SEWARD, Neb. – The road leads to Mitchell, S.D., this week as Concordia University, Nebraska Football continues its swing of three consecutive away games. The 27th all-time matchup between the Bulldogs and Dakota Wesleyan will kickoff at 1:30 p.m. CT on Saturday from Joe Quintal Field. Concordia began its string of road games with a 38-24 loss at No. 21 Northwestern this past Saturday. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad stands at 2-3.
Meanwhile, Head Coach Alex Kretzschmar’s Tigers started 3-0 in league play before running into No. 18 Midland (49-0 loss) and No. 7 Morningside (56-20 loss) over the past two weeks. It will be homecoming on Saturday for Dakota Wesleyan, which was picked ninth in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll. The Tigers’ Joe Quintal Field is located on the campus of Mitchell High School. Artificial turf was installed on the field in 2018.
GAME INFO
Concordia (2-3, 2-3 GPAC) at Dakota Wesleyan (3-3, 3-2 GPAC)
Saturday, Oct. 10 | 1:30 p.m.
Joe Quintal Field | Mitchell, S.D.
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Stats: Presto Stats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Parker Cyza and Ross Wurdeman
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2026 national rankings out of 96 NAIA football programs that have reported statistics this season.
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 38.2 (T-18th)
Defensive PPG: 31.6 (55th)
Total Offense: 434.8 (27th)
Pass Offense: 271.0 (20th)
Rush Offense: 163.8 (36th)
Total Defense: 462.8 (78th)
Pass Defense: 266.0 (84th)
Rush Defense: 196.8 (72nd)
Turnover +/-: +5
Dakota Wesleyan
Offensive PPG: 26.3 (T-54th)
Defensive PPG: 30.8 (52nd)
Total Offense: 331.3 (61st)
Pass Offense: 226.8 (38th)
Rush Offense: 104.5 (71st)
Total Defense: 416.2 (66th)
Pass Defense: 267.2 (85th)
Rush Defense: 149.0 (45th)
Turnover +/-: +4
2026 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (49-44, 10th season)
Passing: Gideon Stark – 84/145 (.579), 1,172 yards, 14 td, 1 int, 154.0 effic.
Rushing: Carlos Collazo – 74 rushes, 363 yards, 4.9 avg, 5 td
Receiving: Adam Van Cleave – 30 receptions, 447 yards, 14.9 avg, 5 td
Defense: Kaden Thompson – 39 tackles, 4 int, 4 pbu, 2.5 tfl, 1 TD return
Dakota Wesleyan
Head Coach: Alex Kretzschmar (11-17, 3rd season)
Passing: Jed Jenson – 99/197 (.503), 1,314 yards, 15 td, 11 int, 120.2 effic.
Rushing: Landon Iverson – 78 rushes, 359 yards, 4.6 avg, 4 td
Receiving: Caleb Kilbride – 24 receptions, 491 yards, 20.5 avg, 8 td
Defense: Reed Rus – 39 tackles, 8.5 tfl, 7 sacks, 1 ff
2026 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (2-3, 2-3 GPAC)
8/29 vs. Waldorf, W, 77-7
9/12 at Hastings, L, 27-38
9/19 vs. Mount Marty, W, 42-24
9/26 vs. (16) Dordt, L, 21-51
10/3 at (21) Northwestern, L, 24-38
10/10 at Dakota Wesleyan, 1:30 p.m.
10/24 at (7) Morningside, 1 p.m.
10/31 vs. Doane, 1 p.m.
11/7 at Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/14 vs. (19) Midland, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Dakota Wesleyan (3-3, 3-2 GPAC)
8/29 at (25) Dakota State, L, 27-35
9/5 vs. Doane, W, 34-21
9/12 at Waldorf, W, 40-21
9/19 vs. Briar Cliff, W, 37-3
9/26 at (18) Midland, L, 0-49
10/3 at (7) Morningside, L, 20-56
10/10 vs. Concordia, 1:30 p.m.
10/17 at Hastings, 1 p.m.
10/31 vs. (20) Northwestern, 1 p.m.
11/7 vs. (15) Dordt, 1 p.m.
11/14 at Mount Marty, 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. The Bulldogs have not received votes since their loss at Hastings on Sept. 12. Dakota Wesleyan appeared in the top 25 during its stretch from 2013 to 2016 when it went a combined 32-17.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 4th
Massey Ratings: 32nd
Dakota Wesleyan
GPAC preseason: 9th
Massey Ratings: 46th
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, Assistant Coach Grady Koch (who specializes in coaching the offensive line, among other duties) and former Nebraska Wesleyan assistant Kevin Crume. The graduate assistants are Tanner Ingle and Grant Huss. Daberkow owns a career coaching record of 49-44. His 49 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).
