Concordia University 28, Dordt College 12 (view stats)
Concordia University celebrated homecoming with a 28-12 GPAC football win over Dordt College on Saturday afternoon in Seward. The Bulldogs improved to 2-4 overall and 2-4 in the GPAC with the win. Dordt College dropped to 1-5 overall and 0-5 in the GPAC with the loss.
Concordia jumped on top 7-0 early in the first quarter. The Bulldogs marched 36 yards in just four plays. Quarterback Kyle Schmidt found Jake Griedl on a 2-yard touchdown pass to complete the scoring drive.
The visiting Defenders got on the board early in the second quarter. The Dordt offense, which struggled to move the ball in the opening quarter, moved 78 yards in just seven plays. Quarterback Justin Knot connected with Josh Van Kempen on a 28-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt was blocked, and the Bulldogs held on to a slim 7-6 lead.
Concordia quickly responded with a scoring drive on the next possession. The Bulldogs used nine plays to move 80 yards, and Darius Smith’s 11-yard touchdown run increased the Concordia lead to 14-6.
After an interception by Ben Klein, the Bulldog offense methodically moved the ball into the red zone. However, Curtis Miller missed a 26-yard field goal attempt, and the Bulldogs took the 14-6 lead into halftime.
The Bulldogs increased their lead to 21-6 with just over eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. Concordia marched 54 yards in 10 plays, and TJ Shirey found Nate Sindt on a 9-yard touchdown pass for the score.
Dordt College scored just before the third quarter expired to pull closer. The Defenders needed just three plays to move 57 yards, and a 7-yard touchdown pass from Knot to Van Kempen made the score 21-12.
The Bulldogs put the game away with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game. Concordia’s Heath Broekemeier picked off a Justin Knot pass attempt and returned it to the Dordt 37. On the second play of the Bulldog drive, Darrin Macaluso took an option pitch from Schmidt and scampered 34 yards for a touchdown. The Concordia defense stayed strong down the stretch, and the Bulldogs took home the 28-12 win.
Concordia had 19 first downs in the game compared to 12 for the Defenders. Concordia racked up 310 yards of total offense compared to 205 for Dordt College. The Bulldogs gained 112 yards through the air and dominated the ground game with 198 rushing yards. Dordt had 141 yards through the air and just 64 yards on the ground. Dordt had four turnovers compared to just one for the Bulldogs.
Individually for Concordia, Kyle Schmidt completed 9-of-21 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, and TJ Shirey completed both of his pass attempts for 12 yards and a touchdown. Darius Smith carried the ball 16 times for 85 yards and a touchdown to lead the Concordia rushing attack. Darrin Macaluso added three carries for 41 yards. Jake Griedl had four catches for 56 yards and a score, and Nate Sindt added three catches for 44 yards and a score for the Bulldogs.
Ben Klein had eight tackles and two interceptions to lead the way defensively for Concordia. Grant Rolfsmeier added five tackles and a forced fumble for the Bulldogs.
Justin Knot completed 12-of-24 passes for two touchdowns and three interceptions for Dordt College. Josh Van Kempen had 16 carries for 73 yards and also caught four passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns for the Defenders. Phillip Sears had a game-high 10 tackles and recovered a fumble for Dordt defensively.
Concordia will travel to No. 5 Morningside College on Oct. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Sioux City.
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