SEWARD, Neb. – The 24th all-time series meeting between Concordia University, Nebraska Football and Morningside will feature a pair of NAIA top 25 squads. The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs will meet the 11th-ranked Mustangs at Elwood Olsen Stadium in Sioux City, Iowa, for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff on Saturday. Concordia is coming off a hair-raising 32-29 road win over Hastings. Meanwhile, the potent Morningside offense was kept in check last week in a 14-13 upset loss at Northwestern.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad stands at 5-1 heading into the pivotal clash with the Mustangs. Head Coach Steve Ryan’s team finds itself in a bit of an unfamiliar position having lost twice in the regular season. Despite the defeat, Morningside still controls its own destiny in regard to at least sharing the GPAC regular season title. The same can be said for the Bulldogs, who last won the GPAC championship in 2001.
GAME INFO
No. 23 Concordia (5-1, 5-1 GPAC) at No. 11 Morningside (5-2, 5-1 GPAC)
Saturday, Oct. 25 | 1 p.m.
Elwood Olsen Stadium | Sioux City, Iowa
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: PrestoStats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
Tickets: Morningside HomeTown Ticketing (also sold on site)
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2025 national rankings out of 97 NAIA football programs in parentheses
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 42.0 (13th)
Defensive PPG: 26.8 (50th)
Total Offense: 440.7 (16th)
Pass Offense: 271.0 (16th)
Rush Offense: 169.7 (30th)
Total Defense: 327.7 (29th)
Pass Defense: 254.2 (71st)
Rush Defense: 73.5 (4th)
Turnover +/-: +1
Morningside
Offensive PPG: 45.6 (7th)
Defensive PPG: 22.9 (62nd)
Total Offense: 536.9 (2nd)
Pass Offense: 335.4 (4th)
Rush Offense: 201.4 (12th)
Total Defense: 364.1 (46th)
Pass Defense: 255.4 (72nd)
Rush Defense: 108.7 (27th)
Turnover +/-: -2
2025 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (45-39, 8th season)
Passing: Gideon Stark – 118/220 (.536), 1,580 yards, 17 td, 8 int, 132.2 effic.
Rushing: Carlos Collazo – 102 rushes, 591 yards, 5.8 avg, 8 td
Receiving: Adam Van Cleave – 45 receptions, 573 yards, 12.7 avg, 6 td
Defense: Carson Fehlhafer – 31 tackles, 13 tfl’s, 7.5 sacks, 3 blocked kicks
Morningside
Head Coach: Steve Ryan (245-49, 24th season)
Passing: Zack Chevalier – 154/230 (.670), 2,223 yards, 25 td, 7 int, 177.9 effic.
Rushing: Max Hough – 76 rushes, 540 yards, 7.1 avg, 5 td
Receiving: Drew Sellon – 45 receptions, 822 yards, 18.3 avg, 11 td
Defense: Cale Pittenger – 26 tackles, 8 tfl’s, 5.5 sacks, 2 pbu’s, 1 ff, 1 fr
2025 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (5-1, 5-1 GPAC)
9/6 vs. Doane, W, 35-7
9/13 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, W, 27-22
9/27 at Waldorf, W, 54-0
10/4 at Mount Marty, W, 52-43
10/11 vs. Midland (Homecoming), L, 52-60 (2 OT)
10/18 at Hastings, W, 32-29
10/25 at (11) Morningside, 1 p.m.
11/1 vs. Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/8 at (7) Dordt, 1 p.m.
11/15 vs. (24) Northwestern (Senior Day), 1 p.m.
Morningside (5-2, 5-1 GPAC)
8/30 at (4) Benedictine, L, 34-38
9/6 at Briar Cliff, W, 58-17
9/20 vs. Midland, W, 55-37
9/27 at Hastings, W, 41-31
10/4 vs. Waldorf, W, 69-6
10/11 at Dakota Wesleyan, W, 49-17
10/18 at Northwestern, L, 13-14
10/25 vs. (23) Concordia, 1 p.m.
