FB: Offense rolls in win over #23 NWU

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by site staff on 10/15/2007 1:00:00 PM

FB: Offense rolls in win over #23 NWU

FB: Offense rolls in win over #23 NWU

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