Box Score A blocked field goal on the opening drive on a mishandled snap would be the first of several miscues that cost the Prairie Wolves in a 19-3 loss to Concordia University in the NAIA National Football Game of the Week on Saturday (Oct. 12)Concordia remains undefeateed on the year as they improve to 6-0, 4-0 in GPAC play, while NWU falls back to 3-3 and 3-2 in GPAC play.

Aside from the blocked field goal on the opening drive, the Prairie Wolves also threw two interceptions, fumbled on a punt return to setup a scoring drive and also dropped a pass in the end zone for a touchdown.

The Bulldogs scored first as they took over after the blocked field goal and marched down the field for a field goal as Adam Meirose connected from 34 yards.  Meirose opened the 2nd quarter with a 31-yard field goal to put Concordia up 6-0 early in the second.

NWU got their only points of the game on the next possession as Aaron Lorraine converted on a 34-yard field goal at the 7:04 mark to make the score 6-3.

A key point of the game came late in the 2nd quarter as NWU stopped Concordia's drive and forced a punt.  Corey Jones tried to field the punt, but it went off his hands giving the Bulldogs the ball at the NWU 15-yard line.  Quarterback Von Thomas found Brian Serra on a 13-yard TD pass in the end zone making the score 13-3.  NWU marched right down the field but Tyler Francis was intercepted by Derek Blessing near the endzone making the score 13-3.

Concordia extended their lead as they scored a TD on the opening drive of the second half.  Von Thomas hit Jeff Balz on a 4-yard TD pass for the touchdown.

NWU threatened a couple times in the 4th quarter, but were turned over on downs and then Blessing got his second interception later in the quarter.

The final offensive drive was setup by a 57-yard punt return from Seth Wardyn.  NWU got inside the Bulldog 10-yard line but a pass from backup quarterback Zach Thorpe on 4th down was dropped to keep NWU without a TD in the game.

Nebraska Wesleyan had just 250 yards of total offense.  The lone bright spot was senior running back Dustin Bryant who had 167 yards on 16 carries.  Bryant, who missed most of the week with injury, set a new career-high for rushing and averaged 10.4 yards per rush.

Francis finished 15-32 for 108 yards with two interceptions.  Connor Zumpfe caught four passes for 29 yards to lead the team.

Kalen Vandenberg and Aaron Baney each had 11 total tackles to lead the team.

Concordia finished with 338 total yards, with 181 on the ground and 157 through the air.