Option 3 Provides Comfortable Win At Hamline

ST. PAUL, Minn. (10/12/24)---When head coach Terry Horan was asked before the game if he wanted Concordia to get out to a fast start or finish strong in the Cobbers' game at Hamline, Horan opted for the fast start.

The Concordia players decided on Option #3 – all of the above.

The Cobbers opened the game by returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and put together a "leave no doubt" finish by scoring the final 34 points in a 41-7 win over the Pipers.

The win ups Concordia's overall record to 4-2. CC is 3-1 in the MIAC and 1-0 in divisional play. The Pipers fall to 2-4 in all games, 0-4 in the conference and 0-1 in the division.  

Junior Eric Cockhill and the Cobber special teams' unit set the tone in the first MIAC division game of the year. He took the kick inside the 10-yard line, sprinted to his right and went the distance as the kick return crew provided a wall of blockers all the way to the end zone.    

Hamline scored their only touchdown of the game on their opening drive of the day. They went 75 yards in 17 plays to tie the game at 7-7.

For the final 50 minutes of the game it was all the Cobber "Black Shirt" defense and a balanced Cobber offense.         

The Black Shirts only allowed Hamline 55 total yards and one first down in the entire second half. That total included 27 yards on the ground and 28 passing yards. There's your strong finish.

A trio of seniors accounted for 17 tackles and 2.0 tackles for a loss. PJ Parmelee led all players with 8.0 tackles. All-American Collin Thompson had his best game of the season as he broke free for 7.0 tackles and 1.0 tackles for a loss. Defensive back Stuart DeMerit added 5.0 tackles, 1.0 tackles for a loss and one pass breakup.  

On the other side of the ball, Concordia was methodically chewing up big yards on the ground and quality yards through the air. The Cobbers finished the day with 295 offensive yards. The rushing game accounted for 210 of the 295 yards and the passing attack struck for the first three scores after the kick return.

Junior wide receiver Jed Klang continued his recent hot streak he caught a pair of 14-yard TD passes and has now hauled in two receiving touchdowns in each of the last three games. He entered the Carleton game with only three career touchdowns and his 3-game stretch has tripled that number.

Senior Joey Headrick caught the third touchdown pass for the Cobbers which gave CC a 28-7 lead.

Senior quarterback Cooper Mattern finished the game by going 9-for-17 for 85 yards and three TDs. Mattern has now thrown for 18 touchdowns this year which is tied for second in the MIAC. Mattern has 61 touchdown tosses in his career which continues to add to his school-record total.

Mattern has 5,227 passing yards in his career. That total is No.3 on the Cobber all-time list. He needs 386 passing yard to become the program's all-time passing leader.

Concordia turned to its ground game after they pushed the score to 28-7. The Cobbers ran the ball 16 times, gained 75 yards on the ground and scored on a pair of rushing plays.

The main rushing threat for Concordia was freshman running back Griffin Babolian. He entered the game with 102 rushing yards in the team's first five games. He more than doubled that total by running for 126 yards on 19 carries in the win at Hamline. He also scored his first college touchdown. Babolian finished off the scoring with a 4-yard run at the end of the fourth quarter.

The 126 rushing yards for Babolian marked the first time a Cobber running back has gained over 100 yards on the ground this season.

Fellow first-year back Mason Hughes was responsible for 54 rushing yards. He ran the ball 14 times and had the other score on the ground.

Concordia will return to St. Paul next weekend when they play at Macalester on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.