Cobbers Match Temperature In Spirited Homecoming Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/28/24)---The Cobber defense was as hot as the weather and the offense provided the Homecoming spirit in Concordia's 35-0 win over St. Scholastica in the MIAC opener in a game that was played with the temperature near 90 degrees. 

Concordia's "Black Shirt" defense posted its first shutout of the season, held the Saints to 2-for-12 on third-down conversions and only allowed St. Scholastica to get the ball inside the 25-yard line on one occasion through the first three quarters.

While the Black Shirts were stifling the Saints with their pressure, the offense was methodically stretching the lead throughout the game. CC scored a touchdown in all four quarters and had a pair of scores in the second quarter.

The win is the second straight for Concordia, who moves to 2-1 on the year. The Cobbers haven't allowed a TD in the past two games and have only conceded three points during that stretch.

In the team's three games, opponents are only averaging 8.0 points per game which is tops in the MIAC and in the Top 10 of Division III.

Senior Cooper Mattern continued to conduct the Cobber offense in a matter fitting for the annual Homecoming Saturday night concert. He recorded his second straight 4-touchdown performance and helped Concordia rack up 389 total offense yards.

Mattern also ran for 85 yards on the day as he led the Cobber ground game to a season-high 203 rushing yards. The Cobbers' previous season-high on the ground was 88 yards. In addition to Mattern's 85 yards on the ground, Griffin Babolian rushed for a career-high 49 yards and Jordan Summers added 48 yards.

The lone rushing score of the day for Concordia came from freshman running back Mason Hughes, who capped a 10-play, 47-yard drive by plunging over from 1-yard out. The TD with 4:50 left in the third quarter was Hughes' first career score.

Summers was one of four different Cobbers to catch a TD pass on the day. He opened the scoring midway through the first pass when he was wide open coming out of the back field for a 2-yard scoring pass.

Davion Henderson caught the longest scoring pass of the season for CC when he was left wide open in the Saints' secondary and came down with a 48-yard passing strike.

Owen Miller caught his team-high third touchdown of the year. Mattern found Miller open over the middle and the two combined for a 22-yard pass on the Cobbers' first possession of the second half.

Freshman Grant Mages capped off the scoring with his second TD in as many games. He was able to sneak out into the left flat and haul in an 18-yard pass reception. Mages has caught two passes on the year and both have gone for touchdowns.

Seniors Stuart DeMerit and PJ Parmelee led the Cobber defense. DeMerit had a team-high seven tackles including 2.0 for a loss. Parmelee added six tackles.

Lawrence Edouarzin had a pair of pass breakups to pace the CC secondary.

Concordia will play their first conference road game next weekend when they play at Carleton on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.   

CONCORDIA vs. ST. SCHOLASTICA HIGHLIGHTS