Second-Quarter Big Plays Propel Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/15/16) --- Saturday's game could have been considered a trap game for Concordia. 

Hamline entered Saturday 4-1 and the Cobbers were coming off a tough last-second loss to St. Thomas. Concordia responded by forcing the MIAC's top passer into throwing four interceptions as CC cruised to a 34-14 win. 

Concordia improves to 4-2 overall and is now 3-1 in the MIAC while Hamline drops its second game in three weeks and falls to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. 

The Cobber front seven made Hamline quarterback Justice Spriggs uncomfortable for a majority of the day. He went 33-of-53 with 222 yards and one touchdown but pressure up the middle forced him into some tough decisions and his four INTs are one more than he threw in all of the first five games of the year. 

Both teams had drives stall in the first quarter. Concordia punted once and Hamline booted the ball away twice in the opening 15 minutes. The Cobbers changed that trend on their first possession of the second quarter. 

October Chadness continued as Chad Johnson found the end zone on a two-yard carry to cap an 11-play, 47-yard drive to take the 7-0 lead. 

Concordia would score again two plays later thanks to a great defensive read by senior defensive back Matt Ahrndt. 

The senior from Benson stepped in front of Spriggs' pass and returned it 48 yards to the house to make it 14-0. 

The Pipers moved the ball on their next possession as Spriggs guided them deep into Cobber territory but HU was forced to try a field goal. 

What appeared to be a normal field goal turned controversial when one official signaled the attempt was through the uprights and the other signaled it was no good. 

The officials ruled it a miss and CC maintained the 14-0 lead. 

Concordia was forced to punt to end the half but more pressure on Spriggs gave the Cobbs a last-second chance to score. 

Kirby Siewert drilled the Hamline QB as he threw which induced a high arcing pass that fell into the diving outstretched arms of Alex Berg at the 45-yard line with 19-seconds remaining in the half. 

The Cobbers ran an end around and gained 13 yards as Dylan Hoerchler ran out of bounds on the Piper 33-yard line. 

Concordia quarterback Michael Herzog then launched his "Hail Herzog" towards the right side of the end zone. The ball dropped out of the sky and landed in Hoerchler's hands for score as the half ended to take a 21-0 lead into the half.

The touchdown was the first of Hoerchler's career.   

Hamline got on the board late in the third quarter on a six-yard pass to Nick Kampa and then Cobber junior running back Jason Montonye took over in the fourth quarter. 

Montonye finished off a 59-yard drive with a quick pitch from three yards out to extend the lead to 27-6. 

Spriggs led the Pipers 72 yards on the ensuing drive to cut the deficit to 27-14 but once again the Cobbers had the answer as they scored on the very next possession. 

Montonye got the nod on virtually the same play as he received the quick pitch to the right and snuck his way in to grab the 34-14 lead. He finished his day with a team-high 78 yards rushing on 14 carries and the two scores. 

Landon Moline finished off the game with his first interception of the season.  Like Ahrndt in the first half, Moline was able to step in front of an out route on the left side of the field and make the INT.

Hamline outgained Concordia 312 to 259 yards but CC won the turnover battle 4-0. 

Berg continued to be the anchor for the Cobber defense. The Fargo-Shanley product had a team-high 12 tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and the aforementioned interception. 

QUARTER OF A CENTURY – That's how long it's been since Concordia lost to Hamline. The Cobbers have beaten the Pipers 25 straight times and have not lost since 1991 when they dropped a 30-20 decision in St. Paul. 

DOMINATING GROUND GAME – CC grounded out 211 yards - which was the lowest total since they had 177 in the first week since Jamestown. The Cobbers have not rushed for under 200 yards against a MIAC opponent this season. 

TIP OF THE ICE(BERG) – Sophomore linebacker Alex Berg has officially had his coming out party to the rest of the MIAC. He has now had 12 tackles or more in three straight games. In his last three games he has 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, one pass break-up and one interception. 

FOUR ON THE FLOOR – Concordia had four interceptions on Saturday. The last time the Cobber "D" had four or more picks was November 8, 2014 at home against Gustavus when CC had five interceptions. In that game Christian Erickson had two picks, including a "Pick Six".

FIELD GOALS? WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' FIELD GOALS – For the sixth straight game this season the Cobbers didn't connect on a field goal. It also marked the fourth straight game that CC has even attempted a 3-point try. Concordia is the only team in the MIAC that hasn't made a field goal this year and are one of only 20 teams in Division III that hasn't made a field goal.   

WHAT'S NEXT? Concordia will travel to Minneapolis next weekend to play at Augsburg. The Auggies are 2-5 and are coming off a 27-9 win to St. Olaf.