SEWARD, Neb. – The first in-state rivalry clash of the 2026 season is up next after Concordia University, Nebraska Football had a week one bye. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad has been idle since pummeling Waldorf, 77-7, in its week zero season opener. The Bulldogs and Broncos are set to kick off at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday from Lloyd Wilson Field. It will be the 59th meeting in series history.
Across the other sideline, Matt Franzen is in his sixth season as head coach at Hastings College. The Broncos opened the ’26 campaign this past Saturday with a 41-7 loss at eighth-ranked Dordt, a 2025 NAIA playoff qualifier. Hastings landed at No. 6 in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll.
GAME INFO
Concordia (1-0, 1-0 GPAC) at Hastings (0-1, 0-1 GPAC)
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 1 p.m.
Lloyd Wilson Field | Hastings, Neb.
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: PrestoStats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
Tickets: Hudl Ticketing (also sold on site)
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2026 national rankings out of 95 NAIA football programs that have played at least one game this season.
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 77.0 (T-1st)
Defensive PPG: 7.0 (6th)
Total Offense: 681.0 (1st)
Pass Offense: 392.0 (3rd)
Rush Offense: 289.0 (5th)
Total Defense: 126.0 (3rd)
Pass Defense: 74.0 (8th)
Rush Defense: 52.0 (T-8th)
Turnover +/-: +1
Hastings
Offensive PPG: 7.0 (T-83rd)
Defensive PPG: 41.0 (T-68th)
Total Offense: 223.0 (80th)
Pass Offense: 119.0 (T-79th)
Rush Offense: 104.0 (T-66th)
Total Defense: 401.0 (T-54th)
Pass Defense: 180.0 (36th)
Rush Defense: 221.0 (74th)
Turnover +/-: 0
2026 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (48-41, 10th season)
Passing: Gideon Stark – 24/38 (.632), 388 yards, 8 td, 0 int, 218.4 effic.
Rushing: Dylan Mika – 6 rushes, 112 yards, 18.7 avg, 1 td
Receiving: Jonny Puelz – 9 receptions, 105 yards, 11.7 avg, 4 td
Defense: Deegan Barnes – 9 tackles, 4 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 pbu
Hastings
Head Coach: Matt Franzen (at Hastings: 21-33, 6th season; overall: 86-82, 17th season)
Passing: Jarrett Synek – 15/30 (.500), 111 yards, 1 td, 0 int, 92.1 effic.
Rushing: Kaiden Merryman – 14 rushes, 48 yards, 3.4 avg, 0 td
Receiving: Aiden Nicholson – 6 receptions, 45 yards, 0 td
Defense: Dawson Kissinger – 12 tackles
2026 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (1-0, 1-0 GPAC)
8/29 vs. Waldorf, W, 77-7
9/12 at Hastings, 1 p.m.
9/19 vs. Mount Marty, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
9/26 vs. Dordt, 1 p.m.
10/3 at Northwestern, 1:30 p.m.
10/10 at Dakota Wesleyan, 1:30 p.m.
10/24 at Morningside, 1 p.m.
10/31 vs. Doane, 1 p.m.
11/7 at Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/14 vs. Midland, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Hastings (0-1, 0-1 GPAC)
9/5 at (8) Dordt, L, 7-41
9/12 vs. Concordia, 1 p.m.
9/19 at Waldorf, 1 p.m.
9/26 vs. Northwestern, 1 p.m.
10/10 vs. Mount Marty, 7 p.m.
10/17 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
10/24 at Midland, 1 p.m.
10/31 at Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/7 vs. Morningside, 1 p.m.
11/14 at Doane, 1 p.m.
In the rankings
Concordia rose as high as No. 17 last season in the official NAIA coaches’ polls before settling as a “receiving votes” team to end 2025. The Bulldogs also concluded 2024 at No. 18 in the poll. Concordia began the 2026 season listed in the “receiving votes” category of the poll. There is no poll this week due to Labor Day.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 4th
Massey Ratings: 20th
Hastings
GPAC preseason: 6th
Massey Ratings: 43rd
Team 100
The 2026 season marks the 100th in the history of Concordia University, Nebraska Football. On record, the first official season was 1925 when Professor Walter Hellwege presided over the Concordia Teachers College gridiron squad as its first ever head coach. In the time since then, there have been three years without football, including 1926 and 1927 and 1943 (during World War II). In program history, Concordia has won conference championships in 1929, 1931, 1944, 1945, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1970, 1981 and 2001. The championship team of ’01 remains the lone NAIA playoff qualifier in program annals. In December 2016, Patrick Daberkow became the 10th head coach in program history.
