, Ariz.
95	Taylor Hanson	DL	6-5	290	Fr.	Lincoln, Neb.
96	Michael Gill	DL	6-0	270	Sr.	Ogallala, Neb.
99	Tyler Roubadeaux	K	5-10	160	Fr.	Little Elm, Texas
99	Nolan Schroeder	DL	6-4	255	Jr.	Davenport, Neb.
	George Swain	CB	5-11	190	Fr.	Sarasota, Fla.

Head Coach: Vance Winter (7th year)
Assistant Coaches:
  Offensive Coordinator: Curran White
  Defensive Coordinator/ Recruiting Coordinator/ Linebackers: Patrick Daberkow
  Special Teams Coordinator/ Defensive Line/ JV Head Coach: Corby Osten
  Wide Receivers: Reggie Corbin
  Kickers/ Punters/ Fullbacks: Courtney Meyer
Graduate Assistant Coaches: Brian Quinn and Wes Coomes

SEASON PREVIEW: 2015 Concordia football

By Jake Knabel, Director of Athletic Communications

Head coach: Vance Winter (28-37, six years)
2014 Record: 5-6 overall; 4-5 GPAC (T-6th)
Key Returners: OL Ben Balduc; RB Bryce Collins; TE Seth Fitzke; WR Jared Garcia; DL Michael Gill, K Adam Meirose; DB Tarence Roby; DB Tait Sibbel; TE Josh Slechta
Key Losses: OL Adam Aschenbrenner; OL Glenn Manninger; DB Landon Oelke; WR Logan Otte; OL Josh Powell; DL Kyle Rakow; QB Von Thomas
2014 GPAC All-Conference: Bryce Collins (first team); Adam Meirose (first team); Josh Powell (first team); Seth Fitzke (second team); Jared Garcia (second team); Kyle Rakow (second team); Tarence Roby (second team); Adam Aschenbrenner (honorable mention); Ben Balduc (honorable mention); Sandy Fisher (honorable mention); Michael Gill (honorable mention); Michael Hedlund (honorable mention); Glenn Manninger (honorable mention); Landon Oelke (honorable mention); Logan Otte (honorable mention); Tait Sibbel (honorable mention); Von Thomas (honorable mention)

Outlook
After a 2014 season filled with close calls (five losses by seven points or less), Concordia looks to turn the page with a more experienced squad. Explosive skill players such as 1,000-yard running back Bryce Collins and record-setting receiver Jared Garcia give this roster plenty of pizazz. Said seventh-year head coach Vance Winter of the 2014 season, “Our highlight film was probably the most entertaining we’ve ever had – flashy with a ton of big plays.”

The 2015 edition promises to bring even more flash and sizzle. Even with the graduation of perhaps the program’s best ever quarterback in Von Thomas, the Bulldogs possess a level of skill talent unprecedented for a school known more for rugged defense than for standout athletes jumping over and running past the opposition.

While there are obvious question marks as to how four starters get replaced along the offensive line, there appear to be playmakers in abundance. Winter thinks this will be the most talented team he’s fielded since taking over as head coach in 2009. Say’s Winter, “I think this will be a team that can really run.”

Senior Ben Balduc, 6-foot-3, 290-pound native of Roanoke, Texas, provides a stabilizing force up front as the team moves on without first team all-conference guard Josh Powell. Balduc started at left guard last year but could slide to strong tackle this season depending upon how the other pieces of the unit come together. Balduc says that having exceptional skill players will help take the pressure off the new starters on the line.

“There’s probably going to be a lot of records broken this year with Bryce, Jared and TJ (Austin),” Balduc said. “It’s no joke. Those guys are going to break some records this year. I can feel it.”

Balduc helped pave the way for Collins to become the fifth 1,000-yard rusher in school history. The native of Boerne, Texas, averaged more than 100 yards rushing per game and ranked sixth among all NAIA players in all-purpose yards per contest (173.2). He was complimented perfectly in the passing game by Garcia, whose 11 touchdown catches represented a new single-season school record. The deadly red zone target piled up 184 receiving yards in week two at Hastings.

Despite the loss of Thomas, the quarterback position is less of a question mark thanks to the late-season play of Austin after No. 10 missed time due to injury. Austin, built more like a fullback or linebacker, threw for 440 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another 168 yards in five games of action in 2014. He’s listed atop the depth chart for Saturday’s game at Southwestern College (6 p.m. kickoff) with senior Garrett Folchert and sophomore Riley Wiltfong following.

“TJ is a different type of guy than Von,” Winter said. “He’s built a little bit differently than Von. He looks like a linebacker playing quarterback. He brings some things to the table we’re really excited about. He showed some great things in those last three games. That gave us a sense of optimism going into the offseason.

“I really feel great about the quarterback position going into this season.”

Whoever plays quarterback will have the services of a pair of big tight ends in senior Josh Slechta and junior Seth Fitzke. Last season Fitzke stepped in when Slechta suffered an injury in fall camp. The Seward native earned second team all-conference in 2014 after catching 15 passes and serving as an excellent blocker.

While the offense appears in good hands a season after breaking the program record for yards of total offense per game, coordinator Patrick Daberkow’s defensive group plans to move up from its 48th national ranking in terms of total yards from a year ago. With ball-hawking corners Tarence Roby and D’Mauria Martin having put a full season behind them, this unit figures to look more like the dominant 2013 Bulldog defense.

Roby is the defense’s most dynamic playmaker. The transfer from Northern Illinois University notched five interceptions, broke up eight passes and took a pair of returns (one fumble, one kickoff) back for touchdowns in his first season as a Bulldog. Consider him the Collins or Garcia of the defense.

“I think Roby and D’Mauria both had outstanding offseasons,” Winter said. “I’m really fired up about their growth. Roby had never played corner until about two days before the Sterling game (2014 season opener). He may have played a little in high school, but we moved him really late in the process. He’s got a chance to be really special. For me, D’Mauria is right up there too.”

The corners may be the biggest strengths of the defense, but there are other potential stars in linebackers Michael Hedlund and Tait Sibbel and defensive lineman Michael Gill. Sibbel has racked up 181 tackles and eight interceptions as a three-year starter at safety. He’ll move to outside linebacker this season. Up front, Gill has been a disruptive force, totaling 16.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

Despite the loss of Kyle Rakow on the defensive line, the unit has potential to be more productive with the rise of juniors Trey Barnes and Ronald Jackson. All in all, it’s a defense with a good mix of size and speed.

“I believe strongly that this defensive group has the capability of being as good as we’ve had,” Winter said. “A lot of it’s youth, but I feel like this is a group that can really run around. We’ve got some guys that can cover. We’ve got to get better quickly, the sooner the better. There’s a lot of youth in this group. I really feel like the talent is there to be great.”

The special teams units return a senior at both kicker and punter in Adam Meirose and Sandy Fisher, respectively. Meirose has been one of the program’s most productive kickers ever. He’s nailed 15 of 21 field goals and 71 of 75 extra point attempts over the last two years. The biggest question mark on special teams is who will return punts. Both Collins and Roby served as dangerous options on kick return in 2014. Potentially dynamic freshman Qyalan Clay is listed as the No. 1 kick and punt returner this week.

Winter and the Bulldogs believe they have the makings to post their second winning record in three seasons. Now they must come through in down-to-the-wire contests that are sure to arise. After all, eight of last year’s 11 games were decided by eight points or less.

“It’s usually just those one or two plays that we have to make,” Balduc said. “A lot of those didn’t happen for us last year. You go back to the film and you think, ‘wow, we should have beaten that team.’ It’s a lot of motivation for us coming into this fall.”

Added Collins, “I just feel like we’re right on the edge. We just need to gel and start making some noise. Everybody else had been making noise for Concordia. Football just seems like the last thing people were thinking about (last year). That’s a big motivator for me. I talked to a couple other guys and they thought the exact same thing. We need to contribute to the success of Concordia as a whole. That’s a big motivator.”

Dawgs wear down Moundbuilders for season-opening win

WINFIELD, Kan. – The Concordia University football team weathered a rough and mistake-plagued start to its season-opening victory at Southwestern College on Saturday night. The visiting Bulldogs shook off a 10-0 deficit, wore down the Moundbuilders (0-2) and finished with 31 unanswered points for a 31-10 victory to ring in 2015.

While its offense sputtered throughout the first half, the swarming Concordia defense kept the game well within reach. The unit forced four Southwestern fumbles while allowing just 78 yards of total offense. It marked the third-straight season that head coach Vance Winter’s program opened up with a road win.

“There wasn’t any panic,” Winter said of the shaky start. “There was just frustration. Our leaders stepped up and stayed confident. Our defense came up big with stop after stop and I thought Garrett (Folchert) provided a spark.

“Southwestern did some nice things. I thought they had a real solid plan. They have a good defensive group that ran around.”

The Bulldog offense, which operated under the direction of two quarterbacks (starter TJ Austin and backup Folchert) finally got humming in the fourth quarter. Buoyed by several nifty punt returns from junior Bryce Collins, including one for 32 yards, Concordia cashed in on fourth-quarter touchdown drives of 40, 41 and 64 yards.

The Bulldogs took their first lead at the 13:34 mark of the final stanza when Garrett Folchert rifled his second touchdown pass of the day to Carey Harrison, who caught the ball at around the 15-yard line and eluded defenders on his way to a 34-yard scoring play. That strike came on the heels of a Nolan Schroeder strip and fumble recovery. On the next drive, Austin took over as signal caller and found Trae Owens for a 29-yard touchdown connection with 11:24 left.

“We knew both were going to get reps,” Winter said of his quarterbacks. “Both deserved reps. They’ve done a nice job throughout fall camp. They have such different skillsets. What’s great is that they have supported each other.”

Concordia’s hounding defense, spurred by Saturday’s leading tackler in safety LeDontrae Gooden (seven tackles), then forced another three-and-out. On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs ate 5:11 off the clock on a 10-play, 64-yard touchdown drive capped by a Demarques Saulberry five-yard scamper over the goal line. The sequence that ended with Concordia leading 31-10, featured running plays exclusively.

While breaking in four new starters on the offensive line, the Bulldogs got the running game on track in the second half. Collins topped Concordia with 60 rushing yards on 13 carries. Saulsberry ran seven times for 47 yards and Austin covered 42 yards on 12 attempts.

The dominant second half eased the frustrations of a rough first quarter. The season got off to an inauspicious start when Qyaylan Clay lost a fumble on the opening kickoff. The Moundbuilders recovered at the Bulldog 22 and ended up setting for a 19-yard Mario Esparza field goal.

A miscue also led to Southwestern’s only touchdown. Austin’s first pass attempt of the season was picked off by Justin Owens and returned 36 yards to the Concordia one-yard-line. On the next play Moundbuilder quarterback Christian Gordon found the end zone to make it a 10-point spread less than four minutes after kickoff.