Mika gets the nod
An Aspen, Colo., native, true freshman Dylan Mika has taken advantage of his opportunities at running back. With Carlos Collazo and Calvin Sassaman sidelined last week, Mika made his first career start in the backfield and ran 10 times for 81 yards. On 23 attempts this season, the 5-foot-8 Mika has piled up 233 yards for an impressive average of 10.1 yards per carry. His first career college rush went for 75 yards and a touchdown versus Waldorf. Collazo will be the starter when healthy. In his career, Collazo has rushed for 1,510 yards on 259 carries (5.8 yards per rush) in 16 games. Collazo is creeping up on the program’s all-time top 10 for rushing yards. Current assistant coach Devin Zeigler sits at No. 10 with 1,800 yards. The Aurora High School product Collazo has rushed for 100 yards in six games in his collegiate career.
Collazo 100-yard rushing games
283 at Mount Marty, 2025
176 vs. Mount Marty, 2026
171 vs. Midland, 2025
124 vs. Waldorf, 2024
116 at Dakota Wesleyan, 2024
113 vs. Dordt, 2025
Jensen makes first career start
An injury snapped Gideon Stark’s string of 14 consecutive starts. In his absence last week, junior Camden Jensen (Grand Island, Neb.) made his first career start at quarterback. Like Stark, Jensen has bided his time as the No. 2 on the depth chart. The Grand Island Northwest High School product completed 15-of-26 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown and ran for 54 yards and a score at Northwestern. Jensen provides a different look at quarterback with his ability to run the ball. In six career college games, Jensen has rushed 27 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He raced 46 yards for a touchdown in the loss to No. 16 Dordt. The Bulldogs hope to get Stark back on the field this week. In his collegiate career, Stark has amassed career totals of 3,748 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns. He’s completed 291-of-540 passes (.539) in 23 career games played. Stark is nearing the program’s top five all-time in passing yards – No. 5 on the list is Kurt Earl with 4,158 yards.
Most passing yards in program history, single game
465 – Gideon Stark vs. Hastings, 2026
458 – DJ McGarvie vs. Dordt, 2022
455 – Andrew Perea vs. Northwestern, 2018
413 – DJ McGarvie vs. Northwestern, 2023
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
Van Cleave hits receiving milestone
Adam Van Cleave remains Concordia’s go-to receiver. With his four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown at Northwestern, the Columbus Lakeview High School product eclipsed 2,000 career receiving yards. He became the sixth player in program history to hit that mark (see list below). On the program all-time receiving lists, Van Cleave ranks fourth in receptions (165), fifth in touchdowns (17) and fifth in yards (2,025). Van Cleave has piled up 3,585 career all-purpose yards, including 1,086 in kick returns, 317 rushing and 157 in punt returns. He was honored last season as an NAIA Third Team All-American by Victory Sports Network. The receiver room includes Jonny Puelz (22 catches for 289 yards and 5 TDs), Collin Fritton (16 catches for 250 yards and a TD) and Carter Skleba (seven catches for 86 yards and a TD).
Most career receiving yards, program history
1. Korrell Koehlmoos (2018-22): 2,894
2. Austin Jablonski (2022-24): 2,723
3. Jared Garcia (2014-17): 2,495
4. Ross Wurdeman (1998-01): 2,458
5. Adam Van Cleave (2023-26): 2,025
6. Clarence Woods (1984-88): 2,011
O-line shuffles deck at Northwestern
With all-conference left tackle Derek Campbell sidelined last week, Concordia shuffled its group up front a bit. Right tackle Thomas Thomas swung over to the left side while Ethan Olson stepped in on the right side. It was the same alignment the Bulldogs used when Campbell missed the season opener versus Waldorf. The interior spots have been a constant as center Joshua Luehr, left guard Layne Bugarske and right guard Carter Meier have each started all five games this season. Thomas has also started all five (three times at RT and twice at LT) while Olson has made two starts at right tackle. Campbell was the lone returning offensive line starter from the 2025 season. So far in 2026, the line has surrendered only six sacks while paving the way for the run game to average 5.2 yards per carry. The Concordia o-line surrendered a grand total of seven sacks over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The group is coached by Grady Koch, a former all-conference offensive lineman for the Bulldogs.