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 19th season as part of the program’s staff – 10th 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 fourth season at Concordia. The graduate assistants are Tanner Ingle and Grant Huss. Daberkow owns a career coaching record of 48-41. His 48 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).
Stark earns national recognition after record-breaking performance
Gideon Stark turned heads in NAIA week zero when he completed 24-of-38 passes for 388 yards and a school record eight touchdowns. He was named GPAC Offensive Player of the Week and National Offensive Player of the Week by @NAIAFBall. The eight touchdown tosses shattered the previous school single game record of five by DJ McGarvie (2024) and Phil Seevers (1988). The matchup with Waldorf marked Stark’s 11th career start at quarterback. In 20 overall games as a collegiate signal caller, Stark has completed 231-of-433 (.533) passes for 2,964 yards and 30 touchdowns to go against 12 interceptions. He’s on the cusp of becoming the seventh quarterback in school history to reach 3,000 career passing yards. Gideon continues a long line of family members to have attended Concordia as student-athletes, joining his father Paul (football), mother Kim (volleyball) and extended family, Ken Robbins (football), Nathan Robbins (football) and Stephen Robbins (football). In addition, Gideon’s older sisters, Kara and Shelby, both played volleyball at Concordia. Current freshman Tayden Robbins is a cousin.
Most passing TDs in program history, single game
8 – Gideon Stark vs. Waldorf, 2026
5 – DJ McGarvie vs. Briar Cliff, 2024
5 – Phil Seevers vs. Doane, 1988
4 – achieved by eight different QBs
Collazo back from injury
Workhorse running back Carlos Collazo recovered remarkably fast from the ACL tear he suffered in the middle of the 2025 season. At the time Collazo went down last season, he was leading all NAIA players in rushing yards per game (147.8). Collazo broke the school single game rushing record when he rumbled to 283 yards in the 52-43 win at Mount Marty last October. The Marquette, Neb., native and Aurora High School product sports career tallies of 1,223 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns on 204 attempts (6.0 yards per carry). Collazo earned Second Team All-GPAC honors in 2025 despite playing in only four games. Collazo is joined in the backfield by Calvin Sassaman, who rushed for 464 yards and three touchdowns last season. A freshman emerged versus Waldorf as Aspen, Colo., native Dylan Mika took his first collegiate carry 75 yards for a touchdown. Mika finished with 112 yards on six attempts.
Jonny on the spot
In week zero, Lincoln Lutheran High School product Jonny Puelz was Jonny on the spot. His four touchdown receptions broke a school record for a single game. The former Nebraska Wesleyan University hooper, Puelz headlined the receiver core by snagging nine receptions for 105 yards and four scores. Meanwhile, Adam Van Cleave (five for 99, 1 TD) and Collin Fritton (six for 99, 1 TD) just missed out on cracking the century mark. Other pass catchers to find the end zone versus Waldorf were receiver Carter Skleba and tight end Dustin Kapke. Puelz tops the team with 13 touchdown receptions since the start of the 2025 season. A Columbus Lakeview High School product, Van Cleave was tabbed an NAIA Third Team All-American last season by Victory Sports Network. In his Bulldog career, Van Cleave has notched 140 catches for 1,677 yards and 13 touchdowns (numbers that rank sixth, ninth and seventh, respectively, on the program’s all-time lists). Van Cleave has totaled 18 touchdowns in his career (including four rushing and one via kick return). Concordia will also make use of returning starter at tight end, Maddox Rickertsen.
Revamped o-line
For the second year in a row, the Bulldogs are replacing all or most of their starting offensive line. Concordia trotted out five new starters in the opener versus Waldorf as Second Team All-GPAC left tackle Derek Campbell was sidelined due to injury. In his absence, the starters up front were left tackle Thomas Thomas, left guard Layne Bugarske, center Joshua Luehr, right guard Carter Meier and left tackle Ethan Olson. Thomas Thomas spent all of preseason camp working at right tackle and could shift back to that spot upon the return of Campbell. Sophomore Jacksen Jenkins also factors into the rotation. The o-line helped pave the way for the record-setting performance versus Waldorf. The Warriors were held without a sack. The group is coached by Grady Koch, a former all-conference offensive lineman for the Bulldogs. Impressively, Concordia surrendered a grand total of seven sacks over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The specialists
The Bulldogs returned their kicker (Peyton Atwood), punter (Braxtyn Koch), long snapper (Max Wurdeman) and holder (Braylen Muhle), in addition to the game breaking kick returner Adam Van Cleave. Atwood, Koch and Wurdeman were each named Second Team All-GPAC honorees in 2025. Atwood already owns school records for career PATs (131) and longest field goal (50). He made immense strides while knocking through 12-of-16 field goal tries as a junior. In his sophomore season, Koch downed 26 of his 54 attempts inside the opponent’s 20 (with another 20 of his punts being fair caught).