The Bulldog defense came to the rescue.

“I like how they looked,” Winter said. “They looked dominant in every way. Any creases that were open closed in a hurry. We were very physical tackling and didn’t give them any cushion. I know they’re offense has struggled a little, but any time you hold a team to that few of yards it’s a great performance.”

Folchert, a senior from Ogallala, Neb., notched his first career touchdown pass late in the first quarter. After Concordia recovered Dalton Swindale’s muffed punt, Folchert capitalized on the very next play with a 20-yard touchdown toss to tight end Seth Fitzke, shrinking the Bulldog deficit to 10-7.

In a first half marred by errors on both sides, Concordia’s Michael Hedlund set up the tying score when he blocked Esparza's punt, which went out of bounds at the Southwestern 25. Kicker Adam Meirose then nailed a 28-yard field goal after the Bulldog drive stalled at the 11.

In a contest that saw little offensive output through three quarters, the work of Concordia senior punter Sandy Fisher proved crucial. He booted eight punts for an average of 39.8 yards and downed two kicks inside the opposition’s 20.

Defensively, the Bulldogs suffocated the Moundbuilders to the tune of only 1.5 yards per play. Concordia outgained Southwestern 311-78. Gordon completed just 7 of 19 passes for 33 yards. In comparison, Folchert went 6-for-11 for 74 yards and two scores. Austin connected on 8 of 15 passes for 68 yards and one score.

Winter said conditioning was a key to its 21-0 advantage in the fourth quarter. Said the seventh-year head coach, “I think our conditioning took over. That’s a big thing to mention. What (strength and conditioning) Coach (Todd) Berner has done was so evident in the fourth quarter.”

Concordia also won season openers on the road in 2013 (30-15 over William Jewell College) and in 2014 (21-15 over Sterling College).

The Bulldogs will make their 2015 home debut next Saturday when Hastings (1-0) pays a visit to Bulldog Stadium. The Broncos defeated Bethel College (Kan.), 33-29, in their season opener on Saturday. Hastings went 6-4 overall in 2014.

Concordia football aligns with Kids and Dreams to support autism awareness

SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University student Johanna Meyer is spearheading a movement on campus to support children with autism through the Kids and Dreams Foundation. Meyer and others from the organization will be selling T-shirts to raise money for Kids and Dreams at Saturday’s home-opening football game versus Hastings. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT from Bulldog Stadium.

Junior defensive lineman Ron Jackson has helped inspire full support of the initiative from his teammates. Throughout his seven-year tenure, head coach Vance Winter has encouraged his athletes to engage in community service. Concordia football players lend a hand to the Seward community through programs like Borrow a Bulldog and Bulldog Buddies, which affords Bulldogs a chance to read to elementary students in local classrooms. Last season the football program also got behind the “Play for Parker” campaign that raised money for an Omaha child with cancer.

Proceeds from Saturday’s Kids and Dreams event, including T-shirt sales ($10 per shirt on game day) and freewill donations, will be put specifically towards an educational autism conference in Kearney on Oct. 2 and for a Kids and Dreams summer camp (Operation Shine Camp) near Central City, Neb., in 2016. Winter expects many of his players to take part in the camp, set to be held next June. For more information on Kids and Dreams, visit the organization’s website at kidsanddreams.org.

Meyer, an elementary education major with an emphasis in special education, hails from Shelton, Neb., where Kids and Dreams was founded. Meyer serves the foundation as a board member and finds the work particularly rewarding.

“I have always been very passionate about children and working with them,” Meyer said. “I have had quite a few volunteering experiences working with children with special needs. I was inspired to become more involved with the foundation due to my love for these special children.”

Says Jackson, “I really loved what the foundation was doing. I think it’s really cool what they are doing for children with autism. Football is all about teamwork. With this organization and through teamwork, we can limit the amount of autistic children being bullied.”

Fans in attendance can purchase “Dream Big” T-shirts and make donations at Saturday’s game by visiting the tables set up on the stadium concourse. Among Concordia football players, quarterback TJ Austin has also pitched in considerably by selling T-shirts.

Operation Shine Camp provides an opportunity for autistic children ages 7-12 to “get away and let their light shine.”

Says Meyer of the alignment with Saturday’s football game, “We are dreaming big and hoping for lots of support.”

Defense dominates in home-opening win over Hastings

SEWARD, Neb. – Behind a second-straight dominant defensive effort, the Concordia University football team rolled to a 28-3 victory over visiting Hastings in the 2015 home-opening game inside Bulldog Stadium on Saturday night. Concordia held the Broncos to just 146 total yards and forced three turnovers in the process of improving to 2-0 for the second time in three years.

The victory was the 30th for head coach Vance Winter since taking over in 2009. Winter’s defense made the biggest difference in the latest win.

“Those guys have an edge to them,” Winter said. “I’ve said it all fall camp. I said it all the way through. These guys defensively, I love how they run around. I love how they hit. I love how physical they are. We have tremendous cover corners. It was impressive.”

The Concordia defense got big performances from all over the field. Defensive end Trey Barnes (two sacks, three TFLs) lived in the backfield, cornerback Tarence Roby blanketed Hastings 6-foot-4 standout receiver Noah Housh and LeDonatrae Gooden’s interception and 46-yard return set up the only touchdown of the first half.

A unit that struggled at times last season has now surrendered a combined total of 224 yards through two games.

“It’s a whole different defense from last year,” said Barnes, a Seward High School product. “I feel like we’re a lot faster, really athletic. It puts a lot of pressure on that quarterback and the receivers get frustrated when we’ve got good corners locking them down.”

Just like a week earlier, Concordia got stronger as the game went along. Sophomore TJ Austin, who again shared snaps with senior Garrett Folchert at quarterback, fired three second-half touchdown passes to sink the visitors. Austin connected with both of his tight ends – Josh Slechta and Seth Fitzke – and to fullback Erik Small on tosses that all came from five yards and in.

After being held to 117 first-half yards, Concordia got rolling in the second half. The Bulldogs took advantage of short field and found the end zone via drives of 45 and 47 yards in the third quarter. Then in the fourth, Austin and running back Demarques Saulberry carried the mail on a 13-play, 72-yard touchdown drive that ate 6:47 off the clock in the fourth quarter.

Austin finished with 64 rushing yards, routinely gashing the Bronco defense with the proper decision in the zone read out of the pistol spread. On the final scoring drive that put the game to rest, Austin ran four times for 27 yards and also hurled a 35-yard strike to Carey Harrison for a first down.

“TJ played well today,” Winter said. “It’s nice to see him play the way he’s capable of. That was a great performance, especially in the second half.

“Those quarterbacks like the back-and-forth kind of thing. You worry about that at times, but they like it. They feed off of it. Each of them brings something different.”

Despite forcing three turnovers in the opening quarter, Concordia had to settle for a 7-3 halftime lead. The Bulldogs got on the board just 49 seconds into the game when Bryce Collins carried the ball for a two-yard touchdown, marking his 20th career score. The short touchdown run capitalized on Gooden’s pick of quarterback Jason Gaines’ second pass attempt of the evening. Gaines was also intercepted by linebacker Tait Sibbel on the next Bronco possession.

Gaines was flustered into a 6-for-23 passing performance. He threw for only 53 yards a week after racking up 363 passing yards in Hastings’ 33-29 season-opening victory over Bethel College. In last year’s 48-43 win over Concordia, Hastings amassed 549 total yards.

The Concordia secondary of Roby, D’Mauria Martin, Gooden and Matt Keener had the Broncos on lockdown this time around.

“We owe it to our D-line and we’ve got some good DBs,” Gooden said. “Our defense overall, we just have good players and everybody comes to play.”

The quarterback duo of Austin and Folchert combined to go 16-for-27 for 173 yards. On the ground, Collins managed 82 yards on 16 totes while up against a loaded box designed to stuff the run. Collins found the sledding rough until busting a 42-yard run immediately prior to Small’s four-yard touchdown grab with 3:42 left in the third quarter.

Barnes filled the stat sheet with seven tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry to go along with his two sacks. Michael Hedlund came up with a team high nine tackles while adding a sack of his own.

The Broncos got the most production out of running back Darvonte Knight (13 rushes, 61 yards), but he was guilty of coughing up a fumble after he had picked up a first down deep in Concordia territory on a fourth down rush. Housh caught just one pass for 12 yards a week after recording 93 receiving yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Concordia finished with 403 total yards – 230 via the run. The Bulldogs had 20 first downs to the Broncos’ 10. Hastings reached the red zone just once when its drive ended with a 21-yard field goal by Nick Giaffoglione.

The Bulldogs will next be tasked with a trip to play No. 12 Northwestern (2-0, 1-0 GPAC) in Orange City, Iowa, at 1 p.m. next Saturday. The Red Raiders own wins over No. 22 Tabor College (Kan.) and Dordt thus far in 2015. Concordia’s last three meetings with Northwestern have been decided by a combined total of nine points. The Red Raiders won two of those three matchups.

Bulldogs suffer first loss in slugfest at No. 9 Northwestern

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The defenses lived up to the hype in a GPAC slugfest that took place in Orange City, Iowa, on Saturday. The veteran Northwestern unit held the Concordia University football team scoreless in the second half and gutted out a 17-14 victory. The ninth-ranked Red Raiders survived a Concordia pick six and finally sealed the game when Concordia’s Adam Meirose missed wide left on a 45-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds.

Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad fell to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Bulldogs had been seeking their first win at De Valois Stadium since 2002.

“They made more plays than us,” Winter said. “I thought our guys fought and competed, but they made more plays. We have to get better in a lot of ways. Offensively that was not what we were hoping for. We recognize that Northwestern is great on D, but we left some things on the field and missed some opportunities.

“We’re not hanging our heads, just frustrated right now.”

Like the previous three meetings between the two sides, Saturday’s contest came down to the final seconds. Trailing 17-14, Concordia got one more shot when its defense forced a punt. Starting from his own 22 with 1:38 left in the game, quarterback TJ Austin led the Bulldogs within striking distance. He completed first down passes of 17, 24 and 15 yards to tight end Josh Slechta to put Concordia at the Northwestern 24-yard line. On fourth-and-14 from the 28, the Bulldogs attempt to tie the game misfired.

The Bulldog defense led by a career high 18 stops from linebacker Clay Mauro kept on coming. Its group of ballhawkers staked Concordia to its first lead of the game when safety LeDontrae Gooden picked off Jonathan Kodama’s pass and took it 45 yards for a second quarter touchdown that made the score 14-7.

“It was a great effort again,” Winter said. “Everybody was laying it all out there. Everyone kept fighting and competing. Northwestern has some good skill people. Our guys were really running around and hitting.”

