SEWARD, Neb. – An early bye week leads the Concordia University, Nebraska Football team into its first ever road trip to Forest City, Iowa, home to the GPAC’s newest member, Waldorf University. This will also be the first road contest of the 2025 season for Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad, which opened the campaign with back-to-back home wins. Most recently, the Bulldogs eked past Dakota Wesleyan, 27-22, on Sept. 13. Concordia brings a 2-0 record and No. 23 NAIA national ranking into this week.
The program win streak for the Bulldogs has moved to seven, which is the second longest active streak among all NAIA football programs (behind only Grand View University). Concordia is looking for its first 3-0 start to a season since opening at 4-0 in 2020. The 2024 matchup between the Bulldogs and Waldorf marked the first ever series meeting.
On the other sideline, the Warriors are aiming to end a lengthy losing streak. Head Coach Tyler Chapa’s squad slumped to 0-4 after falling at Hastings, 42-0, this past week. A Doane alum, Chapa is in his third season leading the program. Waldorf completed its first season as a GPAC member in 2024. The institution was previously a member of the North Star Athletic Conference.
GAME INFO
No. 23 Concordia (2-0, 2-0 GPAC) at Waldorf (0-4, 0-4 GPAC)
Saturday, Sept. 27 | 1 p.m.
Bolstorff Field | Forest City, Iowa
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: PrestoStats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
Tickets: Sold on site
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2025 national rankings out of 97 NAIA football programs in parentheses
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 31.0 (35th)
Defensive PPG: 14.5 (13th)
Total Offense: 419.5 (21st)
Pass Offense: 298.5 (10th)
Rush Offense: 121.0 (52nd)
Total Defense: 323.5 (31st)
Pass Defense: 248.0 (67th)
Rush Defense: 75.5 (5th)
Turnover +/-: +1
Waldorf
Offensive PPG: 2.5 (93rd)
Defensive PPG: 42.5 (T-79th)
Total Offense: 154.3 (92nd)
Pass Offense: 94.3 (90th)
Rush Offense: 60.0 (84th)
Total Defense: 420.5 (66th)
Pass Defense: 210.5 (42nd)
Rush Defense: 210.0 (85th)
Turnover +/-: -2
2025 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (42-38, 8th season)
Passing: Gideon Stark – 44/73 (.571), 597 yards, 5 td, 3 int, 135.9 effic.
Rushing: Carlos Collazo – 33 rushes, 137 yards, 4.2 avg, 3 td
Receiving: Jonny Puelz – 10 receptions, 196 yards, 19.6 avg, 4 td
Defense: Carson Fehlhafer – 18 tackles, 9.5 tfl’s, 5.5 sacks, 2 blocked kicks
Waldorf
Head Coach: Tyler Chapa (5-20, 3rd season)
Passing: Tate Richardson – 29/67 (.433), 245 yards, 0 td, 4 int, 62.1 effic.
Rushing: Anthony Tucker – 48 rushes, 182 yards, 3.8 avg, 1 td
Receiving: Luke Valdez – 10 receptions, 118 yards, 11.8 avg, 0 td
Defense: Jacob Bivens – 20 tackles, 3 pbu’s, 1 int, 1 tfl
2025 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (2-0, 2-0 GPAC)
9/6 vs. Doane, W, 35-7
9/13 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, W, 27-22
9/27 at Waldorf, 1 p.m.
10/4 at Mount Marty, 1 p.m.
10/11 vs. Midland (Homecoming), 1 p.m.
10/18 at Hastings, 1 p.m.
10/25 at (3) Morningside, 1 p.m.
11/1 vs. Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/8 at (19) Dordt, 1 p.m.
11/15 vs. (7) Northwestern (Senior Day), 1 p.m.
Waldorf (0-4, 0-4 GPAC)
8/30 at (7) Northwestern, L, 0-40
9/6 vs. Mount Marty, L, 10-35
9/13 at Midland, L, 0-53
9/20 at Hastings, L, 0-42
9/27 vs. Concordia, 1 p.m.
10/4 at Morningside, 1:30 p.m.
10/11 vs. Dordt, 1 p.m.
10/25 at Dakota Wesleyan, 2 p.m.
11/8 vs. Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/15 vs. Doane, 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 landed at that same spot in Monday (Sept. 22)'s poll release. The program has been included in the top 25 of seven straight NAIA polls. Meanwhile, Waldorf appeared in the official NAIA top 25 as recently as the 2022 season.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 4th
Current Massey Ratings: 19th
Waldorf
GPAC preseason: 11th
Current Massey Ratings: 86th
Last time out
After owning leads of 14-0 and 21-9, the Bulldogs faced a 22-21 deficit heading into the fourth quarter of their home matchup with Dakota Wesleyan on Sept. 13. Concordia managed to pull out a 27-22 victory with the help of two fourth quarter field goals from kicker Peyton Atwood (41 and 29 yards). As a result of their performances, senior Carson Fehlhafer (defensive) and junior Jonny Puelz (offensive) were named GPAC Players of the Week. Fehlhafer put together the best statistical game of his career as he totaled 13 tackles, seven stops for loss, four sacks and two blocked kicks. On the other side of the ball, Puelz emerged with a breakout performance as he snagged seven receptions for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Gideon Stark completed 20-of-34 throws for 319 yards and three scores. As a defense, the Bulldogs piled up eight sacks (compared to none for the opposition). Ultimately, the game was sealed on DWU’s final offensive possession when corner Will Potratz came up with an interception. Concordia outgained the Tigers, 438-395, and won despite a decided disadvantage in time of possession.
