SEWARD, Neb. – Game week has arrived for the Concordia University, Nebraska Football program. The opening game of 2025 for the Bulldogs will feature a renewal of their annual rivalry with Doane, an opponent they have met 69 previous times on the gridiron. The latest matchup will mark the fourth time in seven years that Concordia has opened a season against the Tigers from Crete. The Bulldogs have had the upper hand in recent years, winning four of the past five meetings with Doane.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s program is coming off an 8-2 season that saw it place itself in the NAIA playoff conversation. The eight wins were the most for Concordia since the 2001 team went 10-2, shared the GPAC title and advanced to the NAIA quarterfinals. The Bulldogs have said goodbye to 33 seniors from last year’s roster while retooling the offense. A senior academically, Gideon Stark is expected to make his first career start at quarterback behind an entire new group of offensive linemen. The offense returns only two starters while the defense brings back seven starters.
The second year of Jonathan Johnson’s head coaching tenure got started during week zero for NAIA football. Doane hosted Hastings and fell by a final score of 20-7. A disastrous finish to the first half included a pick-six and a blocked punt that helped push the Bronco lead to 20-0. The Tigers were defeated despite holding a 341-281 advantage in total offense. Doane is coming off a 2024 season that saw it finish at 3-8 (3-7 GPAC). The Tigers return quarterback Sam Hartman, who threw for 264 yards in last week’s season opener.
GAME INFO
Concordia (0-0, 0-0 GPAC) vs. Doane (0-1, 0-1 GPAC)
Saturday, Sept. 6 | 7 p.m.
Bulldog Stadium | Seward, Neb.
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: PrestoStats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
Tickets: HomeTown Ticketing (also sold on site)
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2024 national rankings out of 97 NAIA football programs in parentheses
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 38.5 (19th)
Defensive PPG: 18.4 (17th)
Total Offense: 469.7 (9th)
Pass Offense: 257.8 (18th)
Rush Offense: 211.9 (13th)
Total Defense: 349.0 (52nd)
Pass Defense: 239.9 (82nd)
Rush Defense: 109.1 (20th)
Turnover +/-: +7
Doane
Offensive PPG: 13.6 (T-88th)
Defensive PPG: 31.8 (69th)
Total Offense: 270.2 (80th)
Pass Offense: 182.5 (55th)
Rush Offense: 87.7 (84th)
Total Defense: 464.4 (93rd)
Pass Defense: 273.8 (94th)
Rush Defense: 190.6 (84th)
Turnover +/-: -5
2024 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (40-38, 8th season)
Passing: DJ McGarvie – 192/319 (.602), 2,366 yards, 28 td, 11 int, 144.6 effic.
Rushing: Mark Arp – 239 rushes, 1,195 yards, 5.0 avg, 13 td; 20 receptions for 141 yards
Receiving: Austin Jablonski – 76 receptions, 1,106 yards, 14.6 avg, 10 td
Defense: Grant Huss – 87 tackles, 5.5 tfl’s, 3 int, 3 pbu, 2.5 sacks
Doane
Head Coach: Jonathan Johnson (3-9, 2nd season)
Passing: Sam Hartman – 162/286 (.566), 1,932 yards, 12 td, 8 int, 121.6 effic.; 2 rush td
Rushing: Rian Green – 89 rushes, 435 yards, 4.9 avg, 1 td
Receiving: Darnell Riley – 42 receptions, 494 yards, 11.8 avg, 2 td
Defense: Jarett Boggs – 86 tackles, 9 tfl’s, 3 sacks, 2 ff, 1 fr, 1 pbu
2025 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (0-0, 0-0 GPAC)
9/6 vs. Doane, 7 p.m.
9/13 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 6 p.m.
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 Morningside, 1 p.m.
11/1 vs. Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/8 at Dordt, 1 p.m.
11/15 vs. Northwestern, 1 p.m.
Doane (0-1, 0-1 GPAC)
8/30 vs. Hastings, L, 7-20
9/6 at Concordia, 7 p.m.
9/13 vs. Dordt, 6 p.m.
9/27 at Midland, 1 p.m.
10/4 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
10/11 vs. Mount Marty, 6 p.m.
10/25 at Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/1 vs. Morningside, 1 p.m.
11/8 at Northwestern, 1 p.m.