Northwestern regained the lead for good by scoring on its first two possessions of the second half. A fumbled kickoff paved the way for Julian Dittman’s 44-yard field goal. After a Concordia punt, the Red Raiders then capped a six-play, 63-yard drive with Kodama’s second touchdown pass of the day to receiver Sam Rall.

In a contest that featured physical play at the line of scrimmage and a combined 21 punts, Northwestern outgained the Bulldogs, 347-237. Concordia managed next to nothing on the ground, rushing 27 times for 35 yards against the stout Red Raider front. Bryce Collins was held to 15 yards on 10 carries and Demarques Saulberry totaled just six yards on six totes.

After punting four times and having a field goal blocked in its first five possessions, the Bulldogs turned to sophomore receiver Jared Garcia. He responded with a 67-yard reception on a toss from quarterback Garrett Folchert. Then on second-and-goal from the seven, Garcia made a difficult catch in the back of the end zone to get Concordia on the board. It was the first score of the year for Garcia, who last season broke a program single-season record by hauling in 11 touchdown catches.

Twice Concordia started drives inside the Red Raider 25-yard line, but came up with no points in both instances. The Bulldogs missed all three of their field goal attempts on the afternoon (41, 41 and 45).

Austin completed 9 of 30 passes for 130 yards. Folchert went 3-for-6 for 77 yards and a touchdown. Kodama, a transfer, went 18-for-37 for 227 yards and two touchdowns. The Red Raider rushing attack was led by Paul Hutson (22 carries for 76 yards).

In addition to forcing 10 Northwestern punts, the Bulldog defense also stuffed Hutson on a fourth-and-one play in the first quarter. Cory Evans and Tait Sibbel were credited with three pass break ups apiece.

For the first time since 2012, Concordia faces a bye week. The Bulldogs resume the 2015 season on Oct. 3 when they travel to Sioux Center, Iowa, to take on Dordt (0-3, 0-2 GPAC). Concordia is 6-1 all-time versus the Defenders.

Barnes ‘breathes fire’ along Concordia defensive line

By Jake Knabel, Director of Athletic Communications

Nearly unblockable in Concordia’s 28-3 win over Hastings on Sept. 12, Trey Barnes “breathed fire” that evening as voice of the Bulldogs Jayson Jorgensen exclaimed in a description of the Seward native’s second sack of the game. Quick and explosive off the ball, Barnes is a natural at terrorizing quarterbacks and getting cozy in the opposition’s backfield.

“Even going back to the spring it was apparent we had something special with him at that defensive end spot,” said defensive coordinator Patrick Daberkow.

Just a couple of years earlier, Barnes carried the ball 20 times for 70 yards against that same Bronco program. Barnes, an all-state player at Seward High School, began his Bulldog career as a running back. In his very first collegiate game, he rushed for a pair of touchdowns to help Concordia to a 30-15 win at William Jewell College in 2013.

Fast forward to the present and one finds Barnes as the team leader in sacks (2.5), tackles for loss (4.0) and quarterback hurries (3) for a defense that ranks second best in the NAIA in terms of total yards allowed per game (190.3). The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder has bounced around from running back, to linebacker to what appears to be his final landing spot along the defensive line.

Barnes arrived at Concordia expecting to play defense, but lack of depth at running back necessitated a move to the other side of the ball. The switch back to defense hasn’t minded Barnes, who just wants what’s best for his team.

“I actually approached the coaches,” Barnes said. “I wanted to play defense. Bryce (Collins) is a tremendous running back and I knew he was able to take care of that. I felt like we could use another body on defense to help with all the injuries we had last year. I just stuck with defense from there. It’s turned out well.”

The coaches have been especially pleased with Barnes’ willingness to shift roles on the fly – even in the middle of the season as he did in 2014. He has been productive anywhere on the field. The versatile Barnes owns 575 rushing yards, seven touchdowns and 39 tackles to his name.

“It’s a testament to Trey,” Daberkow said. “He said, ‘yeah, wherever you need me.’ He ended up playing real well his freshman year so he stuck at running back going into his sophomore year. Then we had major holes to fill on defense and Bryce was playing well, so he just made the move to linebacker where we had a hole to fill. Trey was athletically very capable of doing it. Once he got rolling on it he was pretty good.”

While learning the defensive line position near the end of the 2014 season, Barnes actually disappeared from the team’s weekly two deeps heading into the final two games (versus Dakota Wesleyan and at Briar Cliff). He made a combined three tackles in those games. Those two Concordia victories were hardly an indicator of the potential Barnes possessed.

By this past spring, Barnes had bulked up and was benching 355 pounds, squatting 465 and running the 40-yard dash in the neighborhood of 4.6. Unfortunately for opposing offensive tackles, a light turned on for Barnes, who no longer has to worry about learning coverages. He’s simply told to go make plays.

“Things just started clicking through spring ball and it looked like a position I was able to handle,” Barnes said. “I put on some weight and this should be my finishing position the next two years.”

As a Bluejay linebacker, Barnes drew interest from such schools as Doane, Nebraska Wesleyan and South Dakota State University. He had thoughts of attending the University of Nebraska-Kearney, but was never recruited heavily by the Lopers. Says Barnes, “Concordia coaches started talking to me and I really liked Coach (Vance) Winter and Coach Daberkow. They came to our house and talked to me. That kind of sealed the deal.”

At the time of his recruitment, Daberkow described Barnes as a “great talent” with the ability to add 15 to 20 pounds to his frame. Barnes has actually added roughly 30 pounds since his freshman year.

He’s made himself into the perfect combination of size, strength, speed and quickness to replace the productivity of Kyle Rakow, who earned second team all-conference last season as a senior. Barnes’ rapid development is a key reason why the Bulldogs have gone from 48th in total defense a year ago to second so far this year.

“He’s been huge,” Daberkow said. “I’m not surprised by it all because the first day of full pads this fall we went to an inside run period and he was getting off the ball like he did against Hastings.”

Even when not directly involved in the play, Barnes is a hazard to opponents. On LeDontrae Gooden’s first-quarter interception in the win over Hastings, Barnes blew up an unsuspecting Bronco attempting to track down Gooden.

Son of Seward Public Schools superintendent Greg Barnes, Trey is comfortable being right in his own back yard. He’s continuing to raise his profile within the Seward community. “I got quite a few text messages Sunday,” said Barnes following the Hastings game.

With his dragon-like habits on the edge, Barnes has brought elite defense back to Concordia.

Ground game churns out 317 yards in win at Dordt

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Dordt running back Xavier Caffee made some early noise, but the Concordia University football team used a run of 24-straight points to pull away for a 34-21 road victory in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Saturday afternoon. Both Bryce Collins and TJ Austin topped 100 yards rushing to power a ground game that punished the Defenders for over 300 yards.

Now 3-1 overall, Concordia is off to its second best four-game start in the seven-year tenure of head coach Vance Winter. The Bulldogs improved to 2-1 in conference play by defeating Dordt for the seventh-straight meeting.

“We did some really, really good things in the first half,” Winter said. “We ran the football well. I thought we came off the ball well. We were busting some runs. First half we played really well offensively.

“Dordt is much improved on offense. They caught us on the first play of the game and just hopped us. It’s tough to simulate the speed of what they’re doing offensively and how fast they’re doing it. They caught us big time early. We had to respond to that.”

Concordia answered with smash mouth football. Collins broke free for gains of 20 and 16 yards on the Bulldogs’ 9-play, 58-yard first-possession drive that resulted in a 29-yard Adam Meirose field goal. Collins then got loose for a 38 yarder on the next drive, which ended with Austin’s 6-yard touchdown run that put the Bulldogs up 10-7.

The one-two punch of Austin and Collins also gashed the Defender defense on ensuing touchdown drives of 95 and 75 yards. Austin delivered scoring tosses of 12 yards to Carey Harrison and six yards to Jared Garcia to provide a 24-14 lead late in the first half.

A third-quarter touchdown pass of four yards from Garrett Folchert to Trae Owens essentially put the game on ice. The score, set up by D’Mauria Martin’s interception and 33-yard return, made it a 34-14 game with 6:40 left in the third quarter.

The Bulldog secondary wasn’t finished. An impact transfer from Southern Oregon University, safety LeDontrae Gooden surfaced with his third interception of the season after Dordt had moved the ball to midfield. Gooden led the team with eight tackles, including two for loss on Saturday.

After Caffee raced 70 yards for a touchdown on the game’s very first play from scrimmage, the Bulldog defense did a solid job bottling up the Defenders’ triple-option attack. Dordt finished with 198 rushing yards on 44 attempts. After Caffee’s electrifying run, the Defenders averaged only 3.0 yards per carry.

“Our guys made some great plays in the secondary,” Winter said. “They threw the ball a little bit more in the second half than we expected and those guys made some big plays. We wish we would have capitalized more on them, but we were able to get one score after D’Mauria’s interception. We were just disappointed we didn’t finish as well as we’d like in the fourth quarter.”

Collins, a native of Boerne, Texas, entered the day needing 123 yards to reach 2,000 for his career. He has joined an exclusive group of six Bulldogs all-time to have eclipsed that number. Last season Collins became the fifth back in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season.

Saturday’s contest marked the first time two Concordia players have rushed for 100 yards in a single game since Collins and Trey Barnes did so in a 35-14 win at Midland on Sept. 21, 2013. Austin is the first Bulldog quarterback to run for more than 100 yards since Von Thomas put up 111 at Nebraska Wesleyan on Oct. 11, 2014.

Defensively, Concordia bothered Dordt quarterback Taylan Seman into a 5-for-18 performance that included two interceptions and only 62 yards passing. Caffee topped the Defender rushing attack with 74 yards on nine carries.

Caffee and company had to put up with Bulldog linebacker Tait Sibbel, who made five stops in the defender backfield. As a team, Concordia racked up 10 tackles for loss on the day.

For the first time in four weeks, the Bulldogs will be at home next Saturday when they welcome rival Nebraska Wesleyan (2-3, 1-3 GPAC) for homecoming on the Concordia University campus. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Bulldog Stadium. In the previous meeting in Seward, No. 15 Concordia defeated the 22nd-ranked Prairie Wolves, 19-3.

Bulldogs dismantle Nebraska Wesleyan in final meeting as GPAC rivals

SEWARD, Neb. – Bryce Collins bullied Nebraska Wesleyan with three rushing touchdowns and the Concordia University football team cruised to a 47-14 victory inside Bulldog Stadium on a picture perfect homecoming Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs outgained the Prairie Wolves, 508-238, in the final meeting as GPAC rivals between the two sides.

Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in conference action. The Bulldogs have won six of their last seven games dating back to the end of the 2014 season.

