Hotter Than The Weather

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/07/13)—Concordia scored on its first five possessions, raced to a 32-0 halftime lead and left the home-opening crowd of 4,125 with nothing to do but enjoy the warm September weather during the second half of the Cobbers' 39-14 win over Jamestown.


KVRR-TV Video Highlights


KVLY-TV Video Highlights


Concordia junior quarterback Griffin Neal was the main catalyst behind the 32 consecutive points to open the game. He was nearly perfect in the opening half of play. Neal was 13-for-14 for 261 yards and two passing touchdowns in the first 30 minutes of play. He finished the game with 303 passing yards and ran for the Cobbers' only score in the second half.

Concordia's offense was nearly unstoppable in the first half. CC amassed 359 total offensive yards in the first two quarters and scored on five of their six possessions in the first half. The only possession that didn't result in a score came at the end of the half when the Cobbers chose to kneel on the ball.

Griffin's main target on the day was junior transfer Brandon Zylstra. Zylstra caught five passes for a game-high 131 yards and hauled in both of Neal's scoring strikes. Zylstra almost had a third TD on the day but his kick return in the third quarter which he brought back all the way to the end zone was called back because of an illegal block.

The Cobbers were also able to rush for 197 yards as they totaled 500 yards of offense against the Jimmies. Sophomore Cooper Gauldin had a game-high 62 yards on six carries. Concordia's two fullbacks on the day – Luke Gotta and Alex McLean – both carried on the torch from 2012 MIAC MVP Brett Baune as they both scored on runs up the middle. Gotta ran the ball seven times for 43 yards and scored the Cobbers' first TD with a 20-yard run. McLean rushed for 45 yards on eight carries and powered his way to a 1-yard TD score in the second quarter.

Concordia senior kicker Ben Wagner continued his consecutive point after streak. Wagner was 4-for-4 on the day and has now connected on 48 straight extra points in a string that dates back to the start of the 2012 season. Wagner also made good on his only field goal attempt of the day. He converted a 28-yard field goal with less than minute left in the opening half of play.

The Cobber defense limited the Jimmie offense to 149 total yards in the first half and did not allow Jamestown to convert on any of their four third-down attempts in the opening two quarters.

Bryce Hentges and Nathan Boie had a team-high seven tackles for the day. Boie also had one of Concordia's 11 total tackles for a loss. The Cobbers had two sacks in the game and collected a pair of turnovers. Kenyon O'Brien jumped on a tipped ball in Jamestown's opening drive of the game and came down with one of the two turnovers. Erik Bye fell on a fumble in the second quarter after Jamestown had driven the ball deep into CC's territory.

Concordia will head out on the road for the first time of 2013 when they play at Buena Vista on Saturday, Sept. 14.