SEWARD, Neb. – Homecoming week has arrived on the Concordia University campus. Riding a 3-0 start, the Bulldogs will welcome Jamestown to Seward for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff on Saturday. Due to a series of postponements, the Jimmies will be making their 2020 debut at Bulldog Stadium. Unlike a typical homecoming weekend, Concordia will not hold a Friday evening Hall of Fame ceremony.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad appears to have found an identity that fits the personnel on the roster. The Bulldogs have combined a power run game with stellar defensive play and ball security on their way to three-straight victories. Last week at Briar Cliff, Concordia held the home team to just 171 total yards and nine first downs. Dominance on that side of the ball paved the way to a 24-9 win. Backup running backs Martin Solano and Lyle Whitney both found the end zone for the first time in their careers.
On the other hand, Head Coach Brian Mistro’s Jamestown team has had to push back the start of its season. The Bulldogs own the advantage of having played three times while the Jimmies will have three games worth of film on Concordia to study. Jamestown went 2-9 last season and struggled offensively, ranking in the bottom 10 nationally in scoring offense, total offense and pass offense. With the delayed beginning of the season, Jamestown is hoping to play on each of the next nine Saturdays (finale on Nov. 28).
GAME INFO
Concordia (3-0) vs. Jamestown (0-0)
Saturday, Oct. 3 | 1 p.m.
Bulldog Stadium | Seward, Neb.
Webcast/Stats: Stretch Live
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Commentators: Evan Jones and Ross Wurdeman
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Team Statistics
*2020 national rank in parentheses
NOTE: 45 of the 82 NAIA football programs that intend to play in 2020-21 have started their seasons.
Concordia
Offensive PPG: 27.3 (25th)
Defensive PPG: 14.7 (11th)
Total Offense: 373.3 (20th)
Pass Offense: 186.3 (28th)
Rush Offense: 187.0 (14th)
Total Defense: 249.3 (10th)
Pass Defense: 136.0 (8th)
Rush Defense: 113.3 (14th)
Turnover +/-: +4 (T-6th)
Jamestown (2019 stats/national ranks)
Offensive PPG: 13.6 (88th / 93)
Defensive PPG: 33.6 (69th)
Total Offense: 239.5 (89th)
Pass Offense: 112.8 (86th)
Rush Offense: 126.7 (58th)
Total Defense: 380.3 (56th)
Pass Defense: 180.9 (24th)
Rush Defense: 199.4 (79th)
Turnover +/-: -10 (76th)
2020 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (15-18, 4th season)
Passing: Blake Culbert – 44/88 (.500), 559 yards, 2 td, 0 int, 110.9 effic.
Rushing: Jonah Weyand – 65 rushes, 384 yards, 5.9 avg, 7 td
Receiving: Korrell Koehlmoos – 10 catches, 232 yards, 23.2 avg, 1 td
Defense: Lane Napier – 17 tackles, 2 tfl’s, sack, pbu
Jamestown (2019 leaders)
Head Coach: Brian Mistro (2-9, 2nd season)
Passing: Jordan Mann – 85/179 (.475), 924 yards, 8 td, 7 int, 97.8 effic.
Rushing: Tanner Mathern – 84 rushes, 362 yards, 4.3 avg, td
Receiving: Garrett Mitchell – 48 catches, 677 yards, 14.1 avg, 6 td
Defense: Aundre Purnell – 63 tackles, 4.5 tfl’s, sack
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Concordia (3-0, 3-0 GPAC)
9/12 at Doane, W, 24-7
9/19 vs. Hastings, W, 34-28 (OT)
9/26 at Briar Cliff, W, 24-9
10/3 vs. Jamestown, 1 p.m.
10/10 at Dakota Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
10/17 at Northwestern, 1 p.m.
10/24 vs. Dordt, 1 p.m.
11/7 vs. Morningside, 1 p.m.
11/14 at Midland, 1 p.m.
