SEWARD, Neb. – A storied rivalry will be renewed on Saturday when Concordia and Midland clash on the gridiron for the 66th all-time meeting. The Bulldogs will be attempting to halt a three-game skid while the Warriors are fresh off a victory over another in-state opponent. Due to some quirks in the schedule in recent years, Concordia has not played in Fremont since 2015. Saturday’s kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT from Heedum Field.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad has been running through a gauntlet having played Northwestern, Dordt and Morningside in consecutive games. Those three opponents are a combined 18-3 this season and each of them are in contention for NAIA playoff berths. The Bulldogs are simply trying to find a way to get their elusive fifth victory of the season. Concordia totaled more than 300 passing yards last week, but it struggled mightily to stop the powerful Mustang offense. Two keys to success over the last two weeks will be getting the running game on track and shoring things up defensively.
Midland is getting set for its final game of the fall. The Warriors in Bulldogs have something in common having endured their losses to the same three GPAC heavyweights. Midland has won five of its last six games, including last week’s 28-3 decision at Doane. Head Coach Jeff Jamrog’s squad completely stifled the Tiger offense (161 total yards) in a dominant outing. The Warriors have been solid both offensively and defensively, but they were plagued by penalties at Doane (10 for 130 yards). Quarterback River Walker has totaled 20 touchdowns (16 passing, four rushing) this season.
GAME INFO
Concordia (4-3) at Midland (5-3)
Saturday, Nov. 14 | 1 p.m.
Heedum Field | Fremont, Neb.
Webcast: Stretch Internet
Stats: Dakstats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Evan Jones and Ross Wurdeman
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2020 national rank in parentheses
NOTE: 51 of the 95 NAIA football programs that intend to play in 2020-21 have started their seasons.
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 22.6 (28th)
Defensive PPG: 25.0 (21st)
Total Offense: 361.4 (20th)
Pass Offense: 233.1 (16th)
Rush Offense: 128.3 (27th)
Total Defense: 388.0 (34th)
Pass Defense: 250.3 (47th)
Rush Defense: 137.7 (24th)
Turnover +/-: +1 (T-21st)
Midland
Offensive PPG: 33.1 (16th)
Defensive PPG: 19.3 (T-12th)
Total Offense: 413.5 (16th)
Pass Offense: 247.5 (13th)
Rush Offense: 166.0 (20th)
Total Defense: 335.3 (21st)
Pass Defense: 225.3 (41st)
Rush Defense: 110.0 (12th)
Turnover +/-: +5 (T-8th)
2020 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (16-21, 4th season)
Passing: Blake Culbert – 111/224 (.496), 1,525 yards, 9 td, 4 int, 116.4 effic.
Rushing: Jonah Weyand – 124 rushes, 556 yards, 4.5 avg, 8 td
Receiving: Korrell Koehlmoos – 23 catches, 481 yards, 20.9 avg, 3 td
Defense: Lane Napier – 40 tackles, 2.5 tfl’s, sack, pbu
Midland
Head Coach: Jeff Jamrog (31-20, 5th season)
Passing: River Walker – 120/191 (.628), 1,724 yards, 16 td, 9 int, 156.9 effic.; rushing: 282 yards, 4 td
Rushing: Keenan Smith – 113 rushes for 558 yards, 4.9 avg, 6 td
Receiving: Darrin Gentry – 36 catches, 612 yards, 17.0 avg, 6 td
Defense: Zach Acamo – 73 tackles, 3 tfl’s, 3 int, fr
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (4-3, 4-3 GPAC)
9/12 at Doane, W, 24-7
9/19 vs. Hastings, W, 34-28 (OT)
9/26 at Briar Cliff, W, 24-9
10/3 vs. Jamestown, W, 23-3
10/17 at Northwestern, L, 17-31
10/24 vs. Dordt, L, 14-41
11/7 vs. Morningside, L, 22-56
11/14 at Midland, 1 p.m.