“It was nice to be back home. Our guys were fired up to play,” Winter said. “We couldn’t wait for one o’clock to get here. Our guys showed that. They were ready to play.”

Collins set the tone for the day with a 52-yard touchdown burst on the game’s opening possession. The prolific back from Boerne, Texas, later busted a 75-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, making it a 21-0 Bulldog lead. Collins, who went over 2,000 career rushing yards last week, blew through massive holes in the Prairie Wolf defense on his way to 142 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries.

Concordia’s explosive offense was just getting started. A big day for sophomore quarterback TJ Austin included touchdown strikes of 48 and 44 yards to freshman receiver Trae Owens. Austin also used his legs in taking a zone read 24 yards straight up the middle for a score midway through the second quarter.

Collins and Austin (59 rushing yards) combined for 201 yards on the ground. An offensive line that got starting guard Austin Taylor back from injury shined for a second-straight game.

“The offensive line has really been clicking,” Collins said. “I think each week we just get better and better as a whole group. They’re working hard. They know the potential they have. They’re starting to figure out what they can do.”

On the other side of the ball, senior outside linebacker Tait Sibbel and Concordia’s top-ranked defense again dominated. Sibbel racked up four tackles behind the line of scrimmage in stymying a Prairie Wolf offense that managed only 84 yards in the first half. Four of the Bulldogs’ first five opponents have failed to crack 300 yards of offense.

On Saturday, Concordia’s linebackers cleaned up. Starting backers Michael Hedlund (13 tackles), Sibbel (nine tackles) and Clay Mauro (seven tackles) were active all afternoon.

“The defense we run is perfect,” Sibbel said. “When you have guys like Trey (Barnes), Clint (Gardels) and (Michael) Gill holding up the o-line it’s easy for us on the outside.”

By the halftime break, Concordia had already put the game out of reach with three Collins touchdowns and two scores authored by Austin (one passing, one rushing). The Bulldogs led 14-0 just over five minutes into the game and then took a 40-0 lead to the locker room after Adam Meirose booted a 28-yard field goal in the closing minute of the half.

Austin enjoyed his most productive day as a Bulldog. He completed 12-of-17 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns to go along with his 59 rushing yards. Eight different Bulldogs carried the football on a day when Collins was hardly needed in the second half. Freshman Qyalan Clay ran six times for 33 yards.

In the passing game, Austin often went to Jared Garcia (four catches, 81 yards) and Owens (three catches, 97 yards, two touchdowns). Owens tops the Bulldogs with four touchdown receptions on the year.

In a season-long theme, opposing quarterbacks continue to struggle against Concordia’s vaunted pass defense. Prairie Wolf signal caller Ben Green went 13-for-26 for just 65 yards. He was also picked off by Hedlund in the first quarter. Two plays later the Bulldogs celebrated an Owens touchdown grab.

The Concordia offense overwhelmed Nebraska Wesleyan despite playing without receiver Carey Harrison and tight end Josh Slechta. Both missed the game due to injury. On the other hand, defensive lineman Michael Gill and offensive guard Austin Taylor both returned to the field versus Nebraska Wesleyan.

The Prairie Wolves (2-4, 1-4 GPAC) are in their final season as a member of the GPAC. They will join the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference beginning in 2016-17. Their wins this season have come against Friends University (Kan.) and Midland.

The Bulldogs will take to the road next Saturday when they visit Fremont, Neb., for a 5 p.m. kickoff at Midland (0-5, 0-3 GPAC). Concordia has won each of the last three meetings with the Warriors.

Collins, Folchert rally Concordia for overtime win at Midland

FREMONT, Neb. – Trailing Midland 35-14, the Bulldog offense erupted behind monster games from quarterback Garrett Folchert and running back Bryce Collins in what amounted to a stunning come-from-behind victory for the Concordia University football team. Collins clinched the win with a fourth down overtime carry that went for a 16-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs celebrated a 41-38 win that spoiled homecoming at Heedum Field in Fremont, Neb.

Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad improved to 3-0 against in-state opponents. Concordia is 5-1 overall and 4-1 in conference action.

“It was nuts,” Winter said. “Everything that could have gone wrong did. It was not a positive start for us. I’m proud of how we kept our cool. There was no panic on our sideline. It’s a credit to the leadership we have on our team.”

After Tucker Miliken’s 34-yard field gave Midland a 38-35 lead in overtime, Concordia faced a fourth-and-one from the Warrior 16. Winter first sent Adam Meirose out for a field goal try, then reconsidered and called timeout. The Bulldogs turned to their star running back and Collins delivered with a 16-yard touchdown run off the right side to instigate a pileup in the end zone.

A season after Concordia fell victim five times by seven points or less, Winter decided to make the aggressive call.

“Last season I probably would have went the safe route,” Winter said. “If you go by the book you kick the field goal, but this whole offseason we talked about making winnings plays. No one questioned it. If we were going to lose, it was going to be because we got stuffed. Our guys did a good job.”

A spirited Warrior team coming off its first win last week came out with an offensive game plan that gave Concordia fits. Midland racked up 28 first-quarter points on a Bulldog defense that entered the evening ranked No. 1 in the NAIA. Raul Alvarez tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 36-yard bomb to Bryce Faussett and shell-shocked Concordia trailed 35-14 with 5:51 left in the third quarter.

But Folchert wouldn’t allow the Bulldogs to go down without a fight. The native of Ogallala, Neb., rifled touchdown passes of 17 and six yards to top receiver Jared Garcia to pull the Bulldogs within a single score with 9:22 to play. A few vicious hits never rattled Folchert, who delivered a career performance that saw him go 26-for-35 for 315 yards and four touchdowns.

On the game-tying drive, Folchert found holes underneath the coverage. He hooked up with tight end Seth Fitzke on a 20-yard crossing route and later a nine-yard toss into the flat to Collins that set up first and goal. The Midland defense tightened and the Bulldogs eventually stared down a fourth and 10. That’s when the heroic Folchert found Brandon Luetchens for an impressive grab in the end zone. Suddenly the game was knotted, 35-35, with 2:45 remaining in regulation.

After serving as a holder and backup quarterback much of his career, Folchert seized his opportunity on Saturday. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder took every snap after TJ Austin left in the second quarter with a thumb injury.

“He’s just a great competitor,” Winter said of Folchert. “He competed and competed. He prepares so well. We have confidence in him in situations like this. He took some shots tonight. He’s tougher than nails. He’ll step up and make some throws. I’m really proud of him.”

Folchert didn’t have to do it alone. Collins eclipsed 100 yards rushing (118 on 22 carries) for the third-straight game. He also caught eight passes for 125 yards. The game breaker from Boerne, Texas, caught a short pass and busted it 75 yards for a score that helped Concordia stay competitive in the second quarter.

With the offense firing, the Bulldog defense made second half adjustments that held Alvarez and company in check. Linebacker Michael Hedlund was all over the field with 19 tackles and Trey Barnes came up with a pair of sacks. The duo spurred a defense that forced four Midland punts and two lost fumbles in the second half.

That helped make up for a sloppy first half during which Concordia got “schemed up” as Winter said. The Bulldogs were in business after Matt Keener’s interception and return of 33 yards, but Concordia gave it right back, coughing the ball up at the Warrior one-yard line. Those were the first two offensive plays of the game.

Even with its first-half struggles, Concordia limited the damage to 380 total yards by the Midland offense. The Bulldogs piled up 509 of their own, marking their second-straight game of 500 or more yards. Before exiting the game, Austin ran for 77 yards – 49 of which came on a touchdown run in the first quarter that gave the Bulldogs the lead. Garcia caught eight passes for 102 yards and two scores.

For Midland (1-6, 1-4 GPAC), Alvarez finished 22-for-31 for 265 yards and four touchdowns. Warrior running back Deon Ransom carried 16 times for 64 yards as Midland lost its fourth-straight meeting with Concordia.

The Bulldogs return home next Saturday (Oct. 24) when they host No. 6 Doane (6-0, 5-0 GPAC). The Tigers, who own a 10-game winning streak dating back to last season, will be coming off a bye. Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.

Barnes earns GPAC weekly defensive honors

GPAC release

SEWARD, Neb. – After filling the stat sheet in Concordia’s come-from-behind 41-38 overtime win at Midland, junior Trey Barnes has garnered the first GPAC weekly award of his career. On Monday the conference recognized the Seward High School product as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defensive Player of the Week. Barnes is the first Bulldog to receive the honor since Tait Sibbel on Nov. 10, 2014.

Barnes has been a key member of a Concordia defense that currently ranks among the nation’s best – third in total yards (247.7) and 12th in scoring (17.2). In last week’s victory, Barnes recorded 11 tackles (2.5 for loss), two sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. The Seward native leads the Bulldogs with five sacks on the year (second most among GPAC players). He also ranks third on the team with 41 tackles.

A former running back and linebacker, Barnes has 575 rushing yards and seven touchdowns during his Bulldog career. He also has 61 career tackles in his 25 collegiate games since 2013.

Barnes and the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs (5-1, 4-1 GPAC) welcome No. 6 Doane (6-0, 5-0 GPAC) on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. from Bulldog Stadium.

Football re-enters NAIA top 25

NAIA football top 25 rankings

SEWARD, Neb. – After receiving votes in the national poll last week, the Concordia University football team has returned to the top 25 of the NAIA national rankings. The Bulldogs were slotted in at No. 23 in the poll released on Monday. Head coach Vance Winter’s program had last appeared in the national poll with the release of the Oct. 28, 2013, edition.

Concordia is one of five GPAC teams ranked inside the top 25. The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs will take on No. 6 Doane on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. from Bulldog Stadium.

During the 2013 season, Winter’s squad earned national rankings in six-straight polls on the strength of a 6-0 start. Concordia rose as high as No. 14 that season and finished the year with an overall record of 7-4. The 2013 team broke a rankings drought of more than 10 years for Concordia. During the GPAC era (2000-present), the Bulldogs have garnered a spot in the top 25 on 18 occasions.

Concordia spent nine-straight polls inside the top 25 in 2001 when it went on to share the GPAC title. That season head coach Courtney Meyer’s squad found itself ranked as high as sixth before achieving a postseason placement of No. 7.

‘Tough as nails’ Folchert plays hero in win at Midland

By Jake Knabel, Director of Athletic Communications

Garrett Folchert has already taken his share of cringe-worthy hits in 2015. In one particular instance this season he got thrown to the turf so hard by a blitzing Northwestern safety that seventh-year head coach Vance Winter wondered if his senior quarterback would have the ability to peal himself back up. Many observers rightfully asked the same question of the Concordia football team after it dug itself a 35-14 hole at Midland on Saturday.

With TJ Austin unable to go for most of the second half, the quarterback rotation was dead. The Bulldogs needed something big from Folchert, an Ogallala native who had attempted only 11 combined varsity passes over his first three collegiate seasons.