Atwood adds to PAT record
A senior from Grand Island, Neb., Peyton Atwood connected for a 23-yard field goal last week at Northwestern. Atwood continues to pad his school record for career PATs, which now stands at 144 (out of 154 attempts). Atwood also owns the school record for longest field goal (50) and has converted 21-of-30 career field goal tries. The school record for career field goal makes remains in possession of Kenny Zoeller, who drilled 29 field goals in his career from 2009 through 2012. Zoeller was named an NAIA All-American as a senior.
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 Concordia defense has spent a lot of time on the field through the first half of the season. Time of possession has been won by each of the first five opponents: 32:21 for Waldorf, 38:49 for Hastings, 39:33 for Mount Marty, 39:20 for Dordt and 40:03 for Northwestern (Concordia’s up-tempo offensive style plays a role in these statistics). It’s made for plenty of tackle opportunities. Six Bulldogs have already recorded at least 30 tackles: Kaden Thompson (39), Treven Weddle (38), Drake Trent (37), Will Potratz (37), Jett Farwell (34), Deegan Barnes (32) and Dylan Meyer (31). Both Barnes and Terry Sebek have wreaked havoc in the backfield with 5.5 tackles for loss apiece. Sebek also made a game-changing play last week when he blocked a punt that was returned by Thompson for a touchdown. The defense will attempt to improve upon the 31.6 points and 462.8 yards per game it has allowed through five games.
Playmaking KT
Kaden Thompson (North Platte, Neb.) has had a nose for the football. The first-year starter at safety ranks in a tie for second nationally with four interceptions this season (two apiece versus Waldorf/Mount Marty). Last week, Thompson returned a blocked punt 50 yards for a touchdown at the 11:04 mark of the third quarter at Northwestern. The play cut Northwestern’s lead to 17-14 at the time. Thompson has been a major reason why Concordia sits at plus-five in turnovers heading into Saturday’s road trip. Drake Trent has also plucked two interceptions and Tanner Frahm and Luke Penrod have one pick apiece.
Around the league
The league’s last remaining unbeaten team suffered a loss last week as No. 16 Midland lost at home to No. 17 Dordt, 42-17. There’s now a three-way tie atop the league standings with Midland, Morningside and Northwestern all at 4-1. Dordt lurks close behind at 3-1. In other action last week, No. 7 Morningside thumped Dakota Wesleyan, 56-20, Briar Cliff throttled Waldorf, 38-7, and Mount Marty pummeled Doane, 36-16. In addition to Concordia playing at Dakota Wesleyan, this Saturday’s matchups are Doane at Dordt, Northwestern at Briar Cliff, Morningside at Waldorf and Mount Marty at Hastings.
Series vs. Dakota Wesleyan
The series has been competitive with Concordia’s all-time record versus Dakota Wesleyan standing at 15-11. The first two meetings occurred prior to the formation of the GPAC in 2000. The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers, 36-29, in 1984 and then fell to them, 28-21, in 1985. The two programs finally met again in 2000 as GPAC members. Last season’s meeting in Seward came down to the wire despite Concordia jumping out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs entered the fourth quarter trailing, 22-21, before Peyton Atwood made kicks from 41 and 26 yards out to lift his side to a 27-22 victory. Defensively, nose guard Carson Fehlhafer produced an all-time great performance, notching 13 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, three quarterback hurries and two blocked kicks. Concordia has won four of the past five series matchups.
Scouting Dakota Wesleyan
In both 2024 and 2025, Head Coach Alex Kretzschmar’s squads finished at 4-7. Dakota Wesleyan is hoping to surpass the four-win mark in year three of Kretzschmar’s tenure. The Tigers started 3-0 in league play with wins over Doane, 34-21, Waldorf, 40-21, and Briar Cliff, 37-3. Those results were followed by two road defeats: 49-0 at No. 18 Midland and 56-20 at No. 7 Morningside. The 2026 roster includes returning GPAC All-Conference honorees in offensive lineman Gavin Pischke (second team), defensive linemen Cody Winslow (second team) and Carter Skogsberg (honorable mention) and defensive back Trevor Sladky (honorable mention). The older brother of Concordia volleyball player Jenna Sladky, Trevor Sladky owns the NAIA national lead with five interceptions this season. Sladky and the DWU defense have forced an impressive 19 turnovers (13 interceptions, six fumble recoveries) through six games. Linebacker Reed Rus has already collected seven sacks. At quarterback, Jed Jenson is in his second season as the starter. He’s thrown for 3,318 yards and 32 touchdowns (to go against 25 interceptions) in 22 career games. His favorite target is Caleb Kilbride, who has reeled in 24 catches for 491 yards and eight touchdowns this season. In the running game, Landon Iverson has been productive with 359 yards and four touchdowns. DWU has won both of its home games this season.