11/1 at Doane, 1 p.m.
11/8 vs. Mount Marty, 1 p.m.
11/15 vs. (7) Dordt, 1 p.m.
In the rankings
Concordia was tagged with a preseason national ranking for the first time since 2002. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 21 in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll announced on Aug. 25. Concordia has been ranked as high as No. 17 this season and now sits at No. 23 (in the Oct. 20 poll). Meanwhile, Morningside slipped seven spots to No. 11 in this week’s poll after its loss at Northwestern. The Mustangs have been included in every NAIA coaches’ poll since late September 2007.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 4th
Current Massey Ratings: 19th
Morningside
GPAC preseason: 1st
Current Massey Ratings: 5th
Last time out
The Bulldogs have become accustomed to weird and wild affairs. The 32-29 win at Hastings uplifted Concordia’s spirits after a crushing double overtime defeat at the hands of Midland on homecoming. In the victory over the Broncos, the Bulldogs overcame four turnovers (including a pick-six), a blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown, a blocked PAT and a double personal foul play that led to a Hastings touchdown. After the blocked punt put the Broncos in the lead, 29-26, with 2:40 to play in the game, quarterback Gideon Stark and company put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 26-yard scoring pass play to Adam Van Cleave. The Columbus native Van Cleave emerged as the game’s brightest star as he totaled 145 receiving yards, 110 rushing yards and three total touchdowns (two receiving and one rushing). Defensively, Concordia bounced back by limiting Hastings to 252 total yards. Both Treven Weddle and Dylan Meyer came up with an interception. On special teams, Peyton Atwood went 4-for-4 on field goals and Braxtyn Koch had a key 61-yard punt to pin the Broncos back. Concordia has won six of the past seven meetings with Hastings (3-4, 3-4 GPAC).
Road Dawgs
The program’s overall nine-game win streak was snapped with the homecoming loss to Midland. However, the Bulldogs’ active road win streak remains intact and was extended to 10 with the triumph at Hastings. The string of road wins began with a 44-23 victory at Hastings on Oct. 14, 2023. Coach Daberkow’s program went a perfect 5-0 on the road in 2024 and has won its first three road outings of 2025. Concordia has averaged 46.0 points per game on the road so far this season.
Coach Daberkow + staff
Patrick Daberkow’s history at Concordia dates back to his first season as a Bulldog football player in 2003. This is Daberkow’s 18th season as part of the program’s staff – ninth as head coach. He served as defensive coordinator for seven years before being named head coach in December 2016. Daberkow assumed offensive play calling duties in 2022 before turning that role over to Greg Nelson, former Lincoln Lutheran head coach, in 2023. Meanwhile, his full-time staff includes Defensive Coordinator Corby Osten, Special Teams Coordinator Trent Laune and Assistant Coach Grady Koch (who specializes in coaching the offensive line, among other duties). Former Nebraska Wesleyan assistant Kevin Crume is in his third season at Concordia. The graduate assistants are Devin Zeigler and Tanner Ingle. Daberkow owns a career coaching record of 45-39. His 45 wins are the fourth most among all head coaches in program history. The top three are Courtney Meyer (70), Larry Oetting (63) and Herb Meyer (62).
Van Cleave takes on workhorse role
With top running back Carlos Collazo sidelined by injury last week, receiver Adam Van Cleave filled in as a Swiss Army Knife of sorts. Van Cleave started the game at Hastings in the backfield and turned in an impressive workhorse performance. The Columbus, Neb., native carried the ball 30 times for 110 yards and a touchdown and snagged 13 receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Van Cleave became the first Bulldog player to eclipse 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game since Bryce Collins did so with 118 rushing yards and 125 receiving yards in a 2015 win at Midland. Van Cleave earned Second Team All-GPAC honors last season as a receiver. In 18 career collegiate games, Van Cleave has hauled in 117 receptions for 1,425 yards and 12 touchdowns. The rushing touchdown at Hastings was the first of his career. Concordia’s running back room also features Tyler Douglass and Calvin Sassaman. As for the receiver room, Max Bartels and Jonny Puelz have been consistent threats. Additionally, Dane Omel stepped in at Hastings and caught six passes for 54 yards.
