Click, Rewind - Fast Start Fuels Fourth Straight Win

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (9/28/13)—It was another milestone week for Concordia as they jumped to a 14-0 lead at St. John's, downed the Johnnies 24-14 and beat SJU in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1980-81.

A week after the Cobbers were picked to win by Lee Corso on ESPN GameDay, Concordia scored two TD's in the first 4:32 of play and beat the Johnnies by double digits for the second straight season. CC remains unbeaten on the season and moves to 4-0 in all games. It is the second straight year that Concordia has won four straight to start the year. Before last season, the last time that the Cobbers started the year 4-0 was 2005.

The quick start has been the trademark of the Cobbers all season. Concordia hasn't trailed in any game this year and has outscored its opponents 56-14 in the first quarter of play.

Concordia scored on its very first possession for the third time in four games in 2013. Concordia received the opening kick and then marched 61 yards in three plays for the first score of the game. The two big plays came on hook ups from Griffin Neal to Jon Baune. Neal connected with Baune on the first play of the game for a 25-yard gain and then finished off the short drive with a 35-yard TD pass to Baune.

The Cobbers then forced a 3-and-out and Neal proceeded to march the Cobbers down the field for the second score. Concordia drove the ball 63 yards in six plays and took a 14-0 lead with 10:28 left in the first quarter. The second score was set up by a 38-yard pass from Neal to Mark Whiting and Cooper Gauldin finished off the drive with a 1-yard run.

The final TD of the game for Concordia came late in the first half after the Cobbers got control of the ball with 5:43 left in the second quarter. CC methodically marched the ball down the field and Neal connected on his second scoring pass of the day when he found junior Brandon Zylstra in the back of the end zone. For Zylstra it marked the fourth straight game he has scored at least one TD.

The second half belonged to the Concordia defense as they held St. John's to one touchdown which came on a "short field". The Cobber "Black Shirts" picked off a pair of passes in the final two quarters of play. With the game hanging in the balance in the third quarter, CC held the SJU offense to just 55 total yards and forced a key turnover after the Johnnies had the ball down to the Cobber 19-yard line.

The Concordia defensive backfield led by example. Senior safety Pedro Peterson had a team-high 9.0 tackles. Cornerback Nathan Boie had one of the key interceptions and added 5.0 tackles. Fellow senior corner Kenyon O'Brien came up with a jump-ball interception in the end zone and also added 5.0 tackles. Junior defensive end Nate Adams had 5.0 tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss and came away with one of the two CC sacks on the day.   

Concordia held a 427-328 edge in total offensive yards. The Cobbers also had a decided 241-86 margin in rushing yards. The biggest statistical advantage on the day came in time of possession. CC was able to use the rushing yard advantage to grind out 36:44 in time of possession.

Neal had his best two-way game of the season. He finished with a game-high 83 rushing yards and was 15-for-23 for 186 yards through the air. Whiting finished with a team-high four catches for 58 yards. Zylstra caught three passes for 45 yards and one score while Baune had a pair of catches for a team-high 60 yards and one TD.  

Concordia fullback Domenic Fraboni smashed his way to a career-high 72 rushing yards on 17 carries. Matt Peterson rushed the ball nine times for 53 yards.

Cobber kicker Ben Wagner continued his perfect point after streak.  He was 3-for-3 on PAT's and has now made 57 consecutive conversions. Wagner also connected on a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter and is now 4-for-5 on field goal attempts this season.

Concordia will have a two-week break before returning to play on Oct. 12 against nationally ranked Bethel. The game against the Royals will be at Jake Christiansen Stadium and part of the annual Homecoming weekend celebration.