It was hard to tell based on the confidence Folchert displayed. Said Folchert, “There was no panic on our sidelines.”

All Folchert did was become the first Concordia signal caller to throw for more than 300 yards in a game since Jarrod Pimentel in 2001. In leading the Bulldogs back from a three-touchdown deficit, Folchert completed 26-of-35 passes for 315 yards while tossing scoring strikes of 75, 17, six and 10 yards. The impressive numbers surprised Folchert himself.

“That did surprise me, honestly,” Folchert said. “I don’t keep track of that stuff during the game. I didn’t think I threw 35 times either. When people were sending me texts and Facebook messages, it was pretty cool to see the support from Concordia and the people around.”

Though bruised and banged up in the fourth quarter, Folchert proved unflappable. With the game on the line, the Bulldogs trailed 35-28 late in the fourth quarter and stared down a fourth and goal from the 10. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder then showed off some surprising improvisational skills.

Rolling to his right, Folchert discovered that his top-two options – receivers Jared Garcia and Carey Harrison – were locked in tight coverage. Not known for his scrambling ability, Folchert bought time and threw across the field to find Brandon Luetchens for the game-tying touchdown in a signature moment for the Ogallala High School product.

“The protection kind of broke down. Things really didn’t go according to plan on that play,” said offensive coordinator Curran White. “We threw the backside route which we would almost never throw. That was a huge moment. Garrett was able to be aware of where everybody’s at on the field and make a great play.”

Said Folchert, who knows the playbook as well as anyone, “We never throw backside on that. I saw that (the Midland defender) was out of position. I got rid of it. I got hit and I saw him catch it and fall into the end zone. I kind of had a laugh about it. It worked out.”

It’s hard to dream up a comeback performance more satisfying for a guy who spent much of his first three seasons at Concordia simply holding for field goals and extra points. But Folchert made huge strides since his junior year. His arm looks noticeably stronger and his throws have been more accurate. Few can match the mental preparedness and determination of Folchert.

“He just goes about his business,” White said. “He goes to work every single week. He’s preparing himself like he’s the starter. He’s got a great handle of our schemes and our system. He knows as much or more about the offense as anybody.”

Knowledge and maturity were two of the reasons why Folchert thrived at Midland. He didn’t sulk while not taking a single snap in the first quarter. Folchert responded when called upon, amassing his 315 passing yards (226 in the second half) over three quarters.

Afterwards head coach Vance Winter used words like “tough as nails” and “competitor” to describe Folchert. By playing to his strengths and displaying unwavering toughness, Folchert helped the Bulldogs storm back for a win that won’t soon be forgotten.

Prior to the game-winning touchdown run delivered by Bryce Collins on the fourth-and-one overtime play, Folchert told his head coach, “Let’s win it right now.”

Bulldogs fall in overtime despite Garcia’s big day

SEWARD, Neb. – The first career start for Concordia sophomore quarterback Riley Wiltfong came down to the final play in another heart-stopping rivalry game between the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs and No. 6 Doane on Saturday afternoon inside Bulldog Stadium. The visiting Tigers sealed up a 23-20 victory when defensive back Tyler Chapa intercepted Wiltfong’s overtime pass in the end zone.

Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad had hoped to complete a perfect season against in-state opponents. Instead, the Bulldogs (5-2, 4-2 GPAC) fell in excruciating fashion once again. Since the beginning of 2014, seven of Concordia’s eight losses have been decided by seven points or less.

“It was the same story it was versus Northwestern (17-14 loss),” Winter said. “We had some opportunities with some short fields. We had some scenarios where we didn’t get any points and that’s disappointing.

“Doane has a good defense. They’re a good team.”

Wiltfong got off to a rocky start with his first two passes resulting in a deflection and then an interception deep down field. The Doniphan native recovered by tossing a pair of long touchdown passes to Jared Garcia, including a 67-yarder that tied the game, 20-20, early in the fourth quarter. On both touchdown connections, Wiltfong found Garcia wide open as a result of busted coverages.

Concordia pulled the redshirt on Wiltfong due to injuries to both sophomore TJ Austin and last week’s hero, senior Garrett Folchert. Wiltfong stepped in and played admirably, completing 17-of-27 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think for a first game he did really well,” Garcia said of Wiltfong. “It’s the first start of his career and he went out there and made some great plays. It’s something to look forward to for the rest of the season.”

Following the game-tying touchdown from Wiltfong to Garcia, the Concordia defense forced a Tiger punt. Highlighted by a 27-yard catch by Garcia, the ensuing drive saw the Bulldogs march from their own 25 all the way to the Doane one. But on a fourth-and-goal, Concordia failed to punch it in as Frank Crawford stuffed Wiltfong on the quarterback keeper with 2:22 left on the clock.

Doane (7-0, 6-0 GPAC) then proceeded to pick up four first downs in moving to the Concordia 34. With just six seconds left in regulation, Jordan Pederson attempted a 51-yard field goal that fell well short of the mark, necessitating a second-straight overtime game for the Bulldogs.

After Doane settled for a Pederson 40-yard field goal on the extra session’s first possession, Concordia found itself facing a third-and-13 at the Doane 18-yard-line. After a timeout, Wiltfong lofted a pass into the right corner for Garcia, only to have it picked off by Chapa for the game-clinching turnover.

It was a rare occurrence when Wiltfong threw in the direction of his star receiver without getting a positive result. Garcia caught six passes for a career best 192 yards to go with his 16th and 17th career touchdown receptions.

“They were really aggressive,” Garcia said of the Doane defense. “They tried to stop a lot of the short stuff. I was able to break long for deep balls. We were taking advantage of their aggressiveness.”

Similar to last year’s meeting in Crete, Concordia built an early lead. The Bulldogs led 13-3 with five minutes left in the first half after a key special teams play. That’s when Tait Sibbel came up with his second blocked punt of the game. Sophomore Tarence Roby caught the the deflected ball and capped a 12-yard return by diving into the end zone for six.

The Tigers regained the lead on the opening drive of the second half when quarterback Brandon Stuart hurled a bomb deep down the right side of the field that was caught by Jacob Cornelius for a 55-yard touchdown strike. Doane led 17-13 and then increased its advantage to 20-13 with Pederson’s 23-yard field goal in the final minute of the third quarter.

The Tigers overcame Sibbel’s two blocked punts with a mostly stout defensive effort. Doane ended up with a 385-338 edge in total yards. The Bulldogs were able to contain GPAC leading rusher Nate Meier, holding him to 151 yards on 34 carries with a long rush of only 14 yards.

Led by 10 stops apiece from Garret Borcher and Cole Wiseman, Doane held down Collins to 56 rushing yards on 18 carries. Collins had entered the game with three-straight 100-yard rushing performances.

Defensively, Sibbel made 11 tackles to top the Bulldogs. Trey Barnes also had a big day, recording 10 tackles (three for loss) and his sixth sack of the year.

The Bulldogs remain at home to host No. 3 Morningside (7-1, 6-0 GPAC) on Halloween. Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is slated for 1 p.m. Concordia last defeated the Mustangs in 2003 by a score of 34-19 in a game played in Seward.

“I know this group is going to respond,” Winter said. “We’re going to be ready to play. We’re going to be excited to play. Our guys are a tough-nosed group.”

Bulldogs push No. 2 Morningside in top 25 battle

SEWARD, Neb. – In a top 25 matchup, the 24th-ranked Concordia University football team edged in front in the second quarter but No. 2 Morningside ultimately proved too potent. The prolific Mustangs overcame a rash of penalties and rode running back Tyler Kavan to a 44-21 victory inside Bulldog Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad fell for the second-straight week at home against a top-10 ranked foe. Concordia now sits at 5-3 overall and 4-3 in GPAC contests.

“I love our guys. I love how they responded from last week and the effort in practice this week,” Winter said. “We came out here and played to beat Morningside. We didn’t play to play close. We came out here to win the game, but we came up a little short.”

The Bulldogs closed within six points (27-21) with 6:42 left in the third quarter when Bryce Collins capped a nine-play, 55-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. The Mustangs (8-1, 7-0 GPAC) then put the game away with 17 fourth-quarter points. Running back Tyler Kavan busted loose for late touchdown runs of 59 and 19 yards to make for a 23-point final margin.

Just as he did a week ago versus sixth-ranked Doane, sophomore receiver Jared Garcia gave the opposing secondary fits. Garcia caught five passes for 72 yards and drew a wealth of flags on the Mustang defensive backfield. The Bulldogs got help from 13 Morningside penalties that totaled 145 yards.

“Jared’s a tough cover one-on-one for sure,” Winter said. “He did a nice job and we hit him on some back shoulder things and got over the top of them a little bit. They’re really good corners too. Really athletic and guys that can really play. We knew it would be tough to throw it on them, but Jared did a great job.”

The flags played a role in the Mustangs finding themselves in an unfamiliar position. At the 5:59 mark of the second quarter, senior quarterback Garrett Folchert delivered a 57-yard scoring strike to Trae Owens. Suddenly the Bulldogs led 14-13 after trailing 13-0 early in the second quarter.

Folchert gutted it out after being sidelined for last week’s 23-20 overtime loss to No. 6 Doane. The Ogallala native led the Bulldogs on drives that threatened to cut into a 30-21 fourth quarter deficit. Folchert had a red zone pass go off the hands of a receiver and into the possession of Morningside’s Derrick Dison. Concordia also stalled in Morningside territory on its next opportunity. The drive ended with Folchert’s incomplete pass on fourth and 15 from the Mustang 33.

Folchert ended up going 12-for-33 for 176 yards and a touchdown. His toughness after numerous hard hits was representative of a Concordia team unintimidated by the dominant Morningside program.

“With Morningside most teams in the GPAC look at them like some super team. They’re good,” Folchert said. “They have a fast defense and offense as well and well organized. But we prepare like they’re any other opponent. We don’t care what the name says on the front of their jersey.”

A defense that held Morningside well below its season scoring average of 61 points per game could only hold off quarterback Ryan Kasdorf and company for so long. Kavan piled up 120 of his 196 rushing yards and two of his three touchdowns in the second half. Kasdorf finished with 248 passing yards while tossing touchdown passes of 31 and 54 yards. The Mustangs finished with a 517-321 advantage in total yards.

Sophomore Riley Wiltfong, who made his second-straight start at quarterback for Concordia, actually led the Bulldogs with 61 rushing yards. He picked up 40 of them on a keeper up the middle of the field, but paid a price as a hard hit sent him to the sideline. The Mustangs bottled up Collins (26 rushes, 49 yards, two touchdowns), who was most effective out of the wildcat formation.