Win streak ranks as second longest active in NAIA football
The program win streak has stretched to seven following the win over DWU. Only one NAIA football program can boast a longer active streak: defending national champion Grand View University (Iowa) with 17 straight victories. The current streak for the Bulldogs represents the longest for the program since the 2000 and 2001 teams combined for nine triumphs in a row. The school record of 14 consecutive wins spanned the 1944 and 1945 seasons when Concordia and its opponents played six-man football due to low roster numbers caused by World War II.
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 42-38. His 42 wins are for the fourth most among all head coaches in program history. The top three are Courtney Meyer (70), Larry Oetting (63) and Herb Meyer (62).
Stark ranks among NAIA top 10 for passing yards
After three seasons preparing for the opportunity, Gideon Stark has stepped seamlessly into the QB1 spot. In his first career start that came in the 35-7 win over Doane, Stark completed 24-of-43 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns (two interceptions). He then went 20-of-34 for 319 yards and three touchdowns (one pick) in the 27-22 win over Dakota Wesleyan. With an average of 298.5 passing yards per game, Stark currently ranks seventh among NAIA quarterbacks. In 11 career collegiate games, the 6-foof-6 gun slinger from Magnolia, Texas, has tossed for 834 yards and six touchdowns with a 58.9 completion percentage (63-for-107). Stark’s first career touchdown pass came versus Doane as a sophomore in 2023.
Receiving threats emerge
The passing game has shown big play capabilities with Stark firing passes to the likes of Adam Van Cleave, Jonny Puelz and Max Bartels. In week one, Van Cleave reeled in 13 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown. His score went for 53 yards versus Doane. The following week, it was Puelz’s turn to grab the spotlight. The Lincoln Lutheran alum was named GPAC Offensive Player of the Week after he pulled in seven catches for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Puelz’s scores went for 19, 49 and 72 yards, respectively. Jonny is the son of Concordia Athletics Hall of Famer John Puelz and is the younger brother five-time NAIA pole vault national champion Josie Puelz. Brother Josh Puelz also was a member of the Bulldog men’s basketball team. As part of the DWU win, three other receivers caught at least three passes: Maddox Rickertsen (three for 37), Bartels (four for 35) and Carter Skleba (three for 34).
Running back room
Carlos Collazo moved to the top of the depth chart at running back this season. In week one, the Aurora High School product rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns in the 35-7 win over Doane. In the most recent outing, Collazo appeared primed for a big day as he rushed for 42 yards on his first five carries. However, he was removed from the game due to injury. In 10 career games as a Bulldog, Collazo has rushed for 693 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.0 yards per attempt. Next up in the running back room are the likes of Calvin Sassaman and Tyler Douglass. Sassaman led the team in rushing versus DWU with 14 attempts for 55 yards. Douglass also ran nine times for 25 yards.
Concordia’s Paul Bunyan
Well-earned attention came Carson Fehlhafer’s way following his monstrous performance in the win over Dakota Wesleyan. He was tabbed GPAC Defensive Player of the Week and NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound nose guard filled the stat sheet with 13 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks and two blocked kicks. Fehlhafer was also named a national player of the week after the 2024 win at No. 2 Northwestern. A Utica native, Fehlhafer came away from week two leading all NAIA players in tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (5.5). He leads a defense that has already piled up 16 sacks (eight apiece in both games). In his career as a Bulldog, Fehlhafer has totaled 103 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.
Defensive superlatives
With Fehlhafer setting the tone up front, Concordia has outnumbered its opponents in sacks, 16-0. In addition to the 5.5 sacks from Fehlhafer, Terry Sebek has notched four sacks and Dylan Meyer has posted 2.5. The team’s top two tacklers are linebackers in Grant Huss (25) and Deegan Barnes (22). Meanwhile, Will Potratz has plucked both of the team’s interceptions. Potratz also forced a fumble in the win over Doane. At safety, Luke Penrod boasts a team high five pass breakups. An All-American last season, safety Daylon Henson has tallied 12 tackles, two tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a sack.
Owning the state
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. Dating back to the end of 2023, the Bulldogs have won five-straight contests versus their Nebraska GPAC rivals. Under Daberkow, Concordia swept in-state foes in both 2021 and 2024.
Around the league
Four league games took place this past Saturday, Sept. 20: No. 4 Morningside defeated Midland, 55-37, No. 15 Northwestern shut out Dakota Wesleyan, 23-0, Hastings blew out Waldorf, 42-0, and Briar Cliff surprised Mount Marty, 34-20, in Yankton, S.D. The home defeat for the Lancers came one week after the most significant win yet in the young program’s history – a 24-14 victory over then seventh-ranked Northwestern. Only three GPAC teams remain unscathed in conference play as Concordia, Dordt and Morningside are each 2-0.
Series vs. Waldorf
The Concordia and Waldorf football programs met for the first time ever when they matched up in Seward last season. It was a rude welcome-to-the-GPAC for the Warriors, who were defeated by a 45-7 score inside Bulldog Stadium. Concordia quarterback DJ McGarvie threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns (two to tight end John Goodwin) and Carlos Collazo rushed for 128 yards and a score. The Bulldogs outgained Waldorf, 565-201.
Scouting Waldorf
Prior to joining the GPAC ahead of the 2024 season, Waldorf went a combined 44-27 from 2017 through 2023. However, the results have not followed so far in this new era. The Warriors have dropped 18 straight games as a program. So far this season, Head Coach Tyler Chapa’s squad stands at 0-4 while having been outscored by a combined total of 170-10. The losses have come at the hands of Northwestern, Mount Marty, Midland and Hastings. Waldorf returned 2024 Honorable Mention All-GPAC players in linebacker Luke Beyer, long snapper Gerardo Caldera-Hernandez and defensive back Jack Thompson. The program’s home facility, Bolstorff Field, was named in honor of A. David Bolstorff, longtime head football coach and campus chaplain. The facility transitioned to artificial turf in 2011.