Posted: Nov 16, 2024
Cobbers Cap Season In Winning Style
Concordia-M'head
(7-3)
17
Gust. Adolphus
(5-5)
13
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Concordia-M'head (7-3) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
|
Gust. Adolphus (5-5) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
ST. PETER, Minn. (11/16/24)---Concordia closed out its 2024 season in winning fashion as they rallied in the fourth quarter and beat Gustavus 17-13 in the annual MIAC Championship Week game.
The victory gives the Cobbers a 7-3 overall record for the year and a 6-2 mark in conference play. The win in the "second place" game moves Concordia into a tie for second place in the final conference standings. It is their seventh Top 3 finish in the MIAC in the last 11 seasons.
The seven total wins are the most since the 2017 season when CC went 8-2. The six league victories are also the most since 2017.
Concordia only trailed for 2:18 in the game. They took a 3-0 lead on a Damien Silus field goal in the first quarter and held a 10-6 lead at the halftime break courtesy of a Mason Hughes 4-yard TD plunge. The teams were held off the board before the Gusties grabbed their only lead of the game on an 80-yard TD pass play with 4:12 left to play in the fourth quarter.
Senior quarterback Cooper Mattern proceeded to put one last stamp on his record-setting legacy. He engineered an economical 7-play, 66-yard drive that gave Concordia the 17-13 lead.
In the game-winning drive, Mattern went 4-for-6 for 63 yards and capped his career with a perfectly thrown 25-yard strike to fellow senior Owen Miller.
The Cobber "Black Shirt" defense rose to the occasion one more time. Following the ensuing kickoff, Gustavus was able to quickly drive the ball to the CC 43-yard line but then the Black Shirts drew the line in the sand and came away with a sack, and three consecutive break-ups on pass plays to end the game after a 4th-and-10 last chance pass fell incomplete.
Concordia held a 320-269 advantage in total yards. The Cobbers were able to grind out 80 yards on the ground and Mattern threw for 240 yards. The defense limited the Gusties to only 47 rushing yards.
The Black Shirts also forced a pair of fumbles.
Mattern went 21-for-33 in his final collegiate game. He had the one TD toss and finished with 240 passing yards.
Mattern ended his record-setting career with 6,168 passing yards. He had 495 career completions and recorded 68 touchdown passes. All three numbers are program records.
Senior Ben Blancas stepped up to have his biggest game of the season. He caught a team-high six passes for 91 yards.
Davion Henderson also had six receptions for 49 yards.
Miller recorded five catches for 69 yards and the one touchdown.
Miller ended his time in maroon and gold with 139 receptions and 20 receiving touchdowns. He is No.4 on the school's all-time receptions list and tied for second in receiving TDs.
Jordan Summers did the workman's share of the rushing offense. He ran the ball 23 times for 77 yards.
Senior All-American defensive end Collin Thompson ended his career in style as well as he had a team-high 7.0 tackles which included 3.0 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.
He finished his career with 39.0 tackles for a loss and 15.0 sacks. His 39.0 tackles for a loss are a school record.
Silus went 2-for-2 in extra points and had five total points for the game. He topped his career with 225 points, 27 field goals and 144 extra points. Silus is second on the Cobbers' all-time extra points made list, fifth in field goals made and third in total points.