Defensively, junior Trey Barnes was animal once again, registering a career high three sacks of Kasdorf. The Seward High School product has nine sacks on the year. Meanwhile, safety Matt Keener led Concordia with 11 tackles.

Morningside’s ability to excel in the red zone proved crucial. The Mustangs went a perfect 5-for-5 in their red zone trips. On the other hand, Concordia had four red zone chances with one ending on an interception and another resulting in a missed 27-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs complete their regular-season road schedule next Saturday with a trip to No. 19 Dakota Wesleyan (7-2, 5-2 GPAC). Kickoff from Mitchell, S.D., is slated for 1 p.m. CT. Concordia won last year’s meeting in Seward, 27-19.

Bulldogs push No. 2 Morningside in top 25 battle

Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad fell for the second-straight week at home against a top-10 ranked foe. Concordia now sits at 5-3 overall and 4-3 in GPAC contests.

Folchert ended up going 12-for-33 for 176 yards and a touchdown. His toughness after numerous hard hits was representative of a Concordia team unintimidated by the dominant Morningside program.

Lehmann, Meirose named to Academic All-District teams

SEWARD, Neb. – A pair of Concordia University football student-athletes received recognition on Thursday for their performances both in the classroom and on the playing field. Senior kicker Adam Meirose and junior offensive tackle Hallick Lehmann earned Academic All-District 3 honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Meirose has received the award for the second-consecutive year while Lehmann is a first-time recipient.

The CoSIDA Academic All-District® Football Teams have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. For more information about the Academic All-District™ and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit http://cosida.com/.

Meirose, a Lincoln native and graduate of Lincoln North Star High School, garnered first team all-conference recognition as a junior and second team all-conference mention as a sophomore. He is Concordia’s all-time leader in made extra points. In his collegiate career, Meirose is 19-for-31 on field goals and 101-for-106 on points after touchdowns. He has tallied 158 career points.

Majoring in exercise science as a pre-physical therapy student, Meirose is a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. He is the only kicker on the district 3 college division academic team. Prior to the season, he was named to the watch list for the Fred Mitchell Award.

Up front, Lehmann has started all eight games at left tackle for Concordia. The native of Albion, Neb., has helped pave the way for an offense that averages 29.5 points and 379.5 yards per game. The 6-foot-5 Lehmann is a psychology major and a Boone Central High School alum.

District 3 of the College Division covers institutions in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. During the 2014-15 academic year, a school record 11 Bulldog student-athletes earned academic all-district accolades.

First-team Academic All-District™ honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.

Turnovers haunt Bulldogs in loss at No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan

MITCHELL, S.D. – Despite limiting 18th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan to just 158 total yards of offense, the Concordia University football team fell, 17-10, in Mitchell, S.D., on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs had more than a two-to-one edge in total yards, but could not overcome six turnovers. The host Tigers sealed the win with a fourth down stop in the final seconds after Concordia had entered the red zone.

Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad dropped its third-consecutive game to a team ranked in the top 20. The Bulldogs are no 5-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play.

“We played really hard, but it was a sloppy game,” Winter said. “Both teams really competed as expected. We had some unfortunate turnovers in the first half. That was really disappointing. I thought we weathered all of those things and had some great opportunities. We just didn’t make enough plays.”

Behind senior quarterback Garrett Folchert, Concordia methodically moved the ball down field on its final possession with a chance to send the game into overtime. A nine-yard pass play to Bryce Collins gave the Bulldogs a first down at the Dakota Wesleyan 16-yard line on the 12th play of the drive. But the Tigers buckled down and forced four-straight incompletions to sew up a win on senior day.

Dakota Wesleyan broke the 10-10 tie early in the fourth quarter when Dustin Livingston took Sandy Fisher’s punt 52 yards to the end zone. The junior receiver also caught a 17-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to pull the Tigers even with Concordia, 7-7.

But for most of the day, dual-threat quarterback Dillon Turner and the Dakota Wesleyan offense sputtered against Concordia’s top-10 ranked defense. The Tigers could not keep junior defensive end Trey Barnes (four tackles for loss, one sack) out of the backfield. Facing consistent pressure, Turner went just 8-for-28 for 67 yards through the air.

“It was a pretty phenomenal effort,” Winter said of his defense. “Our D really dominated things versus their offense. They’ve been putting up some good numbers all year. Even on their scores it was more about us making mistakes. Defensively we played really well.”

Barnes and company somehow limited the Tigers to only three points off the six Bulldog turnovers. Dakota Wesleyan’s only points off giveaways came in the second quarter after Brady Mudder sacked Folchert and stripped the ball loose. The Tigers recovered at the Concordia 37 but ended up settling for a 25-yard field goal from Daniel Porter.

The Bulldogs held the ball for nearly 32 minutes in time of possession. They pounded away with Collins, who carried 31 times for 127 yards and a touchdown. Folchert completed 19-for-41 passes for 239 yards. He was picked off three times.

The opportunistic Dakota Wesleyan defense made one of its biggest stands prior to Adam Meirose’s 19-yard field goal that tied the game, 10-10, with 8:51 left in the third quarter. The chip-shot field goal was set up by a 62-yard bomb from Folchert to Trae Owens, who was tripped up from behind at the three-yard line by Cody Bonte. Collins was then stuffed on the next two plays and Folchert fired an incomplete pass on third down.

Owens led Concordia in receiving with six catches for 122 yards. Defensively, LeDontrae Gooden and Clay Mauro had 10 stops apiece. Barnes totaled nine tackles.

The Bulldogs will close out the 2015 season next Saturday (Nov. 14) when Briar Cliff (3-6, 2-5 GPAC) travels to Seward. Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is slated for 1 p.m. Concordia will honor each of its seniors during a pregame ceremony. The Bulldogs have won each of the last eight meetings with the Chargers.

Gardels and company bully Briar Cliff in season finale

SEWARD, Neb. – Senior defensive lineman Clint Gardels enjoyed a career performance in his final game as a Bulldog in leading a Concordia University football team that continued its series dominance of visiting Briar Cliff on Saturday afternoon. On a day when the program recognized its 18 seniors, the Bulldogs punished the Chargers, 48-0, in the season finale for both teams.

Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad finished 2015 at 6-4 overall, 5-4 GPAC, marking the program’s second winning season in three years and ninth-consecutive series triumph over Briar Cliff (3-8, 2-7 GPAC). The latest victory snapped a three-game losing streak.

“We definitely had higher aspirations (for this season),” Winter said. “It just didn’t work out. Through all the injuries and things like that, I’m proud of how our guys continued to fight and continued to play hard. It showed the leadership of our seniors today in how we played. After a heartbreaking loss last week, our guys just went back to work this week in practice. I can’t be more proud of this group in how they played all season.”

Gardels, who played tight end his first three seasons at Concordia, terrorized Briar Cliff all afternoon. The Wilcox, Neb., native forced a fumble that set up Jared Garcia’s first-quarter touchdown. Then in the third quarter, Gardels scooped up a fumble in traffic and outran the Charger offense, racing 70 yards for a touchdown. His second career score capped a day that also included six tackles (3.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks.

“They were all blocking for me,” Gardels said. “We just work as a group and we work really hard and practice that again and again. They blocked that guy twice to get me in there, so it was a lot because of my teammates.”

Two of the day’s biggest highlights came courtesy of Garcia, a playmaking dynamo. The sophomore from Pearland, Texas, busted free from two Briar Cliff tackles on the way to a 35-yard touchdown grab that pushed Concordia’s comfortable lead to 31-0 in the third quarter. Earlier Garcia had burned the Charger secondary for a 42-yard touchdown on a throw rifled by quarterback Garrett Folchert.

The big plays in the passing game were complimented by the bruising running of junior Bryce Collins, who had already posted his 13th career 100-yard rushing game by halftime. The Boerne, Texas, native finished with 141 yards on 28 carries. He found the end zone for the 29th time in his career with a second-quarter touchdown that made it 17-0 late in the first half.

Junior safety LeDontrae Gooden also got into the act with a pair of third-quarter interceptions. The first led to a nine-yard touchdown run for backup quarterback Andrew Perea, who saw the first varsity action of his career on Saturday. Gooden’s second pick (fifth of the season) was converted into a short Adam Meirose field goal.

Briar Cliff, which finished with 250 total yards, managed to penetrate the red zone on just one occasion. The Chargers came up empty as Angel Landeros’ 39-yard field goal try peppered the left upright. Quarterback Dylan Desmarais (8-for-17, 71 yards passing) and the Briar Cliff experienced little sustained success against a defensive unit led by the 11 tackles of junior linebacker Michael Hedlund.

Saturday was a fitting end for Hedlund and the rest of the linebacker core that made huge strides in 2015. Tait Sibbel and two other senior linebacker starters helped make for one of the NAIA’s best defenses.

“The move of Tait Sibbel and Brandon Namuth to outside linebackers has been massive for our defense,” Mauro said. “Those guys are amazing athletes. Mike Hedlund moved from safety and he is a phenomenal athlete and a great leader. He’s going to do really big things in the future. All I did was my job and those guys flew around and made a lot of plays for us.”

Folchert completed 9-of-16 passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns (two to Garcia, one to Trae Owens). Garcia caught five balls for 113 yards.

Collins finished the campaign with 946 rushing yards in his bid to become the program’s first-ever player to rack up 1,000 yards for a second-straight season. Following a single-season program record-breaking 11 touchdown catches in 2014, Garcia completed his sophomore year with 19 career scoring grabs – five off Ross Wurdeman’s school record of 24.

The Bulldogs said goodbye to 18 seniors on Saturday. The relatively small class means Concordia will return plenty of experience in 2016.

“It’s going to be a big nine months for us,” Winter said. “There’s something special about this senior group. There’s a grit and a toughness about the group. All of these seniors have been amazing. That’s the big question whether these younger classes are going to work as hard as this senior group has.”

Gardels named GPAC Defensive Player of the Week

SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia football senior Clint Gardels has been named the Hauff Mid America Sports/ GPAC Defensive Player of the week announced by the league office on Monday. This is the first weekly honor for Gardels.

The Wilcox, Neb., native amassed a season-high seven tackles in the season finale against Briar Cliff Saturday. Four of those tackles were for loss of 10 total yards. The senior also registered 1.5 sacs on the day. The defensive lineman added a fumble recovery and a 70 yard touchdown to his line for the game.

On the season, Gardels has put up 32 total tackles, making at least one in every game, and six tackles for a loss of 24 total yards. He has also recovered three fumbles this year.

Gardels is a solid part of the Bulldogs’ defense that ranks sixth in total defense per game and in pass defense per game and ranks 15^th in scoring defense per game in the country.

The Concordia football team ended the season 6-4, 5-4 GPAC after defeating Briar Cliff University on Saturday, Nov. 14, 48-0. The Bulldogs will graduate 18 seniors this year.

