SEWARD, Neb. – A rash of injuries to key players has failed to prevent Concordia University, Nebraska Football from putting together another season of significant achievement. The Bulldogs reached the month of November with postseason aspirations still intact. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad kicked off November by defeating Briar Cliff at home, 34-17. The stakes get higher this week as Concordia prepares to take on undefeated Dordt. Saturday’s kickoff in Sioux Center, Iowa, is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Like the Bulldogs, the Defenders were snubbed from the 2024 NAIA playoffs despite an 8-2 record. Sixth-ranked Dordt wants to leave no doubt this season by capturing the program’s first GPAC title, a feat that would clinch an automatic bid to the postseason. Head Coach Joel Penner’s squad moved to 8-0 with a 31-26 win last week at Hastings. The Defenders will finish their 2025 regular season with Concordia at home and Morningside on the road (Nov. 15).
GAME INFO
Concordia (6-2, 6-2 GPAC) at No. 6 Dordt (8-0, 8-0 GPAC)
Saturday, Nov. 8 | 1 p.m.
Open Space Park | Sioux Center, Iowa
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: Side Arm Stats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
Tickets: HomeTown Ticketing (also sold on site)
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2025 national rankings out of 97 NAIA football programs in parentheses
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 38.4 (18th)
Defensive PPG: 29.6 (54th)
Total Offense: 413.9 (24th)
Pass Offense: 253.4 (26th)
Rush Offense: 160.5 (36th)
Total Defense: 370.8 (51st)
Pass Defense: 276.8 (87th)
Rush Defense: 94.0 (16th)
Turnover +/-: 0
Dordt
Offensive PPG: 39.9 (15th)
Defensive PPG: 10.9 (3rd)
Total Offense: 434.1 (15th)
Pass Offense: 190.5 (63rd)
Rush Offense: 243.6 (4th)
Total Defense: 262.1 (6th)
Pass Defense: 179.1 (19th)
Rush Defense: 83.0 (6th)
Turnover +/-: +7
2025 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (46-40, 8th season)
Passing: Gideon Stark – 152/295 (.515), 1,978 yards, 18 td, 11 int, 125.3 effic.
Rushing: Carlos Collazo – 102 rushes, 591 yards, 5.8 avg, 8 td
Receiving: Adam Van Cleave – 58 receptions, 696 yards, 12.0 avg, 6 td (10 total td)
Defense: Grant Huss – 85 tackles, 5.5 tfl, 3.5 sacks, 3 pbu, 1 ff, 1 fr
Dordt
Head Coach: Joel Penner (71-32, 10th season)
Passing: Noah Strickfaden – 71/128 (.555), 1,246 yards, 11 td, 4 int, 159.3 effic.
Rushing: Thomas Fritz – 48 rushes, 479 yards, 10.0 avg, 5 td
Receiving: Elliot Beal – 23 receptions, 460 yards, 20.0 avg, 5 td
Defense: Isaac Kacmarynski – 63 tackles, 3 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 int, 1 pbu, 1 ff
2025 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (6-2, 6-2 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, L, 21-59
11/1 vs. Briar Cliff, W, 34-17
11/8 at (6) Dordt, 1 p.m.
11/15 vs. (20) Northwestern (Senior Day), 1 p.m.
Dordt (8-0, 8-0 GPAC)
9/6 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, W, 66-7
9/13 at Doane, W, 41-0
9/14 at (14) Northwestern, W, 21-20
10/4 vs. Briar Cliff, W, 51-0
10/11 at Waldorf, W, 59-7
10/18 vs. Mount Marty, W, 33-13
10/25 vs. Midland, W, 17-14
11/1 at Hastings, W, 31-26
11/8 vs. Concordia, 1 p.m.
