A Day Of Firsts In Division Win At Macalester

ST. PAUL, Minn. (10/09/21)---It was a day of firsts for Concordia in their game at Macalester:
- The Cobbers were playing the Scots for the first time since 2001
- Concordia was playing its first-ever Skyline Division game since the league's new alignment
- The Cobbers had more rushing attempts than passes for the first time in 2021
- Concordia had its first 100-yard rusher of the year
- An offensive lineman scored for the first time
- The Cobbers had two players score their very-first college touchdown

All those firsts added up to a 34-27 win for the Cobbers over Macalester. Concordia broke open a 10-10 halftime time by scoring points on its first four possessions of the second half to score 24 points and push the lead to 34-17.

The victory is the first divisional win for the Cobbers in the Skyline Division of the MIAC. CC is now 2-3 overall and 1-2 against all league opponents.

Concordia had its most balanced offensive attack of the year. The Cobbers ran 85 total plays against Macalester – 50 rushing plays and 35 passes. The return of the running game helped CC post a season-high 289 rushing yards. Concordia hadn't posted 100 or more rushing yards in any of the first four games of the year.

Senior running backs Peyton Mortenson and Ben Hoggarth were the beneficiaries of the expanded ground game. Both backs posted career-high numbers and both broke the 100-yard barrier. Mortenson ran the ball 26 times and came away with 172 rushing yards. He also scored the team's second touchdown of the day – the first score of the second half.

Hoggarth went for 117 yards on 17 carries. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry and had a season-long carry of 19 yards. He also had four pass receptions for 24 yards.

Cobber quarterback Tanner Dubois was 26-for-35 for 235 yards and ran for a TD. He also had two touchdown tosses that were caught by first-time scorers. Sophomore offensive lineman Christian Thingvold lined up as a fullback in the team's "jumbo" package. He was able to slip out of the backfield and left alone in the left flat. Dubois faked the handoff to Mortenson and then tossed the ball to Thingvold who caught the pass and then fell across the goal line.
  
The second first-time TD reception belonged to freshman wide receiver Owen Miller. Miller entered the game with only two receptions in his first collegiate season. He left Saturday with only one more catch – but that catch was a big one.

Dubois was able to sidestep a blitzing Scot defender. He stepped up and delivered a strike to Miller who was running a crossing route from left to right. Miller caught the ball at the 20-yard line then outran the last defensive back to the corner of the endzone.

Concordia had three players with a team-high four receptions. Besides Hoggarth, Wyatt Curtis and Peter Narum also hauled in four passes.
Concordia's run game also led to the biggest time of possession for the team in 2021. CC held the ball for 34:38.

The Cobber Black Shirt defense held Macalester to 29 rushing yards on 22 carries. CC was also able to get off the field on third down. Concordia stopped the Scots on 8 of 10 third down plays.

Senior Noble Scott led the Cobber defense with 7.0 total tackles. He also had a forced fumble and a pass break up.

Mitchell Sullivan recorded 5.0 tackles and a pass break up, while Rob Lestrick had 1.5 tackles for a loss. Collin Thompson and J.J. Lord had sacks for Concordia.

UP NEXT: Concordia will stay within the Skyline Division when they host No.16-ranked Bethel on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m.