Program record six Bulldogs collect first team all-GPAC accolades

SEWARD, Neb. – Six Concordia University football players claimed spots on the GPAC’s first team with all-conference selections released by the league on Tuesday. No other Concordia football team had ever had more than four first team all-GPAC award winners. Among them junior running back Bryce Collins garnered his second-straight first team mention. In total, 15 Bulldog student-athletes were honored. Three were placed on the second team and another six picked up honorable mention.

Joining Collins on the first team were offensive teammates in senior tackle Ben Balduc, junior tight end Seth Fitzke and sophomore receiver Jared Garcia. Defensively, junior end Trey Barnes and sophomore corner Tarence Roby also rose to first team honors. Concordia second team choices included junior safety LeDontrae Gooden, junior linebacker Michael Hedlund and senior linebacker Tait Sibbel

Barnes enjoyed one of the most productive seasons of any GPAC defensive player. The Seward High School product thrived up front, posting 75 total tackles and team best figures of 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks (second among GPAC players). The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Seward native had at least a partial sack in seven of 10 games and was named the conference’s defensive player of the week on Oct. 19. Barnes led a defense that ranked sixth nationally in fewest yards allowed per game.

Collins continues to make his mark as one of the most prolific running backs in program history. The native of Boerne, Texas, has career totals of 2,666 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns after rumbling for 946 yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2015. The three-time GPAC all-conference honoree has 13 career 100-yard rushing games to his credit. He will enter 2016 ranked fifth all-time on Concordia’s rushing list.

One of the league’s most dangerous receiving threats, Garcia caught 41 passes for 713 yards and eight touchdowns despite a bevy of injuries at the quarterback position. The Pearland, Texas, native set a new career high for receiving yards in 2015 while running his career totals to 85 catches for 1,363 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is just five receiving touchdowns off the program career record of 24 held by Hall of Famer Ross Wurdeman.

A former member of the Northern Illinois University football team, Roby locked down his side of the field for the NAIA’s sixth-ranked pass defense. The Rockford, Ill., native made 20 tackles and seven pass break ups. Opposing quarterbacks were hesitant to challenge Roby, who forced a fumble and recovered two in 2015.

Fitzke, another Seward native, elevated himself from second team honors in 2014. A punishing blocker in the run game, Fitzke made 16 grabs for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Up front, Balduc, who hails from Roanoke, Texas, was the leader of a physical offensive line that helped pave the way for Collins. Balduc started every game at right tackle as a senior.

A breakout performer, Hedlund surpassed 100 tackles on the year (105) in the final game to conclude a big season. The former quarterback and second-leading tackler in the GPAC also registered 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass break ups and one interception. Hedlund teamed up with Sibbel to form a formidable linebacker core. A three-year starter at safety, Sibbel flourished as a linebacker, where he recorded 53 tackles, 12 stops for loss, an interception and five pass break ups. In the secondary, Gooden topped the Bulldogs with a GPAC high five picks. The Southern Oregon transfer also made 59 tackles (six for loss).

The Bulldogs finished the 2015 season on Nov. 14 with a 48-0 win over Briar Cliff. Seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s squad posted an overall record of 6-4 and conference mark of 5-4.

2015 Concordia FB All-GPAC
FIRST TEAM:
Ben Balduc, OL
Trey Barnes, DL
Bryce Collins, RB
Seth Fitzke, TE
Jared Garcia, WR
Tarence Roby, DB
SECOND TEAM:
LeDontrae Gooden, DB
Michael Hedlund, LB
Tait Sibbel, LB
HONORABLE MENTION:
Keddrick Fuselier, OL
Clint Gardels, DL
Ron Jackson, DL
D’Mauria Martin, DB
Clay Mauro, LB
Erik Small, FB

Lehmann garners CoSIDA Academic All-America recognition

SEWARD, Neb. – Named an Academic All-District selection on Nov. 6, Concordia University junior Hallick Lehmann has been elevated to College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® College Division Football Team, as announced on Monday. Senior kicker Adam Meirose joined Lehmann with all-district honors.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America® Football Teams have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. For more information about the Academic All-District™ and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit http://cosida.com/.

Lehmann, a native of Albion, Neb., started all 10 games at left tackle this season in helping running back Bryce Collins earn a second-straight first team all-conference honor. Collectively, the Concordia offense averaged 29.4 points and 370.9 yards per game in 2015. The 6-foot-5 Lehmann is a psychology major and a Boone Central High School alum.

The 24-member CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division team combined for an average GPA of 3.78. Three Academic All-Americans sport a 4.0 GPA. Five of the honorees attend GPAC institutions. During the 2014-15 academic year, a school record 11 Bulldog student-athletes earned academic all-district accolades.

Dominant D returned for tough-minded 2015 group

More than any other game, the late-season loss to then second-ranked Morningside proved Concordia football can compete on a national scale. Up against a team that ran roughshod through the GPAC, the Bulldogs drove the ball inside the Mustang 30 with a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

While Concordia eventually fell victim to the only GPAC squad still alive in the NAIA playoffs, the effort was part of another solid season for seventh-year head coach Vance Winter’s program. Behind the nation’s No. 4 defense (279.6), Concordia went 6-4 overall while blasting league rivals Hastings (28-3) and Nebraska Wesleyan (47-14).

In perhaps its most impressive display of toughness and character, Concordia shook off three-straight frustrating losses, and even with no playoff berth at stake, it rocked Briar Cliff, 48-0, to close the season.

“They were a fun group to coach,” Winter said. “There was very good leadership on our football team. The biggest disappointment was that we didn’t accomplish all the goals that were set. We had high goals. I thought we had a really good team, we just came up a little bit short in certain games. With all things being said, our guys really competed and fought. When you watch our team play it’s a highly-competitive, high-energy, hard-hitting and physical team.”

After surrendering 384.7 yards per game in 2014, the Concordia defense returned to the dominance it displayed in 2013 when All-American Darnell Woods punished opposing offensive skills players. This season junior defensive end Trey Barnes emerged as a star, thriving at his third different collegiate position. Barnes collected 10 sacks for a unit that also got big performances from defensive backs Tarence Roby and LeDontrae Gooden (both transfers) and linebackers Michael Hedlund and Tait Sibbel.

Coordinator Patrick Daberkow’s second top-five defense in three years limited six of its opponents below 300 total yards. Hedlund eclipsed 100 tackles. Gooden tied for the GPAC lead in interceptions. Roby shut down his side of the field. Barnes and Sibbel lived in opposing backfields. Clint Gardels surfaced with the best game of his career versus Briar Cliff. With its agile defense running around, Concordia had a shot to win every time out.

“I’m really proud of how improved a lot of our returning guys were from 2014 to 2015,” Winter said. “It’s a big credit to the coaching staff and those guys individually. They all really improved as players throughout the offseason and spring ball. I knew after spring ball, defensively, we were going to be a pretty good group. Then we added some pieces. Getting LeDontrae and Cory (Evans Jr.) in the secondary was big. There were some guys that came in and really helped our football team.”

While the defense shined throughout the season, Bulldog fans were also treated to big plays from the offense’s stable of skill players such as running back Bryce Collins and receiver Jared Garcia. The duo combined for 18 total touchdowns in 2015. Both earned all-conference honors during a season in which Concordia used three different starting quarterbacks and had to replace four starters from the 2014 offensive line.

Collins has amassed 2,666 rushing yards and 3,637 all-purpose yards over three seasons as a Bulldog. Meanwhile, Garcia is only five touchdown catches off the program’s career record (24 by Ross Wurdeman) with two seasons remaining. They just might be the best running back-receiver tandem in program history.

“Bryce and Jared are very good players,” Winter said. “It’s a testament to Jared that he still was a first team all-conference guy with three different quarterbacks throwing him the ball. He had some big games. Then Bryce is our most consistent player. Week-in and week-out you have an expectation of what he’s going to bring to the table. He had a great year.”

Collins and Garcia were constants in the midst of a quarterback carousel. Senior Garrett Folchert and sophomores TJ Austin and Riley Wiltfong each started at least one game as signal caller. Just when Austin was playing his best, he went down with a season-ending injury. Folchert, who battled a high-ankle sprain, took most of the snaps and threw for 1,087 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Folchert’s heroics at Midland are likely to provide one of the most lasting memories of the 2015 season. The Warriors struggled to a 1-10 record in 2015, but they nearly pulled an upset of Concordia with a spirited effort in their homecoming game in Fremont. Playing through pain, Folchert led the Bulldogs back from a 35-14 third-quarter deficit by tossing two touchdown passes to Garcia and then the game-tying score to Brandon Luetchens on a playground-like effort from the Ogallala, Neb., native. The Bulldogs celebrated in overtime when Collins scored the game winner on a fourth-down run.

Nothing went right in the first half at Midland. The Bulldogs could have folded – but it’s not who they were or ever will be under Winter.

“That was just a crazy game,” Winter said. “Midland did play really well. They made a lot of really good plays. We were able to weather some injuries throughout the game. Garrett made some incredible throws in stepping up and making plays that weren’t even part of the read. We showed so much toughness. I think that’s the one thing I love about this group. That extends from the leadership of our senior class.”

Concordia will move on without a senior class that included starting linebackers in Sibbel, Clay Mauro and Brandon Namuth and the team’s top offensive lineman in Ben Balduc. However, most of the other key names will be back, including every starting member of the Bulldogs’ ball-hawking secondary.

There will be more experience at quarterback and along the offensive line to go with game-breaking skill players and first team all-conference tight end Seth Fitzke. Better fortune injury-wise and a similar tough-minded approach in 2016 could help Concordia compete for the playoff berth that has eluded it since 2001.

“I think expectations are really high,” Winter said. “They were high going into this year and they will be high coming into next year. We feel like we have a very good group of guys – guys that are committed and focused. Nine months is a long time to sit here and wait, but we’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then. I think this is a group that can meet the challenge and reach our goals.”

Barnes earns AFCA-NAIA All-America honors

NAIA All-America Football Teams

SEWARD, Neb. – Following a breakout first team all-conference season, junior Trey Barnes found himself in elite company on Tuesday. The NAIA has announced Barnes as a 2015 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) second team All-American. Barnes becomes the program’s third All-America selection in four seasons, joining safety Darnell Woods (2013) and kicker Kenny Zoeller (2012).

A former running back and linebacker, Barnes settled in at defensive end in 2015 and thrived. He terrorized opposing quarterbacks while registering 10 sacks (fourth most in program history), 20 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. The Seward High School alum made 75 total stops.

“I was most impressed with the number of tackles he was in on as a defensive lineman,” said Corby Osten, Barnes’ position coach. “He started off a little slow, which was understandable. You could see something clicked. He realized how good he could be if he stopped thinking and just played. Once he figured that out his athleticism just took over.”