11/15 at (10) Morningside, 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 in the receiving votes category of the poll (as announced on Nov. 3). Meanwhile, Dordt cracked the NAIA top 25 for the first time in program history when it landed at No. 23 in November of 2018. Ranked No. 6 currently, the Defenders have reached their highest poll position in school history. Dordt has regularly appeared in the top 25 in recent seasons.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 4th
Current Massey Ratings: 22nd
Dordt
GPAC preseason: 3rd
Current Massey Ratings: 4th
Last time out
The month of November kicked off with a victory as the Bulldogs handled their business at home by defeating Briar Cliff, 34-17. In the win, Concordia did not commit a single turnover and bullied the Chargers to the tune of 233 rushing yards. Junior running back Calvin Sassaman enjoyed a career day as he toted the rock 29 times for 152 yards and a touchdown. Three other Bulldogs also found the end zone on the ground: Adam Van Cleave, Tyler Douglass and Nixon Ligouri. Kicker Peyton Atwood accounted for the rest of the team’s points. He knocked through field goals from 38 and 20 yards, respectively. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad finished with 420 total yards. Defensively, Concordia forced two turnovers with one coming on an interception by Blake Mosenteen and another via a fumble forced by Luke Penrod and recovered by Will Potratz (who returned it 48 yards and set up Douglass’ touchdown). Quarterback Gideon Stark went 19-for-39 for 187 yards through the air. Max Bartels snagged seven receptions for 89 yards.
Playoff push?
It remains a standing program goal to reach the NAIA Football Championship Series, something that last happened for the Bulldogs in 2001. With two losses on the season, Concordia likely has no margin for error over the final two weeks of the regular season. However, the road ahead provides opportunity for signature wins with NAIA top 25 opponents in No. 6 Dordt and No. 20 Northwestern up next on the schedule. According to the most recent NAIA ARC rankings, the Bulldogs ranked No. 6 in the North region. The top five are Dordt, Marian, Morningside, Indiana Wesleyan and Olivet Nazarene. The conference champion will be the only GPAC team to earn an automatic bid to the postseason. Others must be selected as at-larges by the playoff committee.
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 46-40. His 46 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).
Sassaman shoulders load vs. Briar Cliff
Junior running back Calvin Sassaman emerged as one of the stars of the Briar Cliff win. In rattling off a career-high 152 rushing yards, Sassaman posted Concordia’s fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season (see all five listed below). Since Carlos Collazo suffered an injury in the homecoming game versus Midland, Adam Van Cleave has received a majority of the carries at tailback. Van Cleave appeared on his way to 100 yards before being sidelined for the second half versus Briar Cliff. In one half of play, he totaled 50 rushing yards, 54 receiving yards and a touchdown. Despite missing a game-and-a-half this season, Van Cleave leads all GPAC players in all-purpose yards (1,201). On the season, the Bulldog rushing attack is averaging 160.5 yards per game and 4.2 yards per attempt.
100-yard rushers in 2025:
• Collazo: 283 at Mount Marty
• Collazo: 171 vs. Midland
• Sassaman: 152 vs. Briar Cliff
• Sassaman: 125 at Waldorf
• Van Cleave: 110 at Hastings
Stark nears 2,000 passing yards
Gideon Stark has been productive in his first season as the starting quarterback. He’s thrown for at least on touchdown in seven of eight games this season and sports 2025 totals of 1,978 yards and 18 touchdowns (against 11 interceptions). Stark is on track to fly past 2,000 passing yards, a number that has been reached four times in the history of the program. A strong close to the season could give Stark a shot at reaching school single season records of 2,642 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns (both marks held by DJ McGarvie). Stark has sprayed touchdown tosses to four different receivers this season: Jonny Puelz (seven), Adam Van Cleave (six), Max Bartels (three) and Maddox Rickertsen (two). In 17 career collegiate games, Stark has completed 171 of 325 passes (.526) for 2,215 yards and 19 touchdowns.
A nod to the o-line
The play of the offensive line stood out in the win over Briar Cliff. Concordia has continued to trot out one of the NAIA’s top 25 offenses despite losing all five starting offensive linemen from last season. This year’s starting group includes left tackle Derek Campbell, left guard Kadence Velde, center Brevin Damrow, right guard Seth Moore and right tackle Jeremiah Vazquez. While paving the way for the offense to average 413.9 yards and 38.4 points per game, the line has surrendered only three sacks in 2025.
