Bulldogs lose winning streak in homecoming game to Midland Warriors
The Bulldogs face off against the Warriors at the 50-yard line.
Photo credit: Maximus Fritsche
By Michaela Gibbs
On homecoming weekend, the Concordia University Bulldog football team lost its first game since Sept. 2024 as the Midland Warriors won the overtime matchup 60-52.
Quarterback Gideon Stark had a solid outing with four touchdowns and no interceptions on 294 passing yards. Fresh off his school record performance, junior Carlos Collazo put up 171 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Deegan Barnes led the team with 13 tackles.
Concordia started the game off strong with 10 points in the first quarter while shutting out the Warriors.
On the third play of Concorida’s seventh drive, Bulldog tight end Maddox Rickertsen caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Stark. The play, in addition to the good extra point, brought the score to 17-0 Bulldogs.
Concordia took over on offense from the 30-yard line after Midland scored its first touchdown. After a 6-yard gain on the second down, Collazo scored his second touchdown of the day for the Bulldogs with a 49-yard run, bringing the score to 24-7. Concordia returned to offense and made it to the 45-yard line within two downs. After a timeout, a 50-yard run touchdown by Bulldog wide receiver Johnny Puelz brought the score to 31-7.
The third quarter saw the Midland offense starting at the 25-yard line. The Bulldogs forced them to punt and the play was caught by Concordia wide receiver Tae Marks at the 44-yard line. The catch ultimately resulted in another Concordia touchdown by Collazo. The extra point brought the score to 38-7, Bulldogs.
The Midland offense then moved the ball in quick succession from the 25-yard line into the endzone for their second touchdown. The extra point brought the score to 38-14.
A short kickoff by the Warriors put the Bulldog offense at the 30-yard line. Due to a fumble by Rickertsen and a recovery by Midland, the Warriors were able to secure their third touchdown by wide receiver Covington. The Warriors secured a two-point conversion, bringing the score to 38-22, Bulldogs. The Warriors then got within touching distance at the end of the third quarter, 38-28.
On the first drive of the fourth quarter, the Warriors forced a fumble and turned that possession into another touchdown. Soon after, Midland leveled the scoreline and then took the lead 45-38.
In the dying moments of the game, Concordia got its first points of the quarter to send the game to overtime.
Concordia’s offense picked up three yards on the first play of overtime. A pass behind the line of scrimmage took the team to the third down, and a pass to Van Cleave earned the team a touchdown, allowing the Bulldogs to pull ahead 52-45.
The Bulldogs looked likely to win, but a touchdown pass on fourth and 10 sent it to second overtime.
The Warriors put up eight points in the second overtime frame and got the stops needed to wrap up the contest.
With the loss, Concordia moves to 4-1 on the season. The Bulldogs will travel to Hastings, Nebraska, on Oct. 18 to play Hastings College.