Barnes’ improvement sparked the resurgence of a dominant Bulldog defense. Among all NAIA programs, the 2015 Concordia unit ranked third in pass defense (144.0), fourth in total defense (279.6), fifth in pass efficiency defense (96.7) and 13th in scoring defense (18.7).

At times Barnes was nearly unblockable. Up against the prolific Morningside offense, Barnes turned in one of his best performances in sacking first team All-American quarterback Ryan Kasdorf three times. Barnes had multiple sacks on three occasions. Even with his spotlight growing as the season went on, Barnes made life difficult on opposing offensive lines.

“He’s definitely a hard worker and a fun guy to have in the defensive meeting room,” coordinator Patrick Daberkow said. “He’s been very much willing to eat up double teams to create opportunities for his teammates. When he got single blocked he would normally dominate his guy.”

The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Barnes ranked fifth nationally in sacks per game and sixth in tackles for loss per game.

Football lands 12 on scholar-athlete list

NAIA FB Scholar-Athletes

SEWARD, Neb. – Twelve representatives from the Concordia University football program have been named 2015 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes, as announced by the NAIA on Friday. Among this year’s honorees, seniors Garrett Folchert, Clint Gardels, Adam Meirose and Chase Murman are two-time scholar-athletes (complete list below). Head coach Vance Winter’s squad increased its scholar-athlete total by four compared to the 2014 season.

In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status. A total of 312 football student-athletes across the nation were named scholar-athletes by the NAIA.

Concordia University ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 1,253 and counting (39 for the fall of 2015). The 2014-15 season culminated with GPAC-leading totals of 94 Bulldog scholar-athletes and 17 NAIA Scholar-Teams. During the 2013-14 academic year, Concordia garnered 101 Scholar-Athlete honorees (most in the NAIA) and 17 NAIA Scholar-Teams (tied for fourth nationally).

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Neb., that currently serves over 2,300 students. Concordia offers more than 50 professional and liberal arts programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world.

2015 football Scholar-Athletes
Cameron Christiansen | Jr. | Palmer, Alaska
Garrett Folchert | Sr. | Ogallala, Neb.
Clint Gardels | Sr. | Wilcox, Neb.
Kinser Gergen | Jr. | Geneva, Neb.
Brian Gorman | Sr. | Colorado Springs, Colo.
Michael Grau | Sr. | Lawton, Iowa
Brett James | Jr. | Kearney, Neb.
Hallick Lehmann | Jr. | Albion, Neb.
Jerad Leifeld | Sr. | Humphrey, Neb.
Brandon Luetchens | Jr. | Murdock, Neb.
Adam Meirose | Sr. | Lincoln, Neb.
Chase Murman | Sr. | Glenvil, Neb.

Barnes captains defense, 10 Bulldogs honored by the Omaha World-Herald

Omaha World-Herald story

SEWARD, Neb. – The honors keep on coming for Concordia football’s star defensive lineman. On Thursday the Omaha World-Herald named junior Trey Barnes the honorary captain of its NAIA All-Nebraska defensive team. Barnes is the second Bulldog to earn such distinction in three years. Safety Darnell Woods collected the same award in 2013.

The Omaha World-Herald placed Barnes and seven others on its All-Nebraska team. Joining Barnes on the team were offensive lineman Ben Balduc, running back Bryce Collins, tight end Seth Fitzke, receiver Jared Garcia, safety LeDontrae Gooden, cornerback Tarence Roby and linebacker Tait Sibbel. Honorable mention recognition went to defensive lineman Clint Gardels and linebacker Michael Hedlund.

Barnes (second team All-America, first team all-conference): 75 tackles (20 for loss), 10 sacks, two fumbles forced, one fumble recovery
Balduc (first team all-conference): started all 10 games at right tackle
Collins (first team all-conference): 946 rushing yards, 286 receiving yards, 10 total TDs
Fitzke (first team all-conference): 16 catches, 136 yards, 2 TDs
Garcia (first team all-conference): 41 catches, 713 yards, 8 TDs
Gardels (honorable mention all-conference): 32 tackles (6 for loss), 2.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, TD
Gooden (second team all-conference): 59 tackles (6 for loss), 5 INTs, 4 PBUs
Hedlund (second team all-conference): 105 tackles (4.5 for loss), 2.0 sacks, 1 INT
Roby (first team all-conference): 20 tackles (2 for loss), 7 PBUs, 2 fumble recoveries
Sibbel (second team all-conference): 53 tackles (12 for loss), 1 INT, 5 PBUs

ALL-NEBRASKA NAIA OFFENSE
QB: Tyler Audsley, Peru State, Sr.
QB: Cruz Samaniego, Hastings, Fr.
WR: Jared Garcia, Concordia, So.
WR: Jacob Cornelius, Doane, Jr.
TE: Seth Fitzke, Concordia, Jr.
RB: Nate Meier, Doane, Jr.
RB: Bryce Collins, Concordia, Jr.
OL: Blake Bunner, Doane, Sr.
OL: Jack McAreavey, Nebraska Wesleyan, Sr.
OL: Ben Balduc, Concordia, Sr.
OL: Farao Maileoi, Hastings, Fr.
OL: Dillon Bruggeman, Peru State, Sr.
Honorary captain: Nate Meier, Doane College
ALL-NEBRASKA NAIA DEFENSE
DL: Trey Barnes, Concordia, Jr.
DL: Aaron Hanlin, Doane, Jr.
DL Drew Krueger, Doane, Jr.
DL: Casey Molifua, Hastings, Sr.
LB: Garrett Borcher, Doane, Sr.
LB: Tait Sibbel, Concordia, Sr.
LB: Andy Tatum, Doane, Sr.
DB: Tarence Roby, Concordia, So.
DB: Alex Gildon, Hastings, Sr.
DB: Cole Wiseman, Doane, So.
DB: LeDontrae Gooden, Concordia, Jr.
Honorary captain: Trey Barnes, Concordia
ALL-NEBRASKA NAIA SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Jordan Pedersen, Doane, Sr.
K: Greg Conry, Peru State, Sr.
P: Ethan Renner, Midland, Sr.
KR: Drew Klein, Doane, So.
PR: Logan Paben, Peru State, Sr.

Honorable mention: Clint Gardels, Michael Hedlund, Concordia; Colten Mach, Ben Muff, Zach Reeves, Kellen Unvert, Doane; Austin Bretting, Austin Curlee, Sam Morris, Rashaad Shamburger, Hastings; Raul Alvarez, Midland; Ryan Larsen, Brandon McGill, Joel Wiedel, Shaka Taylor, Nebraska Wesleyan; Colton Audsley, Briar Burr, Elijah Lavalais-Hawkins, Eric Morrison-Smith, Peru State.

Current Bulldogs litter football all-time lists

Updated Records:
Individual Single Season | Team Single Season

SEWARD, Neb. – Based on program record books, the current era of Concordia football has brought about an offensive revolution. The 2014 Bulldogs broke the 2004 squad’s standard for total offense by averaging 401.6 yards over 11 contests. Also in 2014, then freshman receiver Jared Garcia eclipsed a single-season school standard with 11 touchdown catches. Then in 2015, the likes of Garcia and Bryce Collins continued to produce statistics that dot the program’s single-season top 10 lists. Here’s a summary of updates to the record book:

Bryce Collins (Boerne, Texas) ran for 946 yards on 193 carries in 2015. That rushing total places him eighth on the program’s all-time single-season rushing list. Collins also ranks No. 4 on that same chart with the 1,016 rushing yards he piled up as a sophomore in 2014. In addition, he has ranked in the top 10 for single-season rush attempts (Nos. 6, 9 and 10) and in rushing touchdowns (Nos. 2 and 9). As far as career rushing, Collins ranks fifth among all Bulldog ball carriers with 2,666 yards. He will enter 2016 needing 993 yards to surpass Cleve Wester’s school-record mark (3,658 rushing yards).

Jared Garcia (Pearland, Texas) followed up an impressive freshman season by catching 41 passes for 713 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore in 2015. Only five receivers in program history have ever totaled more receiving yards in a single season. Garcia’s eight touchdown receptions put him three behind his own single-year standard. The first team all-conference selection stands only five touchdown catches off the career record held by 2015 Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Ross Wurdeman. Garcia is close to cracking the program’s top-five for all-time receiving yards (see below).

Garrett Folchert (Ogallala, Neb.) saw his first significant action in 2015 and threw for 1,087 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 87-of-162 passes (.537). His completion percentage of 53.7 is the sixth highest in a single season for Bulldog quarterbacks in program history. His 12 touchdown tosses rank in a tie for 12th most in a single year. Folchert was the passing leader for a squad that broke the school record for passing yardage (203.7) in a campaign. The previous high was 197.8 by the 2014 team.

Adam Meirose (Lincoln, Neb.) now takes up the top three placements for most successful extra point attempts in a single season – 40 in 2014, 37 in 2015 and 31 in 2013. Meirose finished his collegiate career 108-for-113 on PATs and 22-for-34 on field goal tries. The two-time all-conference selection owns the program record for most career successful extra points.

Trey Barnes (Seward, Neb.) put together a second team All-America season in 2015 for a defense that ranked No. 4 in the NAIA for fewest total yards allowed per game (279.6). Barnes, also a first team all-conference choice, racked up 10 sacks, tying for the fourth most in a single season in school history. That sack total was the most by any Bulldog since 1987.

All-time career lists

Rushing yards
(2,000+ yard rushers)
1. Cleve Wester – 3,658 (1982-85)
2. Gary Seevers – 3,128 (1953-56)
3. Alex Alvarez – 2,959 (1999-2003)
4. JaMaine Lewis – 2,731 (2004-07)
5. Bryce Collins – 2,666 (2013-- )
6. Philip Elder – 2,027 (2002-05)

Passing yards
1. Jarrod Pimentel – 6,435 (1998-2001)
2. Von Thomas – 5,662 (2011-14)
3. Rod Giesselman – 5,519 (1967-70)
4. Kurt Earl – 4,158 (2001-04)
5. Phil Seevers – 3,109 (1985-88)

Passing touchdowns
1. Von Thomas – 49 (2011-14)
1. Jarrod Pimentel – 49 (1998-2001)
3. Rod Giesselman – 47 (1967-70)
4. Kurt Earl – 37 (2001-04)

Receiving yards
1. Ross Wurdeman – 2,458 (1998-2001)
2. Eric Pralle – 1,974 (1987-91)
3. Travis Soukup – 1,880 (1991-94)
4. Jim Young – 1,692 (1964-67)
5. Clarence Woods – 1,439 (1985-88)
6. Jared Garcia – 1,382 (2014-- )