11/21 at Dakota Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
Midland (5-3, 5-3 GPAC)
9/12 vs. Dordt, L, 14-22
9/19 vs. Morningside, L, 7-42
10/3 at Briar Cliff, W, 56-3
10/10 vs. Hastings, W, 43-0
10/17 at Dakota Wesleyan, W, 50-14
10/24 vs. Jamestown, W, 55-27
10/31 at Northwestern, L, 14-43
11/7 at Doane, W, 28-3
11/14 vs. Concordia, 1 p.m.
Fan protocols/ticketing
Midland’s fan protocols for Saturday’s game can be viewed HERE. Face coverings must be worn by fans in attendance. Fans of the Bulldogs are advised to check COVID-19 related protocols for each road venue prior to traveling for away contests.
In the rankings
The GPAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll was unveiled on Aug. 26. Concordia landed at No. 7 (37 points) while Midland was placed in a tie for third in the league (60 points). The poll resembled the final 2019 standings. The NAIA has not released a single national poll this year. In the current Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs appear at 36th while the Warriors are No. 21. Concordia last appeared in the national rankings in the preseason of 2017 when it was rated 20th. Midland’s most recent top 25 ranking occurred in September 2018 when it slotted in at No. 24.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 7th
Current Massey Ratings: 36th
Midland
GPAC preseason: T-3rd
Current Massey Ratings: 21st
State bragging rights on the line
This one is for state bragging rights. Concordia has beaten Doane, 24-7, and Hastings, 34-28 (OT). Meanwhile, Midland defeated Doane, 28-3, last week after pummeling Hastings, 43-0, earlier this season. The Warriors will enter Saturday’s game having won 10-straight games against the combination of Concordia/Doane/Hastings. On the other hand, the Bulldogs have not defeated Doane, Hastings and Midland in the same season since 1970. That ’70 squad went 8-1 and claimed the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. Coach John Seevers’ 1970 Concordia team dominated in-state foes. It routed Doane, 35-0, Hastings, 23-0, Midland, 43-14, and Nebraska Wesleyan, 41-14. It also squeaked past now disbanded Dana, 9-6.
Anderson re-emerges
The passing game has another weapon back on the field with Art Anderson re-emerging. The San Antonio native has been a reliable option in recent years, but he’s been forced off the field for large chunks of this season. Anderson made his presence felt against Morningside by catching six passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. His first score of the season came on a perfectly executed 28-yard strike from Blake Culbert in the second quarter last week. Anderson should be a nice compliment to receivers Cayden Beran and Korrell Koehlmoos over the final two games. In his career, Anderson has caught 76 passes for 724 yards and four touchdowns.
Napier closing in on 400
Though injuries have limited linebacker Lane Napier’s production this fall, the All-American is closing in on an impressive career milestone. With 13 more tackles, Napier will reach 400 stops for his career for an average of 100 per season. The David City, Neb., native is already the school’s all-time tackles leader (according to available records). Napier has garnered first team All-GPAC recognition three times and was named an Associated Press first team All-American in 2018 when he led the entire NAIA with 142 tackles. One of the great defensive players in program history, Napier owns current career totals of 387 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and one interception.
Defense looks for rebound
It's been a tough run the past three games against the GPAC’s top three offensive teams. In those outings, the Bulldogs have allowed respective yardage totals of 557, 497 and 654. That came after Concordia held three of its first four opponents to 265 yards or less. After playing Morningside, the Bulldogs slipped from being ranked 11th nationally in scoring defense to 25th (out of 51 NAIA teams that have played this fall). The defense did manage to keep Concordia in the game at Northwestern by allowing only two touchdowns on the Red Raiders’ seven red zone trips. However, stops have been difficult to come by lately. The Mustangs did not punt a single time last week.