The running backs are spurred by an offensive line that has yet to surrender a sack. The starting group includes Derek Campbell at left tackle, Kadence Velde at left guard, Brevin Damrow at center, Seth Moore at right guard and Jeremiah Vasquez at right tackle.
Stark leads explosive offense
Gideon Stark has stepped in nicely in his first season as a starter. Midway through the season, Concordia sports NAIA national rankings of 13th in scoring offense (42.0) and 16th in total offense (440.7). Stark has thrown for multiple touchdowns in all six games this season. His 17 touchdown tosses on the year are tied for the third most among GPAC signal callers. At his current pace, Stark could challenge DJ McGarvie’s school single season touchdown pass record of 28 in 2024. In 15 career collegiate games, Stark has completed 137-of-250 (.548) passes for 1,817 yards and 18 touchdowns (against eight interceptions). Stark also ran for a touchdown in the win at Mount Marty. Stark has led the offense to 50 or more points three times this season: 54 at Waldorf, 52 at Mount Marty and 52 versus Midland.
Cardiac Dawgs
The last three outings have had Bulldog fans reaching for the heart medication. In the wild 52-43 win at Mount Marty that saw Carlos Collazo rush for a school record 283 yards, Concordia surrendered a 31-7 lead only to fall behind and then retake the lead in the fourth quarter. A week later, the Bulldogs squandered a 38-7 advantage and wound up falling at home to Midland, 60-52, in double overtime. This past week, Concordia took a 26-14 lead into the fourth quarter before needing a dramatic final touchdown drive to pull out the victory in Hastings. The Bulldogs have held leads of at least 13 points in all six games this season. Large leads were maintained in the wins over Doane (35-7) and Waldorf (54-0).
Carson Fehlhafer
His size and stature led Head Coach Patrick Daberkow to liken Carson Fehlhafer to Paul Bunyan. Concordia managed to win at Hastings despite Fehlhafer being sidelined early in the second quarter. Concordia’s 6-foot-4, 325-pound nose guard continues to lead all GPAC players in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (13). His presence in the middle of the defensive line is a major reason why opponents are averaging only 73.5 rushing yards per game and 2.1 rushing yards per attempt. A 2024 First Team All-GPAC honoree, Fehlhafer earned an NAIA National Player of the Week award in both 2024 and 2025 and appears on track for All-America consideration. As part of Fehlhafer’s career path, he started at offensive guard as a freshman when injuries plagued the position group. He is in his third year as a starting defensive lineman.
Atwood adds another school record
A junior from Grand Island, Neb., Peyton Atwood is putting together one of the best seasons ever for a Concordia kicker. Atwood went 4-for-4 on field goal tries on a blustery day in Hastings with his makes coming from distances of 34, 38, 20 and 37 yards, respectively. With two PATs in the win, Atwood became the program’s all-time record holder for career PATs (109), surpassing the former standard of 108 by Adam Meirose. Atwood also owns school records for PATs in a season (44 in 2024) and for longest field goal (50). Atwood leads all GPAC kickers and ranks second nationally with 10 made field goals this season. His 59 points (10-for-11 FGs / 29-for-30 PATs) are tied for the fourth most of any kicker in the NAIA in 2025.
