The Concordia University, Nebraska football team seemed to have pulled the upset over the 11th-ranked Northwestern College Red Raiders, but a wild and woolly final play spelled doom for the Bulldogs as Northwestern prevailed, 29-24, on Saturday afternoon in Orange City, Iowa.
It was a game in which the outcome wasn't clear until every tick of the game clock was spent and the game officials had huddled to decide what it was they just saw happen.
With three seconds left, Northwestern attempted the game-winning field goal only to have it blocked by Concordia's Preston Harris. The loose ball was scooped up by the Northwestern holder who completed a pass. The receiver, a few yards short of the endzone, lateraled while being tackled. The ball then was mishandled forward by Northwestern and found its way into the endzone where it was recovered by the Red Raiders.
Game over? Not quite. The stadium, thrown into pandemonium by the play, quieted down while the crew of officials gathered, deliberating for more than a minute before making their call: touchdown Northwestern.
The memorable game began with the Bulldogs on their heels. Northwestern (3-1, 3-1 GPAC) scored 17 straight points in the first quarter. But Concordia (2-2, 2-2 GPAC) countered with a scoring outburst of its own, scoring 21 unanswered to take a 21-17 lead into the locker-room at intermission.
The Red Raiders first scoring drive went 66 yards in just five plays, a drive capped by a 26-yard TD pass from Craig Hector to Tyler Reichle.
The Red Raiders took advantage of good field position after a fumble by JaMaine Lewis on the Concordia 35. A 40-yard field goal by the Red Raiders Grant Mosier with 6:28 left in the first quarter made it 10-0 Northwestern.
The final score of the first quarter came on a trick play for Northwestern as they ran a reverse pass resulting in a 36-yard TD pass from Ryan Mitchell to Reichle. Mosier added the PAT.
The tide turned in the second quarter as Concordia took control. A drive that started at the end of the first quarter culminated on a 38-yard TD pass from Bulldog QB Christian Spaulding to Derrick Woods. Woods caught a well placed strike from Spaulding and scampered down the sideline to paydirt. The PAT was no good as the snap and hold caused problems.
Concordia's defense held the Red Raiders to a three-and-out on the next possession forcing a punt. It took just one play, a trick play, for the Bulldogs to score. Lewis took a direct snap, rolled to his right and lofted a pass towards freshman Tariq Smith who hauled it in for a 45-yard TD. Michael Saalfeld converted the PAT.
A fumble by Northwestern's QB Hector was recovered by Micah Sirek of the Bulldogs at the Concordia 37-yard line. Spaulding hooked up with split end James Refenes for 51 yards on the next play to set up Lewis' second TD of the day, a 12-yard run. Bulldog holder Jake Griedl had problems with the snap and after reversing his field crossed the goal line for the two-point conversion making it 21-17 Bulldogs at half.
Northwestern scored on the opening drive of the third quarter, marching 77-yards on 13 plays for a touchdown as Hector found DJ Hansen from 10-yards out. The PAT was blocked by Jordan Brockman of Concordia.
Neither team was able to muster any points the rest of the third quarter and the majority of the fourth. Northwestern had iyts opportunity, with a first and goal on the three after an interception by Concordia.
Hector found his tight end for a TD, but it was taken off the board due to an illegal receiver downfield. On the next play Kyle Veldhorst to a handoff and rambled eight yards for what seemed to be a touchdown, but it was brought back after a holding call.
The Concordia defense then came up with big plays, dropping Veldhorst for a three-yard loss and sacking hector for a loss of seven. On third and fourth downs the Bulldogs forced a pair of incomplete passes, taking over on downs.
The teams traded a pair of turnovers and punts before Concordia held on fourth down again.
The Red Raiders faced a fourth and five from the Concordia 43-yard line and ran a fake punt. The pass by punter Brad Payne was incomplete, giving the Bulldogs the ball with 2:08 left.
Concordia marched down the field, getting Saalfeld within field goal range with 45 seconds remaining. Saalfeld converted from 32 yards out and into the wind to give the Bulldogs a 24-23 lead. During the drive Concordia converted on a crucial fourth-and-five as Jeff Neujahr made an impressive catch in traffic.
After the kickoff the Raiders took over on their own 31-yard line with 41 seconds remaining and the wind at their back. A pair of nice catches on the sideline set up a 39-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining.
And it was those last three seconds, of course, that bounced the wrong way for the Bulldogs.
For the game, Concordia had 333 yards of total offense (95 rush, 238 pass). Northwestern went for 450 yards thanks to balanced attack (249 rush, 201 pass).
Playing the majority of the game as the Bulldogs signal caller, Spaulding went 15 of 26 for 193 yards, one TD and two interceptions. On the afternoon he completed a pass to eight different receivers. Neujahr led the receivers with four catches.
Lewis finished the game with 106 yards rushing on 26 carriers and went 1 for 1 passing for 45 and a TD. He also had a rushing TD.
For the Red Raiders, five different players rushed for 40 or more yards, led by Tim Naiman with 63 yards on three carries. QB Hector rushed for 46 yards and was 14 of 31 through the air for 165 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns.
Defensively for Concordia, Jim Landers led the way with eight tackles and a pair of pass break ups while Kole Ficken added seven tackles. A pair of seniors, Brett Mertens and Trent Laune, each hauled in an interception. As a team the Bulldogs had three sacks, one by Jeremy Walrath.
TJ Lensch led Northwestern with 7.5 tackles and a sack while Cale Blauwet and Reid Van Duyn each had interceptions.
Concordia is back at home this Saturday (Sept. 29) against Morningside College at 1 p.m. The Mustangs, ranked 18th in last weeks poll, are coming off a 34-28 loss to top-ranked University of Sioux Falls.
