Big Plays Squash Eight-Win Quest

ST. PETER, Minn. (11/7/15) --- Big plays proved to be the difference in Concordia's quest to post their fourth consecutive 8-2 record.

The first six possessions for both teams resulted in touchdowns and the shootout featured big play after big play, as the two teams combined had 20 plays of 15 yards or more. 

In the end it came down to the final 30 seconds as Gustavus found themselves trailing 34-27 with under 1:00 to play. The Gusties found a way to score 14 points in the final 29-seconds to pull off the improbable comeback in a 41-34 victory.

Concordia finishes the season with a 7-3 record and ends the conference campaign with a 5-3 mark. Gustavus moves to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the MIAC. The Gusties have one game remaining in the 2015 season. 

After Concordia won the toss and elected to receive, Brandon Zylstra's 26-yard kickoff return was just the beginning of his career day.  Zylstra would catch three passes on the ensuing drive for 34 total yards, including a 22-yard reception moving the Cobbers into the Gustavus territory. Jason Montonye would cap an 11 play, 72-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown push making it 7-0 following the Dominic Neameyer point after. 

On the first play of the ensuing possession, Gustavus quarterback Mitch Hendricks found big-play receiver Matt Boyce behind the Cobber defense and hit him in stride for an 85-yard touchdown which tied the game at 7-7.

Following a 33-yard return from Zylstra, the Cobber offense began to methodically drive down the field again. Zylstra would catch a pair of 13-yard passes and Michael Herzog snuck his way through the pile for a one-yard touchdown to put the Cobbers ahead at 14-7.

The Gusties once again had an answer. Hendricks found Boyce for two 12-yard completions and then finished a nine play, 71-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown scamper that tied the game at 14-14.

On the next possession, the Cobbers set up shop at their own 25-yard line. Facing a third and long, Herzog hit Jon Baune for a 26-yard strike moving the Concordia offense to midfield. From there it was all Zylstra. He took an end-around 24 yards and then proceeded to cap the drive with a 20-yard touchdown reception making it 21-14.

The track meet continued as Gustavus marched into Cobber territory on a 17-yard swing pass to Daivon Poole. After a pass interference call, Poole bulled his way in from two yards out tying the game 21-21. 

Both teams failed to score on the last possessions of the second quarter and the score was knotted 21-21 at halftime.

Gustavus went three-and-out to start the second half  and the Gusties were forced to punt. A group of Cobbers burst through the line and tipped the punt giving CC excellent starting field position. From their own 35-yard line, the Cobbers struck quickly as Herzog rifled a ball to Zylstra in the back left corner of the end zone to push Concordia ahead 28-21.

Both teams were forced to punt and then Hendricks and the Gustie offense came to life near the end of the third quarter. Hendricks passed for 80 yards on the drive and hit Karim Ortiz on a seam route for the 32-yard touchdown. The point after was wide left and the Cobbers hung tight to a 28-27 lead. 

On the last play of the third quarter Herzog let the ball hit the turf and the Gusties recovered the fumble. Hendricks guided GAC into Cobber territory with a pair of completions to Boyce and a 13-yard run which set up Brandon Boche for the 31-yard field goal. Boche was wide left on his try and Concordia took over at the 20-yard line. 

With 8:22 to play, Herzog took Concordia down into GAC territory with completions of 15 and nine yards to Montonye and a nine-yard completion to Zylstra. Montonye continued to rack up the yards on the drive as he took one halfback pitch 22 yards to the left side of the field and then another 20 yards down the Cobber sideline. Chad Johnson finished off the 80-yard drive with an 11-yard rush up the middle for the Cobber touchdown. The extra point failed to convert and Concordia held a 34-27 lead with 6:13 to play.

On the ensuing possession Hendricks completed five passes all to the Boyce brothers. Matt had receptions of five and seven yards while Gabe snagged passes of 15 and 17 yards as well as a six yard touchdown catch pulling the Gusties within one point. Trailing 34-33, Gustavus head coach Peter Haugen rolled the dice and decided to go for the two-point conversion. Hendricks lofted a pass to the back corner of the end zone but the ball was batted away by a Cobber defender. 

The inevitable onside kick was recovered by the Gusties at midfield and Gustavus had one last opportunity.  Hendricks completed a slant to Gabe Boyce for 17 yards and then "clocked" the ball. On the following play he found George Buchner for the 33-yard touchdown. Gabe would catch the two-point conversion and GAC escaped with the improbable 41-34 win. 

THRILLSTA: Brandon Zylstra capped off his Concordia career with a career-best all-purpose yard day. The standout receiver hauled in 10 passes for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also had four rushes for 54 yards and 129 return yards on kickoffs. His 297 all-purpose yards was 61 yards better than his previous best which came against the Gusties in 2013. Zylstra had 660 all-purpose yards in his three games against Gustavus.   

SOPHOMORE STARS: Jason Montonye, Chad Johnson and Michael Herzog showed Cobber faithful that the future is bright. Montonye rushed for a career-high 90 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. Johnson also had a big game, bullying his way for 78 yards on 16 carries with a score. Meanwhile, Herzog put together his best game of 2015, completing 17 of 22 passes for 236 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

NIGHTMARE ON BOYCE STREET: Mitch Hendricks threw for 296 yards with three touchdowns last season against Concordia, with 91 of those yards going to Matt Boyce.  The duo upped the ante on last year's performance, as Hendricks threw for 363 yards and four touchdowns and Boyce snagged eight passes for 153 yards and one touchdown.

THE NASTY BOYS: The Cobbers bode farewell to an extremely talented linebacking corp. The quartet of Erik Bye, Levi Hintermeister, Derek Rachel and Austyn Raftevold combined for 33% of the team's total tackles this season.

SUCCESSFUL SENIORS: The Cobber football team is graduating a senior class of 22 student-athletes. This class went 31-9 in their four-year Concordia career.

STAT STUFF: Just how equal was this game? Both teams ran 68 offensive plays. Gustavus averaged 6.6 yards per play while the Cobbers averaged 6.4 yards per play. Gustavus narrowly outgained CC 448-437 yards in total offense. 

TIME OF POSSESSION: Only re-emphasizing the big plays of this game, the Cobbers held the ball for 35:15 of Saturday's game. Gustavus' time of possession was 24:45, as they scored quickly with their aerial attack.