Jamestown (0-0, 0-0 GPAC)
10/3 at Concordia, 1 p.m.
10/10 at Dordt, 1 p.m.
10/17 vs. Morningside, 1 p.m.
10/24 at Midland, 1 p.m.
10/31 vs. Hastings, 1 p.m.
11/7 at Briar Cliff, 1 p.m.
11/14 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
11/21 vs. Doane, 1 p.m.
11/28 vs. Northwestern, 1 p.m.
Fan protocols
Concordia’s fan protocols for Saturday’s game can be viewed HERE. Bulldog Stadium can be filled up to 75 percent capacity. Face coverings must be worn by fans in attendance. Fans of the Bulldogs are advised to check COVID-19 related protocols for each road venue prior to traveling for away contests.
In the rankings
The GPAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll was unveiled on Aug. 26. Concordia landed at No. 7 (37 points) while Jamestown was placed at the bottom of the league (12 points). The poll resembled the final 2019 standings. The NAIA did not release an NAIA preseason national poll though Concordia and Jamestown were unlikely to garner attention nationally. In the current Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs appear at 25th while the Jimmies check in at 62nd. Concordia last appeared in the national rankings in the preseason of 2017 when it was rated 20th. Jamestown’s most recent top 25 appearance came in the preseason of 2009 when it came in at No. 24.
Concordia
GPAC preseason: 7th
Current Massey Ratings: 25th
Jamestown
GPAC preseason: 10th
Current Massey Ratings: 62nd
3-0 conference starts, GPAC era
Records of 3-0 or better in conference play have been rare for Concordia Football during the GPAC era (2000-present). In that time period, only two previous Bulldog squads won each of their first three GPAC games: the 2001 and 2013 editions. The ’01 team is arguably the greatest in program history. That particular team began the year at 7-0 inside the conference (8-0 overall) before suffering a 20-16 home loss to Hastings. The 2013 team got to 5-0 in the GPAC (6-0 overall) before a 30-28 defeat at Northwestern.
Previous 3-0 conference starts in GPAC era
2001 (final record: 10-2; shared GPAC title)
2013 (final record: 7-4; tied for 5th in GPAC)
Defense dominates at Briar Cliff
The Concordia defense completely smothered Briar Cliff last week. The Bulldogs allowed only 171 total yards, nine first downs and seven points (two points were scored by the Chargers on a safety). Furthermore, Briar Cliff converted only 5-of-17 third-down attempts, was forced to punt 12 times and fell victim to five sacks (two apiece by Chase Hammons and Logan Kreizel and one from Caydren Cox). While a large chunk of the NAIA is currently idle, the Bulldogs rank favorably on the national level. They sport current national rankings of second in sacks (10), eighth in pass defense (136.0), 10th in total defense (249.3), 11th in scoring defense (14.7), 11th in pass efficiency defense (100.8) and 14th in rush defense (113.3). Two of Concordia’s first three opponents have been held to single-digit scoring outputs.
Power run game
Despite star running back Jonah Weyand being sidelined for the second half at Briar Cliff, the Bulldogs still managed to run the ball effectively. Three backs carried the ball nine or more times: Lyle Whitney (nine carries for 73 yards, touchdown), Martin Solano (nine carries for 40 yards, touchdown) and Weyand (nine carries for 38 yards). Those three Bulldogs combined for 151 rushing yards against a stout defensive team featuring All-American defensive lineman Robert Robinson. Behind a much improved offensive line, Concordia is averaging 187.0 rushing yards per game (roughly three times its average for the 2019 season). Weyand remains the NAIA national leader in rushing yards (384) while ranking second among NAIA players in rushing touchdowns (seven).
Big play Korrell
When quarterback Blake Culbert needs a big play in the passing game, he looks for junior receiver Korrell Koehlmoos, who ranks eighth nationally in receiving yards (232). Last week Koehlmoos needed only three receptions to break 100 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career (and for the second game in a row). Last week at Briar Cliff, Koehlmoos snagged a catch that went for 61 yards and set up a 21-yard field goal by Jordan Spilinek. Koehlmoos has now gone over 1,000 receiving yards for his career. The receiver unit (which includes 2019 second team All-GPAC performer Cayden Beran) has gotten a boost with the return of Art Anderson.
