Seniors Honored Pre-Game And Then Lead In 59-0 Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/04/22)---Concordia celebrated Senior Day before the start of its game with Hamline, and then the senior class staged their own celebration for the next 60 minutes.

Senior running back Peyton Mortenson rushed for 119 yards and scored four touchdowns, while senior offensive linemen Collin Fleisch and Abel Perry paved the way for almost 500 yards of total offense. On defense, seniors Noah Jenson, Isaac Stene, Noble Scott, Marshall King and Grant Schoen led the crew that held the Pipers to under 60 yards of total offense.  

The 59 points is the most scored by a Cobber team since the 2013 when Concordia beat Hamline 63-7. The 59-point margin of victory is the most since 1992 when CC put up 62 in a 62-0 win over Augsburg.

The shutout is the first for the Cobber Black Shirt defense since the 2019 season when the Cobber blanked St. Olaf in the second-to-last game of the season.  

The win pushes Concordia's record over the .500 mark at 5-4. CC is now 3-4 in conference play and 2-2 against Skyline division opponents.

It was a dual domination day for Concordia, as both the offense and defense posted impressive numbers. The Cobbers offense had a balanced attack that featured 217 rushing yards and 256 passing yards for 473 total yards. CC also scored on seven straight possessions from the start of the second quarter until the opening 2-minutes of the fourth frame.    

The defense held Hamline to only 52 total yards which included only 6 on the ground. CC limited the Pipers to only five first downs and 3-for-17 on 3rd-down conversions.

The 52 yards allowed and five first downs are the fewest allowed by a Cobber defense since the 2018 season when CC beat the Pipers 55-0 and held HU to 37 total yards and only two first downs. The 2018 defensive showcase was the fewest yards allowed and first-down total in the Terry Horan era.

Concordia established its presence on the opening drive when they took the ball at their own 30-yard line and methodically drove the rock 70 yards on nine plays.

Mortenson opened his quartet of scores on the opening possession when he rambled in from 9-yard out. That would be the longest of his four rushing TDs.

Sophomore kicker Damien Silus made the score 10-0 when he converted a 35-yard field goal with 5:04 left in the opening quarter.

The Cobbers dropped their roll into fourth gear in the second quarter when they scored on four of their five possessions and held Hamline without a first down.

Mortenson powered his way for two more short-yardage scores, and sophomore wide receiver Owen Miller joined the party by catching a 20-yard touchdown pass at the 4:25 mark and his second on a 2-yard strike with 2:38 left in the half.

Miller's second TD gave Concordia a 38-0 lead at the break.

The Cobbers opened the second half by scoring on their first three possessions. Junior wide receiver caught a 62-yard touchdown strike from Cooper Mattern on the first drive, Mortenson plowed into the end zone from 1-yard out with 5:44 left to play in the third quarter and then senior Tanner Dubois wouldn't be denied on the final Cobber TD as he broke several tackles to score from 1-yard out.

Mattern was 16-for-23 for 218 yards and three touchdown passes in the first 2-plus quarters. He also ran the ball eight times for 73 yards. 

Dubois entered the game in the third quarter and went 6-for-6 for 38 yards.

Zavier Carroll had seven carries and gained 32 yards, while Colin Conteh had four rushes for 23 yards.

Miller was one of five Cobber players with at least two catches in the game. Schaffer had three receptions for 79 yards, Tate Christenson caught three passes for 11 yards, Jackson Haire had a pair of catches and Mortenson had two receptions for nine yards.

Noah Jenson and PJ Parmelee led the Black Shirt defense with 5.0 tackles each and both players had 1.0 tackles for a loss. The Cobbers had five players with 4.0 tackles and another five with 3,0 tackles.

UP NEXT: Concordia will close out the 2022 season when they play at Carleton in the MIAC Championship Week crossover game on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. The Cobbers finished third in the Skyline Division, while the Knights were third in the Northwoods division.

CONCORDIA vs. HAMLINE HIGHLIGHTS