Climbing Up The National Rankings Mountain
MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/29/14)—Concordia continued their steady climb up the college football ranking polls. The Cobbers climbed four spots in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll and three notches in the D3football.com poll.
Concordia is now in the top 15 of Division III in the AFCA poll. The Cobbers climbed from 19th place last week – in the inaugural poll of the season- to the No.15 spot this week. The AFCA rankings are conducted strictly by a group of DIII college coaches from across the nation.
Concordia is now ranked 22nd in the D3football.com poll which is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country.
The Cobbers remained unbeaten on the season with a 52-14 win over St. Olaf in the annual Lefse Bowl game. Concordia retained possession on the Troll Trophy for the third straight season and fifth time in the last sixth season. The 4-0 start marks the third straight season that CC has started the year at 4-0.
Concordia continues to be successful on the field by scoring early, holding on to the ball for large chunks of the game and being able to stop the run defensively.
The Cobbers have received the opening kickoff in all four games in 2014 and have scored on the opening drive in all four contests. Concordia has now scored on its first or second possession of the contest in 20 of its last 24 games in a streak that dates back to the start of the 2012 season. CC is now 19-1 when it scores on its first or second drive of the game since 2012.
- Complete AFCA Division III National Rankings
- Complete D3football.com National Rankings
The Cobbers held the ball for 36:43 in their win over St. Olaf and have yet to finish with a time of possession under 35:00 in 2013. CC is averaging 37:24 in time of possession for the season which ranked first in the MIAC and third in all of Division III. Concordia would rank sixth in possession time for all NCA FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III schools combined.
The Concordia Black Shirt defense has once again put the clamps on opposing team's running games. The Cobbers held St. Olaf to only 34 rushing yards on Saturday. CC is holding opponents to a mere 53.8 rushing yards per game this year which is tops in the conference and fifth in all of Division III.
Concordia will face their toughest test of the season on Saturday, Oct. 4 when they play at No. 19-ranked Bethel at 1 p.m.