Concordia Football Survives in Fremont

by Garrett Suchanek

Concordia’s football team survived an upset-minded Midland University as the Bulldogs pulled out an exciting 41-38 overtime win in Fremont on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Concordia’s win improves the Bulldog record to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in GPAC.

Concordia started the scoring midway through the first quarter when sophomore quarterback TJ Austin ran for a 49-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.

In the second quarter, the Warriors started to take over.

With just over a minute gone by in the second quarter, Midland’s Raul Alvarez connected with Tristin Kamaka for a 23-yard touchdown pass to nod the game at 7 apiece.

On Midland’s next possession, the Warriors found the end zone again when Hayden Dunn caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Alvarez to give Midland a 14-7 lead.

The Warriors added to their lead when Deon Ransom ran in a two-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 21-7.

However, Concordia had a quick response as senior quarterback Garrett Folchert found junior running back Bryce Collins for a 75-yard touchdown pass to tighten the score at 21-14.

Late in the first half, Midland’s Alvarez collected his third touchdown pass of the game when he found Ransom for a 43-yard touchdown to give Midland a 28-14 lead.

Midland broke up the second half’s slow start with Alvarez’s fourth touchdown pass to extend the Warrior lead to 35-14.

From that point on, the Bulldogs turned things around.

Folchert found sophomore Jared Garcia for a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut into the Midland lead at the 3:27 mark in the third quarter.

On Concordia’s next possession, Folchert found Garcia again, this time for a six-yard touchdown pass to bring the Bulldogs within seven, 35-28.

Concordia got the ball back with just under seven minutes left in the game.

As the Bulldogs drove down the field, they found themselves in a fourth-and-goal situation from the 10-yard line.

On fourth-and-goal, Folchert found junior Brandon Luetchens in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 35 with 2:45 left.

Both teams had chances in the final minutes of regulation to win, but both teams’ drives ended in turnovers.

In overtime, the Bulldogs won the first battle, the coin toss, and elected to be on defense first.

Concordia held strong as the defense shut down the Warrior offense and forced a 34-yard field goal, which the Warriors made.

On the Bulldogs possession, Concordia got nine yards in three plays, which brought up a fourth-and-one.

The Bulldogs decided to line up and go for it after their timeout. It turned out to be the right decision as Collins raced for a 16-yard touchdown to clinch the 41-38 win over the Warriors.

Folchert went 26 of 35 for 315 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.

Collins led the way on the ground for the Bulldogs as he finished with 118 yards and two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving.

Concordia will look to take down another GPAC foe next week as the Bulldogs host No. 6 Doane (6-0 overall, 5-0 in GPAC) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24.