Winning formula
The formula for success has included a power run game, stifling defense and ball security. The Bulldogs have yet to turn the ball over through three games and own a turnover margin of plus-four. Concordia has forced its turnovers via two interceptions (AJ Jenkins and Jourdhin Smith), a fumble recovery on defense and a fumble recovery on special teams. Offensively, Blake Culbert has thrown 88 passes without an interception and the running back group of Martin Solano, Jonah Weyand, Lyle Whitney and Devin Zeigler has carried the ball a combined 123 times without fumbling. Neither Concordia or Briar Cliff turned the ball over last week.
Offensive balance
Through three games, Concordia has rushed for 561 yards and has passed for 559 yards. When Weyand is in the game, the Bulldogs are undoubtedly a run-oriented offense. This type of balance is much more of what Patrick Daberkow and offensive coordinator Reggie Corbin have envisioned. Things got out of whack last season when Concordia threw for 2,144 yards and rushed for 658 yards. The overall average of 373.3 offensive yards per game is a considerable increase from last season’s average of 280.2.
Missing All-American
All-American linebacker Lane Napier missed last week’s contest at Briar Cliff due to injury. It marked the first game Napier has missed in his collegiate career. He had played in all previous 33 games since the start of the 2017 season. In his place, Stirling Tonniges got the start at linebacker and notched five tackles at Briar Cliff. The linebacker core was responsible for three of the team’s five sacks last week. The starters alongside Tonniges are projected to be Shayne Campbell, Caydren Cox and Jorge Ochoa. The Bulldogs still hope to get Napier (364 tackles) back yet this season.
Sack lunch
Six different Bulldogs have collected at least one sack. Concordia currently ranks second nationally with 10 sacks. Bulldogs with one sack or more include: Chase Hammons (three), Karson Dickson (two), Logan Kreizel (two), Caydren Cox (one), Eric Kieper Jr. (one) and Lane Napier (one). Dickson is the team leader with four tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The by-committee approach to rushing the passer has helped make up for the graduation of second team all-conference defensive end Aaron Rudloff (nine sacks in 2019).
Series vs. Jamestown
The two programs had never met until Jamestown became a member of the GPAC. Both meetings (2018 and 2019) have come down to the wire with the Bulldogs winning 16-13 in 2018 before the Jimmies outlasted Concordia in four overtimes, 13-10, in 2019. Those two matchups took place in North Dakota. In other words, this will be the first time Jamestown has ever visited Bulldog Stadium. With a forecasted high in the mid-60s and dry weather expected, Saturday’s matchup will be played in much better conditions than a year ago when the field in Jamestown turned into a pit of mud. Neither team reached 200 total yards of offense in the 2019 meeting despite the four overtimes.
Scouting Jamestown
Jamestown is something of an unknown considering this will be its season opener. The Jimmies are under the direction of a second-year head coach in Brian Mistro. The Jimmies welcome back three all-conference honorees: defensive lineman Vincent Corral (second team), receiver Garrett Mitchell (honorable mention) and punter Izaak Myles (second team). The last time the Jimmies took the field they defeated Briar Cliff, 31-10, in North Dakota. Like Concordia, Jamestown is looking for major improvements on the offensive side of the ball. The Jimmies averaged a mere 13.6 points per game last season. Junior Cade Torgerson is expected to start at quarterback. He saw action in nine games last season but attempted only 49 passes. He has a reliable target in Mitchell, who caught 48 passes for 677 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. Jamestown will take aim at its first winning season since going 7-3 in 2008 (went 5-5 in 2009, 2010 and 2014). This is year three of the program’s GPAC membership. They previously competed in the North Star Athletic Association.