(Ann Arbor, MI) The CUAA football team will look to extend their historic start to 5-0 as they host Lindenwood-Belleville this Saturday at 1pm for homecoming. Concordia defeated Robert Morris 34-26 last week in their home opener, securing a 4-0 start for the first time in school history. For their efforts the Cardinals received a #21 rank in the latest NAIA coaches poll which is Concordia's highest ranking ever. The game will be the first MSFA Mideast divisional matchup for the Cardinals this season.

Game Details

Lindenwood-Belleville (0-3) at Concordia (4-0)

Saturday, September 30 | 1:00pm EST

Site: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Stadium: Cardinal Stadium (4090 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Live Video | Live Stats

All-time series tied 1-1 (Last Meeting: Nov. 12^th, 2017 – CUAA 49, LBU 6)

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Team Stats

Concordia

Offensive PPG: 32.8 PPG (#34 in NAIA, #3 in MSFA Mid-East, #5 in MSFA)

Defensive PPG: 17.0 PPG (#7 in NAIA, #1 in MSFA Mid-East, #1 in MSFA)

Total Offense: 421.2 PPG (#27 in NAIA, #3 in MSFA Mid-East, #5 in MSFA)

Pass Offense: 224.5 PPG (#37 in NAIA, #4 in MSFA Mid-East, #7 in MSFA)

Rush Offense: 196.8 PPG (#21 in NAIA, #3 in MSFA Mid-East, #4 in MSFA)

Total Defense: 298.8 PPG (#10 in NAIA, #2 in MSFA Mid-East, #2 in MSFA)

Pass Defense: 221.2 PPG (#45 in NAIA, #4 in MSFA Mid-East, #6 in MSFA)

Rush Defense: 77.5 PPG (#10 in NAIA, #3 in MSFA Mid-East, #3 in MSFA)

Individual Leaders

Concordia

Passing:

Seth Suida (SR/Livonia, MI) - 55/92 (.598), 8 pass TDs, 2 INTs, 898 pass yds, 166.1 effic.

Rushing:

Joe Conner (SO/Flat Rock, MI) - 78 att, 578 rush yds, 7.4 avg, 8 rush TDs

Joe Duff (SO/Croswell, MI) - 22 att, 82 rush yds, 3.7 avg

Ashton Gray (SR/Detroit, MI) - 10 att, 34 rush yds, 3.4 avg

Receiving:

Herman Mason (SR/Lansing, MI) - 14 rec, 281 rec yds, 20.1 avg, 2 rec TDs

Bryant Hudson (SR/Flint, MI) - 10 rec, 181 rec yds, 18.1 avg, 2 rec TDs

Donte Desalle (SO/Nashville, TN) - 7 rec, 138 rec yds, 19.7 avg

Brendan Beerer (SO/Royal Oak, MI ) - 6 rec, 103 rec yds, 17.2 avg, 1 rec TD

Jay Alvarez (SR/Lansing, MI) - 7 rec, 100 rec yds, 14.3 avg, 1 rec TD

Defense:

Andrew O'Hara (JR/Cleveland, OH) - 27 total tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT

Jay Koski (JR/Portage, MI) - 26 total tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT

Rod Lewis (SR/Lansing, MI) - 19 total tackles, 2.0 TFL

Timothy Koehler (JR/Belvidere, IL) - 17 total tackles, 1 INT

Kaleb Pohlman (SR/Liberty Center, OH) - 15 total tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks

Lindenwood-Belleville at a glance

Lindenwood-Belleville enters the game 0-3 with losses against Olivet Nazarene, Saint Ambrose, and Saint Xavier. They will be coming off a bye week prior to facing the Cardinals. The all-time series is tied up 1-1. Lindenwood-Belleville claimed a 34-31 win in 2015 while Concordia cruised to a 49-6 win in 2016.

2017 record: 0-3

Coach: Kevin Turco (1st season, 0-3 overall)

Key Offensive Players:

QB Brian Chester - 46/83 (.554), 2 pass TDs, 3 INTs, 447 pass yds, 101.4 effic.

RB Jalen Bogans-Love - 25 att, 83 rush yds, 3.3 avg, 1 rush TD

WR Donnie Foster - 10 rec, 73 rec yds, 7.3 avg, 1 rec TD

Key Defensive Players:

LB Calvin Rogers - 21 total tackles, 2.0 TFL

DL Romeion Moore - 18 total tackles, 5.0 TFL

LB Clay Nickerson - 18 total tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks

Cardinals Ranked #21 in NAIA

NAIA RELEASE

(Kansas City, MO) The Cardinals increased their ranking in the NAIA Football Coaches Top 25 poll to 21 after defeating Robert Morris University to remain unbeaten on the season. The ranking is the highest for the Cardinals in program history and is the first time the team has appeared in the poll for two consecutive weeks. Of the 25 teams in the poll, 13 are unbeaten. Other MSFA teams to appear in the poll include University of St. Francis (1), Marian (8), and Saint Xavier (13)

Pohlman named NCCAA Defensive Player of the Week

NCCAA RELEASE

For the second time in as many weeks, the NCCAA recognized a Cardinal for the NCCAA Student Athlete Defensive Player of the Week. Last week Seth Suida and Jay Koski swept the football award at their respective positions. Senior captain and defensive end, Kaleb Pohlman earned the recognition from the NCCAA this week after his explosive plays against Robert Morris University. Pohlman led the Cardinals with a forced fumble that eventually turned into a touchdown and recorded 1.5 sack for a loss of 20 yards. Pohlman also had 1.5 tackles for a loss that resulted in a loss of 20 for the Eagles. Pohlman totaled 4 tackles with many of them coming at crucial times in the game.

Cardinals host "Sweatshirt Drop"

Cardinal fans are invited to help support Concordia's Mission of the Month: Family of God Ministries in Detroit. For the past few years Concordia has invited students to participate in the "Sweatshirt Drop." This year Concordia is inviting families to help give hope and warmth to people in Detroit by dropping off used sweatshirts at the homecoming game Saturday. There will be a bin set up outside of Cardinal Stdium on Saturday.

Concordia partners with Coach to Cure M-D

Coach Schumacher and all the Cardinal coaching staff are joining coaches all over America today in wearing a patch on their left arms to help defeat a terrible genetic disorder. The American Football Coaches Association is working to raise awareness and research funding to cure Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most prolific genetic killer diagnosed in childhood. Support life-saving research by going here for more information.

Team Matchup

MSFA Mid-East League Standings

Other MSFA Games

9/30 – Missouri Baptist @ Siena Heights – 1pm

9/30 – Saint Francis (IL) @ Saint Ambrose – 2pm

9/30 – Taylor @ #13 Saint Xavier – 2pm

9/30 – Robert Morris (IL) @ Quincy University – 2pm

9/30 – #1 Saint Francis (IN) @ #8 Marian – 6:05pm

9/30 – Trinity International @ Olivet Nazarene – 7pm