The University of Sioux Falls Cougars proved why they are the top-rated team in the NAIA on Saturday, racking up 545 yards of total offense in route to a 48-3 win over the Concordia University, Nebraska Bulldog football team at Bulldog Stadium in Seward, Neb.
Concordia (4-5, 4-5 GPAC) had it's modest two game winnings streak snapped and will have next week off before traveling to Hastings, Neb., to take on the Broncos of Hastings College on Nov. 10.The Cougars (8-0, 8-0 GPAC) dominated both on the field and in the stats and have now won 22 consecutive games.
In the first quarter, the Cougars benefiting from great field position early in the game starting at the Bulldogs 39, 40, and 40 on their first three possessions. Concordia was able to keep the Cougars out of the endzone on first two possessions thanks to solid play be the defense and a turnover.
On USF's first drive tight end Josiah Fenceroy hauled in a pass from Chad Cavender and looked to be on his way to a touchdown, but a timely hit by Kyle Rust popped the ball free and David Fowler recovered on the three yard-line.
The Bulldog offense was unable to get on track, and after a pair of punts the the Cougars were able to grab a 7-0 lead, on a 12-yard touchdown run by Erik Cimpl. Later in the frame, Chad Cavender (Redding, Ca.) added to the lead, scoring on a six-yard touchdown, scrambling to his right. It gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead.
Concordia's offense struggled against the USF defense, ranked second in total defense coming into the game, and was forced to punt on their first seven possessions in the first half. In all the Bulldogs had eight first-half possessions, six which were resulted in three-and-out situations. Sioux Falls also picked off a Bulldog pass in the first half.
The Sioux Falls offense continued to put points on the board throughout the first half. Early in the second quarter, the Cougars upped their advantage to 21-0 when Cimpl added his second TD of the day, this time a one-yarder, making it 21-0. Ryan Lowmiller pushed the gap to 28, with a 22-yard touchdown burst. The Cougars added a field goal on the final play of the half as Matt Lindgren split the uprights from 19-yards out giving the Cougars a 31-0 lead at halftime.
The second half continued much as the first half ended as the Cougars had the ball first and made it 34-0 on a 31-yard field goal by Lindgren. Midway through the third quarter, Cavender was able to find Alex Andersonfor a five-yard touchdown pass, which gave the Cougars a 41-0 lead. Minutes later, Cimpl found the end zone for the third time, making it 48-0 in favor of USF going to the final frame.
For the game the Bulldogs offense crossed midfield just once, on the 12-play, 71-yard drive in the fourth quarter that resulted in a 27-yard field goal by Michael Saalfeld with 9:22 remaining. During that drive sophomore Zack Smetter completed three passes and Jeff Neujahr rushed for nine yards.
Offensively the Bulldogs finished with just 114 yards of total offense (52 rushing, 62 passing). The backfield duo of senior JaMaine Lewis and Neujahr was held to just 30 total yards (16-Lewis, 14-Neujahr). Lewis came into the game as the second leading rusher in the NAIA.
Smetter came off the bench in relief of starting QB Kyle Schmidt and went 5-of-12 passing for 48 yards and an interception
A pair of seniors, Trent Laune and Brett Mertens led the Bulldog defense. Laune finished with 7.5 tackles and a forced fumble while Mertens added 6.5 tackles. Rusty McConnel came up with the only interception of the day for Concordia.
Leading the way for the Cougars was Cavender, who went 21-of-29, for 286 yards, and two total touchdowns (one rushing, one passing). Cimpl rushed 14 times for 71 yards, and three touchdowns, while Lowmiller carried the ball eight times, gaining 94 yards, and a touchdown.
Trey Erickson caught seven passes for 81 yards, while Josiah Fenceroy hauled in six passes for 86 yards.
Concordia will have next week off before traveling to Hastings, Neb., to take on the Broncos of Hastings College on Nov. 10 in the final game of the season.