Longest field goals in Concordia history, on record
50 – Petyon Atwood (2025)
47 – Kenny Zoeller (2011)
46 – Jess Boyd (2001)
46 – John Dumar (1980)
Defensive superlatives
The defense shored up its game at Hastings and limited the Broncos to 252 total yards. A pass defense that had a rough game versus Midland tightened the screws as Hastings quarterback Carson Kudlacek went 14-for-39 for 122 yards with two interceptions. Two of the Broncos’ four touchdowns were scored on defense/special teams. While Carson Fehlhafer grabs attention for leading the GPAC in sacks, several other defensive players are enjoying strong seasons. Senior linebacker Grant Huss tops the team with 62 tackles. In the secondary, All-American safety Daylon Henson has tallied 38 tackles, six stops for loss, two sacks and six pass breakups and has twice scored touchdowns on special teams. At safety, Treven Weddle stepped into the starting lineup last week in place of Luke Penrod and came up with an interception to thwart a Hastings red zone drive. The strength of the unit has been a rush defense that ranks fourth nationally.
State bragging rights
Concordia pulverized its in-state opponents in 2024. It won by scores of 45-10 over Doane, 42-6 over Hastings and 45-13 over Midland. That success carried over in the 2025 season opener, a 35-7 rout of Doane. The Bulldogs swept the state in 2021 and 2024. Their ownership of in-state foes was broken up last week by Midland. Now finished with in-state foes for 2025, Concordia went 2-1 against its Nebraska GPAC rivals.
Around the league
Of the four GPAC games that took place last week, the Morningside-Northwestern clash generated the most national discussion. The stout Red Raider defense led the charge as Northwestern upset the fourth-ranked Mustangs, 14-13. Morningside appeared to score the game-tying touchdown at the 4:41 mark of the fourth quarter, but the Red Raiders blocked the extra point. Outside of the contest in Orange City, Iowa, and the Concordia win at Hastings, Midland throttled Briar Cliff, 49-0, and No. 10 Dordt protected its home field with a 33-13 victory over Mount Marty. The Defenders are now in the driver’s seat in the GPAC with a 6-0 league mark. Concordia and Morningside are one game back at 5-1. In key games this Saturday, Morningside hosts Concordia and Dordt hosts Midland.
Series vs. Morningside
It's been one-sided as Morningside is 22-1 all-time versus Concordia. That one win for the Bulldogs came in 2003 by a 34-19 score in Seward. Courtney Meyer was the Bulldogs’ head coach at the time. The Mustangs’ series dominance continued in 2024 when they won, 51-21, inside Bulldog Stadium. Concordia was victimized by an early pick six and never recovered. Star Morningside quarterback Zack Chevalier threw for 481 yards and five touchdowns. He found Drew Sellon 18 times for 201 yards and two scores. Bulldog All-American receiver Austin Jablonski made nine catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns as Concordia gained some offensive traction after halftime.
Scouting Morningside
Head Coach Steve Ryan’s program is well-known throughout the NAIA as a national powerhouse. The Mustangs have qualified for the NAIA playoffs in each of the last 21 years and raised the NAIA national championship banner in 2018, 2019 and 2021. This past 2024 season, Morningside reached the national semifinals where it lost to eventual national champion Grand View University (Iowa), 36-13. The 2025 Mustangs like to throw the ball all over the yard with returning NAIA First Team All-American quarterback Zack Chevalier. He finished last season with 4,682 yards and 45 touchdowns through the air. Through seven games this season, Chevalier has thrown for 2,223 yards and 25 touchdowns. The high-powered Morningside offense is churning out 536.9 yards per game (second most in the nation). Northwestern’s defense managed to limit the Mustangs to 359 yards while picking off three passes last week. In Morningside’s two losses, it has turned the ball over a combined six times. The connection between Chevalier and Drew Sellon (822 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns) has been ultra productive. The Mustangs also have a strong ground game with Max Hough having rushed for 540 yards and five touchdowns (missed the past two games). Jaylen Burch ran for 120 yards at Northwestern. On the defensive side of the ball, lineman Cale Pittenger has been disruptive with 5.5 sacks (eight tackles for loss). Morningside has been more susceptible to the pass (255.4) than the run (108.7). The Mustangs have won 13 GPAC titles in the past 14 years and need to win on Saturday in order to hang tight with first-place Dordt.