11/15 at Waldorf, 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. That ranking comes after Concordia closed 2024 at No. 18 in the official NAIA poll. Doane has not appeared in the NAIA coaches’ poll since landing at No. 24 in October of 2017. In the 2025 GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, Concordia came in at No. 4 while Doane was picked eighth.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 4th
Current Massey Ratings: 21st
Doane
GPAC preseason: 8th
Current Massey Ratings: 72nd
2024 season
By virtually any measure, the 2024 season ranked as the second most successful campaign for Concordia Football during the GPAC era (2000-present). Patrick Daberkow’s ’24 squad finished at 8-2 overall after outscoring its opponents by a combined total of 385-184. The team’s eight wins were second most for the Bulldogs during the GPAC era, trailing only the 2001 GPAC championship and NAIA national quarterfinalist squad guided by Head Coach Courtney Meyer. The ’24 team put itself in the conversation for an NAIA playoff bid but went unselected by the NAIA National Selection Committee. In the history of Concordia Football, only the 2001 (10-2) and 1981 (9-1) squads have won more games than the 2024 team.
Best team records, GPAC era:
-10-2 (2001)
-8-2 (2024)
-7-3 (2021)
-7-3 (2016)
-7-4 (2013)
-7-4 (2000)
Roster makeover
The Bulldogs are getting ready to debut a new-look team. They graduated 33 seniors from the breakthrough 2024 squad. That senior class included prolific quarterback DJ McGarvie, All-American receiver Austin Jablonski, 1,000-yard running back Mark Arp and a bevy of stalwarts along the offensive and defensive lines. NAIA Second Team All-American Blake Schlegel exhausted his NAIA eligibility and is a current member of the Central Michigan University football team. Concordia returns only two starters on offense (receivers Max Bartels and Adam Van Cleave) while bringing back seven starters on defense. On offense, the Bulldogs expect to start a large number of players who have been in the program for multiple years. In discussing the rebuilt offensive line, Coach Patrick Daberkow mentioned nine players who will have the opportunity for playing time. That group includes Brevin Damrow, who started last year’s Doane game at center. On defense, the headlining returners include the likes of All-American safety Daylon Henson, First Team All-GPAC nose guard Carson Fehlhafer and all-conference linebacker Grant Huss.
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 as 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 enters 2025 with a career coaching record of 40-38. His 40 wins are tied for the fifth most among all head coaches in program history.
Stark prepares for first career start
DJ McGarvie made his 36th career start in the 2024 season finale at Midland. The Lincoln North Star High School alum completely rewrote the program’s all-time passing records. He finished his career with 9,045 yards and 82 passing touchdowns while also rushing for nine more scores. McGarvie completed 761 of 1,318 pass attempts (.577) in 39 career games over the past four seasons. For each of the last three seasons, McGarvie was backed up by 6-foot-7 Magnolia, Texas, native Gideon Stark. Now it’s the big-armed Texan’s opportunity to take the controls of the offense. Stark saw action in nine games over the past two years and completed 19-of-30 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown. Stark is the younger brother of two Concordia Volleyball alums: Kara and Shelby.
Concordia all-time passing yards leaders
1. DJ McGarvie – 9,045
2. Jarrod Pimentel – 6,435
3. Von Thomas – 5,662
4. Rod Giesselmann – 5,519
5. Kurt Earl – 4,158
Concordia all-time passing touchdowns leaders
1. DJ McGarvie – 82
2. Von Thomas – 49
2. Jarrod Pimentel – 49
4. Rod Giesselmann – 47
5. Kurt Earl – 37
Van Cleave emerges as top receiving threat
With All-American receiver Austin Jablonski having graduated, Adam Van Cleave steps into a brighter spotlight within the receiver room. A Columbus Lakeview High School alum, Van Cleave began his college career as a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before transferring to Concordia. Van Cleave broke out in 2024 as he hauled in 57 receptions for 652 yards and six touchdowns. The next most experienced pass catcher at receiver is senior Max Bartels, who notched nine catches for 55 yards and a touchdown last season. In addition to saying goodbye to Jablonski, the Bulldogs graduated a tight end duo of John Goodwin and Daylan Russell that combined for 10 touchdowns. The door is open for the next breakout stars, to go along with Van Cleave, at receiver and tight end.
Collazo rises to top of RB depth chart
In 2024, the ground game churned out 5.3 yards per carry thanks to the legs of Mark Arp and Carlos Collazo and a veteran offensive line headed up by All-American tackle Blake Schlegel. Arp racked up 1,195 yards in his final collegiate season for the third highest single season total in program history. With Arp having graduated, Collazo moves into a feature role in his third season in the program. Collazo led all GPAC running backs with at least 80 carries in yards per rush (6.7) in 2024. Collazo posted 560 yards and seven touchdowns as the team’s No. 2 back. A native of Marquette, Neb., Collazo played for three state runner-up teams at Aurora High School. Collazo will run behind a revamped offensive line in 2025.