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 line led by veterans Frazey, Sebek
Concordia got a head start on replacing All-American Carson Fehlhafer last season went he went down with an injury. There is experience up front with starters AJ Frazey (39 tackles, 5 tfl in 2025) and Terry Sebek (29 tackles, 11 tfl, 6 sacks in 2025) back in the fold. Lukas Lafler, Brock Ostdiek and Nicolas Steuter are candidates for rotation time in a defensive line that has depth beyond the starters. Sebek started 2026 strong, striking for 2.5 tackles for loss versus Waldorf. A new name to watch up front is Tanner Schroder, a freshman who chose the Bulldogs out of Lincoln Southwest High School.
Kaden Thompson emerges
North Platte, Neb., native Kaden Thompson emerged as an early playmaker while taking over a starting spot in the secondary as a junior. Thompson came up with a pair of interceptions in the rout of Waldorf. He also made six tackles, including one for loss. In 2025, Thompson played a significant role on special teams while cracking the two deep at safety. In other defensive superlatives from the season opener, linebacker Deegan Barnes posted nine tackles (four for loss), two sacks and a pass breakup and freshman defensive lineman Tanner Schroder notched two sacks. After battling injury in preseason camp, returning All-GPAC linebacker Dylan Meyer returned to the field and made five tackles (1.5 for loss) in the opener. Coordinator Corby Osten’s unit stuffed Waldorf to the tune of just 126 total yards. Osten’s defense returned six starters from last season.
Around the league
The most hyped game in the GPAC this past week took place in Sioux City, Iowa, where No. 7 Morningside hosted No. 24 Northwestern. The Red Raiders emerged victorious, 43-35, behind quarterback Colby Duncan, who threw for 239 yards and rushed for 188 yards while totaling five touchdowns (four rushing). Elsewhere, Dakota Wesleyan protected its home field, 34-21, over Doane, No. 8 Dordt routed Hastings, 41-7, Midland trounced Waldorf, 69-19, and Mount Marty defeated Briar Cliff, 49-35. Concordia is one of six GPAC teams with 1-0 league marks heading into week two of the season.
Series vs. Hastings
The Broncos have owned the all-time series with a record of 37-20-1 versus the Bulldogs. However, the series has swung the other way recently with Concordia winning six of the past seven meetings. The 2019 matchup resulted in the largest point differential in series history with Concordia blowing out Hastings, 44-0. The Bulldogs also won decisively in 2023 (44-23) and 2024 (42-6). The 2025 game played at Hastings was a nailbiter. Concordia eked it out, 32-29. In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs relinquished a 26-14 lead and found themselves trailing, 29-26, in the final minute. Gideon Stark then engineered an 11-play, 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive that largely featured Adam Van Cleave. Stark found Van Cleave for a 26-yard touchdown (32 seconds remaining) that provided the winning points. Van Cleave was named the NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week thanks to his eclipsing 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving to go with three total touchdowns. Defensively, Dylan Meyer and Treven Weddle recorded an interception apiece.
Scouting Hastings
The Broncos opened their season with a 41-7 loss at No. 8 Dordt, following a 2025 season that saw them finish at 5-5. Over Head Coach Matt Franzen’s first five seasons at Hastings, the program has produced respective records of 2-8, 7-4, 5-6, 2-9 and 5-5. The program last qualified for the NAIA playoffs in 2009. The 2026 roster features returning GPAC All-Conference honorees in defensive lineman Tywan January, (second team), linebacker Dawson Kissinger (first team), offensive linemen Tre’Quan Henley, Jayden Lagunas (first team) and Sal Nacarelli (second team). Hastings departed GPAC first teamers in running back Dalton Armbruster tight end Jake Bargen. In the season opener, the Broncos pulled even with Dordt, 7-7, early in the second quarter when quarterback Jarrett Synek hit Josh Levine for an 11-yard touchdown play. The Defenders proceeded to rattle off the game’s final 34 points. Synek returned at quarterback after sharing the position last season when he threw for 859 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions. Massey Ratings lists Hastings as the NAIA’s current 43rd-ranked team.