MOORHEAD, Minn. – For the second straight season, Concordia-Moorhead handed Nebraska Wesleyan a loss in the football season opener. This year the Cobbers used a stifling defense and strong rushing attack to defeat the Prairie Wolves 28-3 on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 1) in Moorhead, Minn., to begin the 2018 season.
Concordia College, who is receiving votes in the NCAA III Preseason Top 25 poll, scored 14 points in each half as they held a 14-3 lead at halftime then added two more touchdowns in the second half.
NWU scored their only points of the game on a 42-yard field goal by freshman
Jacob Romsa in the second quarter. The Prairie Wolves, who returned seven offensive starters from the 2017 team that set a new school record for total offense, were held under 200 yards of total offense in the opener.
It was a big play that got the scoring started for the Cobbers as they scored on a 91-yard run around left end by Riley Sheridan on their second offensive possession. From there the NWU defense toughened up and actually forced the Cobbers to give the ball up on downs twice in the first half. Concordia was able to score right before the half making it a two score game.
In the second half Concordia added touchdowns on the ground and through the air. Turnovers were the story of the second half for the Prairie Wolves as they threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. One interception came deep into Cobber territory to end a threat of NWU reaching the end zone.
Concordia finished with 438 total yards, including 373 yards on the ground. NWU ended with just 195 yards passing for 145 and gaining 50 yards rushing.
Shaka Tayor carried the ball 12 times for 43 yards to lead the NWU ground game.
Jonathan Curti was 13-37 for 145 yards through the air with two interceptions.
James Skerjanec and
Derrick Curtis both had three receptions.
On defense,
Micah Dexter led the Prairie Wolves with 11 tackles in his first start at linebacker.
Jacob Garnas and Grant Bednar both had nine total stops.
Nebraska Wesleyan will make another long road trip next Saturday as they travel to Jacksonville, Illinois to face Illinois College in the first ever meeting between the two schools.