Concordia 1,000-yard rushers, single season
1. JaMaine Lewis – 1,265 (2007)
2. Ryan Durdon – 1,247 (2017)
3. Mark Arp – 1,195 (2024)
4. Cleve Wester – 1,114 (1984)
5. Randy Posphishil – 1,085 (1972)
6. Bryce Collins – 1,016 (2014)
7. Jeff Towns – 1,002 (1979)
Record-breaking offense
The 2024 Concordia offense stood out as the best in school history. Last season, the Bulldogs broke the following team records for a single season:
· Total points scored (385).
· Points scored per game (38.5).
· Touchdowns scored (53).
· First downs per game (23.4)
· Total yards gained (4,697).
· Total yards gained per game (469.7).
· Highest passing completion percentage (.605).
· Touchdown passes (28).
Henson returns after breakout 2024
As a junior in 2024, safety Daylon Henson became a breakout star. He stuffed the stat sheet with 55 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, six interceptions (one for a touchdown), two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. As a result, the Pearland, Texas, native was named an NAIA First Team All-American by the Associated Press. Henson actually began the ’24 season as a backup before taking advantage of the opportunity. Off the field, Henson owns his own clothing brand. Henson and the defensive backfield stand out as the most experienced position group on the roster.
Defensive line, linebackers retool
The front six in Concordia’s 3-3-5 alignment will showcase some new pieces. The anchor up front is Carson Fehlhafer, who wreaked havoc last season with six sacks. The Utica, Neb., native earned First Team All-GPAC accolades. Along the defensive line, players such as Carson Adams, AJ Frazey, Luke Laffler, Brock Ostdeik and Terry Sebek are ready to emerge. At linebacker, Grant Huss led the team last season with 87 tackles and is a proven performer. Meanwhile, Deegan Barnes brings starting experience to the linebacker group and Dylan Meyer (Chadron State College) is a potential impact newcomer as a transfer.
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. Dating back to the end of 2023, the Bulldogs have won four-straight contests versus their Nebraska GPAC rivals. Under Daberkow, Concordia swept in-state foes in both 2021 and 2024.
Around the league
Nine of the 11 GPAC football programs opened their seasons last week. There were two conference games as Hastings defeated Doane, 20-7, and Northwestern blew out Waldorf, 40-0. In an NAIA top five matchup, No. 3 Morningside fell at No. 4 Benedictine College (Kan.), 38-34. Notably, former Concordia all-conference linebacker Michael Grindey is a graduate assistant coach for Benedictine. Elsewhere around the league, Mount Marty defeated Clarke University (Iowa), 37-22, Briar Cliff defeated St. Ambrose University (Iowa), 35-23, Dakota Wesleyan clipped Dakota State University (S.D.), 16-14, and Midland was beaten by NCAA Division II University of Mary (N.D.), 28-22.
Series vs. Doane
Prior to recent years, Doane had Concordia’s number, triumphing in 13 of the 14 meetings from 2006 through 2019. The two rivals first met in 1935 and have played each other 69 times. Doane leads the all-time series, 43-23-3. The Bulldogs have enjoyed more success in this rivalry under Patrick Daberkow, who is 5-3 against the Tigers. Concordia defeated Doane in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 (won four of the last five). The victory in ’17 ended what had been an 11-game series win streak for the Tigers. The Bulldogs have won the past two meetings in decisive fashion, claiming victories by scores of 55-26 in Seward in 2023 and 45-10 in Crete in 2024. In last season’s matchup, the Bulldogs piled up 670 total yards as DJ McGarvie thew for 385 yards and four touchdowns and Mark Arp rushed for 160 yards and two scores. Receivers Austin Jablonski (13 catches for 213 yards and a touchdown) and Adam Van Cleave (eight catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns) posted eye-popping stats. Defensively, Grant Huss paced Concordia with 12 tackles.
Scouting Doane
The Tigers are hoping to take a step forward in year two under Head Coach Jonathan Johnson. Doane finished the 2024 season by winning two of its final three games, earning victories over Hastings, 40-3, and Mount Marty, 22-21. In year one for Johnson, the Tigers were outscored by their opponents, 350-150, as they finished at 3-8 overall. Grand Island native Sam Hartman returns at quarterback after he threw for 1,932 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024. Defensively, Doane has welcomed back Second Team All-GPAC linebacker Jarrett Boggs, who notched 86 tackles and nine stops for loss in 2024. In their 2025 season opener, the Tigers floundered at the end of the first half, throwing a pick-six before a blocked punt led to another touchdown. Hastings led 20-0 at the half before cruising to a 20-7 win in Crete. The most recent winning season for Doane came in 2018 when it went 6-4. The Tigers made NAIA playoff appearances in 2015 and 2016 under Matt Franzen (current Hastings head coach).