Battle of top GPAC tight ends
Midland boasts the GPAC’s returning first team all-conference tight end in Austin Harris. He may have competition from Concordia junior Garrett Schardt for that same recognition in 2020. So far this season, Harris has caught 23 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns while Schardt has reeled in 22 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Over the past four games, Schardt has caught at least three passes in each instance. He enjoyed a career day at Northwestern with seven grabs for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Against Morningside, Schardt snared four passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Running game seeks return to form
The running game has been limited in recent weeks while the level of difficulty has ramped up. Over the first seven games, the Bulldogs have produced respective rushing totals of 229, 175, 157, 101, 101, 105 and 30. Concordia would love to get redshirt sophomore running back Jonah Weyand going again. He burned Doane for 169 yards and two touchdowns and Hastings for 177 yards and five touchdowns. On the season, the Crete High School product has rushed for 556 yards and eight touchdowns. He ended a three-game scoring drought by rushing for the game’s first touchdown last week versus Morningside. The Mustangs held Weyand to 37 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Koehlmoos moving up school receiving list
Junior receiver Korrell Koehlmoos is moving closer to the top five of the program’s all-time receiving list, in terms of career receiving yards (see below). The native of Pilger, Neb., caught four passes for 74 yards last week while moving his season totals to 23 and 481 (three touchdowns). Koehlmoos may have an outside shot of climbing all the way to the top of the program’s all-time receiving yards list. The career leader, Jared Garcia, is a graduate assistant at Midland and coaches the receivers and tight ends.
Most Receiving Yards, Career
2,495 – Jared Garcia (2014-17)
2,458 – Ross Wurdeman (1998-01)
2,011 – Clarence Woods (1984-88)
1,974 – Eric Pralle (1987-91)
1,880 – Travis Soukup (1991-94)
1,692 – Jim Young (1964-67)
1,347 – Korrell Koehlmoos (2018-- )
Takeaways
Concordia could help itself out if it can find ways to create more turnovers. Bulldog games this season have not been particularly turnover-happy – for Concordia or its opponents. The Bulldogs have intercepted five passes and have recovered three fumbles this season. Meanwhile, Concordia has turned it over only seven times (four interceptions, three lost fumbles). Jayzen Armstrong came up with an interception last week for the only turnover of the entire Concordia-Morningside game. Armstrong is one of five Bulldogs with one pick this season.
Three GPAC teams in playoff?
With a 16-team playoff format in the NAIA, there is not much margin for error. The GPAC appears to have a shot at landing two or three teams in the playoff that will begin in April 2021. The leading contenders within the conference are Morningside (7-0), Northwestern (6-1) and Dordt (5-2). The Bulldogs are likely out of the running after having suffered their third loss of 2020. In recent years, the GPAC has been a two-bid league.
Series vs. Midland
The series with Midland is one of the oldest rivalries in program history. The two sides first met in 1944 in what was six-man football at the time due to man power needs of World War II. The result that year was a 40-0 Concordia victory. The Bulldogs and Warriors did not play each other again until 1952. Then in 1957, they began playing annually all the way up to the present day. Midland leads the all-time series (37-27-1). In recent seasons, Concordia had its way by winning all six matchups from the 2012 through 2017 seasons. The Warriors broke that string with victories in 2018 and 2019. The last time these programs met up in Fremont (2015), the Bulldogs rallied from a 35-14 deficit and won in overtime on a 16-yard Bryce Collins touchdown run.
Last eight games vs. Midland
2019 – L, 7-27 (Seward)
2018 – L, 7-35 (Seward)
2017 – W, 44-14 (Seward)
2016 – W, 20-14 (Seward)
2015 – W, 41-38 | OT (Fremont)
2014 – W, 35-28 (Seward)
2013 – W, 35-14 (Fremont)
2012 – W, 23-14 (Seward)
Scouting Midland
Outside of the three losses, Midland has been quite dominant. In their five victories, the Warriors have separated themselves from their opponents by margins of 25 points or more. The only thing Midland has not been able to do in recent years is break down the barrier between themselves and the elite teams in the league such as Morningside and Northwestern. Head Coach Jeff Jamrog has found a playmaking quarterback in River Walker, who has amassed 20 total touchdowns (16 passing, four rushing). Walker has hit the 300-yard passing mark four times this season. Across the board, the numbers are solid for Midland, which sports national rankings of 16th in total offense and 21st in total defense. One bugaboo for Midland has been penalties. It has been victimized by an average of 88 penalty yards per game (second most in the NAIA). No matter the outcome on Saturday, the Warriors will wrap up their fifth-straight winning season.