Stellar Skyline Saturday Sets Up Division Showdown

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (10/28/23)---In a battle of teams in the Top 3 of the Skyline Division, it was all Cobbers from the opening kick until the final buzzer.

Concordia scored the first 17 points against Augsburg, ran up a 30-3 lead at the end of three quarters as they turned in their most complete performance of the season in a 30-10 win.

The victory sets up a battle with Bethel for the top spot in the Skyline Division and a berth in the MIAC Championship game on Nov. 11.

The Cobbers have now won three straight and are 5-3 in all games, 4-2 against MIAC opponents and a perfect 3-0 in divisional play. Augsburg falls to 5-3 overall, 3-3 in the league and 1-2 in the Skyline.

Concordia returned to their ground attack to grab timely offensive yards and used a tough defense to hold the high-powered Auggie passing game in check.

The Cobbers ran the ball a season-high 52 times and gained 247 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, the Black Shirts held Augsburg to 201 total offensive yards and 96 passing yards. Both totals are season lows for the Auggies.

Concordia took control from the very first possession of the game. The Cobbers took the opening kickoff and matriculated the ball down the field. They rattled off a 9-play, 66-yard drive, culminating in a Cooper Mattern 1-yard TD plunge.

Colin Conteh was the story of the second quarter for Concordia. He scored on a 1-yard run to give CC a 17-0 lead and ended the first half with his first career touchdown catch. He hauled in a 2-yard pass to give Concordia a commanding 24-3 lead at the half.

Junior kicker Damien Silus posted all the scoring in the final half as he connected on a pair of field goals in the third quarter. He was good from 38 yards and 23 yards to complete a 3-field goal day.

The 3rd-down conversion rate told one of the big tales in the game on Saturday. The Cobbers were 11-for-17 (64.7%) on their third down opportunities as opposed to 15.4% (2-for-13) for the Auggies.

Conteh posted his second 100-yard rushing game in the last three contests. He carried the ball a career-high 20 times and put up a career-high 124 yards to lead CC on the ground.

Quarterback Cooper Mattern was 14-for-23 for 151 yards and the lone TD toss to Conteh. He also rushed for 72 yards and the one tuddy.

Owen Miller was on the receiving end of 102 of the 151 passing yards for CC. He caught seven passes and his second 100-yard receiving game of the year.

A trio of unheralded players led the Cobber defense. Defensive end Mason Swanson had 8.0 tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.

Stuart DeMerit and Jaiden Musse also had 8.0 tackles. DeMerit also had a pass breakup, and Musse added a pair of quarterback hurries.

UP NEXT: Concordia will travel to Arden Hills to face Bethel on Saturday, Nov. 4, in a game that will decide who represents the Skyline Division in the MIAC title contest.