Concordia Football Closes Out Season With Shutout
by Garrett Suchanek
The Concordia Bulldogs football team routed Briar Cliff on senior day with a 48-0 win to close out the season. The Bulldogs finished the year with a 6-4 record and 5-4 in GPAC.
Concordia got off to a quick start and kept its foot on the gas pedal all day. The Bulldogs recovered a fumble on the opening drive of the game. On Concordia’s first play from scrimmage, senior Garrett Folchert connected with sophomore Jared Garcia for a 42-yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.
Following a punt by the Chargers, the Bulldogs cashed in on a 28-yard field goal by Adam Meirose to extend the lead to 10-0.
After a while of scoreless play, Concordia struck again with 2:12 left in the first half when Folchert found Trae Gooden for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
On the following kickoff, the Chargers fumbled the ball and the Bulldogs pounced on it at the Briar Cliff 19-yard line.
Four plays later, junior Bryce Collins ran in another Concordia touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 24-0 lead.
In the second half, the Bulldogs scored on their opening drive when Folchert found Garcia again for a 35-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 31-0.
When Briar Cliff got the ball back, they went on their best drive of the day, but it ended in disaster.
On fourth and one, the Chargers decided to go for it and on the play they fumbled. Concordia’s Clint Gardels scooped the fumble and took it back to the end zone for a defensive touchdown.
Later in the third quarter, the Bulldogs scored another touchdown to take a 45-0 lead to the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth, Concordia tacked on a short field goal to extend the lead to 48-0. The Bulldogs defense was tested late in the game, but held on for the shut out.
The Bulldogs were led in passing by Folchert who went 9 of 16 for 138 yards and threw three touchdown passes.
Collins led the way for the ground game and finished with 28 carries, 141 yards and one touchdown.