Next man up
Injuries have provided a challenge to Daberkow and his staff. In recent weeks, the Bulldogs have had to play without some of their top players, including running back Carlos Collazo (who had been leading the NAIA in rushing yards per game) and First Team All-GPAC nose guard Carson Fehlhafer. The injuries resulted in Adam Van Cleave’s move to running back and a number of adjustments on the defensive side of the ball. With a banged up defensive font, linebacker Drake Trent has served as an edge rusher. At safety, Treven Weddle has stepped in as a starter in recent action. Starting safety Luke Penrod has battled injury but made a key play last week with a forced fumble that led to a touchdown. Fehlhafer was initially expected to sit out the remainder of his senior season. However, he has hopes of getting back on the field over the next two weeks.
Atwood continues strong season as one of nation’s top kickers
A junior from Grand Island, Neb., Peyton Atwood is putting together one of the best seasons ever for a Concordia kicker. In this past week’s win, he went 2-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-4 on PATs. Atwood owns program records for career PATs (116), PATs in a single season (44 in 2024) and longest field goal (50). Atwood leads all GPAC kickers and ranks third nationally with 12 made field goals this season. His 72 points (12-for-14 FGs / 36-for-37 PATs) are fifth most among NAIA kickers 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
Senior linebacker Grant Huss enters the week with a team-high 85 tackles this season. Huss is aiming to become Concordia’s first play to reach 100 tackles since All-American Lane Napier did so with 134 in 2021. Huss has played at an all-conference level while also totaling 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. In the secondary, Daylon Henson has been a playmaker in posting 51 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns (both on special teams). Another player who has been dangerous with the ball in his hands is corner Will Potratz, who has 101 combined return yards on his two interceptions/two fumble recoveries. Linebacker Deegan Barnes ranks second on the team with 64 tackles.
Maddox’s miracle
A senior from Gothenburg, Neb., Maddox Rickertsen stepped into the starting tight end role this season and has caught 14 receptions for 266 yards and two touchdowns. It was two years ago, in a game versus Briar Cliff, that Rickertsen was hit hard and knocked to the turf. The resulting injury caused Rickertsen to visit the doctor. What he then learned in 2023 was that he had an egg-sized tumor in his colon. Rickertsen underwent a successful operation to have the tumor removed. Had it not been discovered, the tumor may have become cancerous. Rickertsen returned to the football field in 2024 and earned a starting role this season. A more detailed account of Rickertsen’s ordeal can be found HERE.
Around the league
Five GPAC games took place this past Saturday. Dordt kept its perch atop the GPAC standings thanks to a 31-26 win at Hastings. Meanwhile, Morningside kept pace, one game behind, with a 42-0 thumping of Doane. In other action outside of Concordia’s win, Dakota Wesleyan won a shootout at Mount Marty, 44-41, and Northwestern won a double overtime game at Midland, 23-17. Another five league games are on the docket for this Saturday. While the Bulldogs head to Dordt, Morningside will host Mount Marty.
Series vs. Dordt
Concordia won nine of the first 10 meetings with Dordt until the Defenders’ current series win streak of seven, dating back to the 2018 season (the other victory in the series for Dordt came in 2008). That leaves the all-time series at 9-8 in favor of Concordia. In the 2024 matchup between teams that went on to finish at 8-2 overall, the Defenders won in Seward by a 33-22 score while piling up 314 rushing yards. Dordt built a 27-7 lead before the Bulldogs tightened the score in the second half with a pair of DJ McGarvie passing touchdowns. Austin Jablonski hauled in seven receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. Both teams wound up on the outside looking in in regard to the 2024 NAIA playoffs.
Scouting Dordt
Dordt played its first season of football in 2007 and struggled until the arrival of Head Coach Joel Penner in 2016. Penner immediately transformed the program and took the Defenders to the NAIA playoffs in 2020 and 2023. Dordt has won at least seven games for the eighth straight season. The Defenders have become known over that time for featuring punishing running games. This year’s team has followed that theme while averaging 243.6 rushing yards per game. Running backs Thomas Fritz (479 yards) and Preston McCoy (470 yards) are both averaging more than 8.0 yards per carry. A well-rounded team, Dordt ranks in the top 15 nationally in scoring offense and defense. The Defenders have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 319-87. Over its eight wins, Dordt has triumphed comfortably in five of them while winning three one-score games – over Northwestern, 21-20, Midland, 17-14, and Hastings, 31-26. The Defenders are aiming to break up the Morningside-Northwestern stranglehold from a GPAC championship perspective.