No. 2 Morningside Beats No. 24 Concordia Football

by Garrett Suchanek

The No. 24 Concordia Bulldogs fell 44-21 at home Saturday afternoon to No. 2 Morningside.

Concordia drops to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in GPAC with the loss.

Morningside had their hands full until late in the fourth quarter when the Mustangs broke open the game.

In the opening quarter, Morningside couldn’t find the end zone, but was able to tack on a pair of field goals while holding Concordia scoreless.

In the second quarter, action started to pick up as both teams found the end zone twice to go into half with the Mustangs leading 20-14.

In the third quarter, the Mustangs gave themselves breathing room when they took a 27-14 lead.

However, Concordia’s junior running back Bryce Collins answered with a 9-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to cut the deficit to 27-21.

Despite playing gritty ball for three quarters, the Mustangs started to bear down on the Bulldogs late in the fourth quarter.

After a failed fourth down attempt by the Bulldogs, the Mustangs moved the ball deep into Concordia territory, but were held to a field goal to extend the Morningside lead to 30-21.

On the Bulldogs’ next possession, they moved into the red zone, but a deflected pass turned into an interception for Morningside.

Concordia played great defense and forced a three and out, but failed to score points.

With 2:34 left, Morningside’s offense took the field again. Three plays later, the Mustangs were in the end zone and with a comfortable 37-21 lead.

On the following kickoff, the Bulldogs couldn’t corral the ball, and Morningside recovered.

Morningside tacked on another touchdown with 1:13 left, which sealed the game and win for No. 2 Morningside.

Concordia will hit the road for the final time this regular season as the Bulldogs play at No. 19 Dakota Wesleyan at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.