Football announces schedule for 2018 season

Posted: Jun 21, 2018

(Ann Arbor, MI) Coming off of a record setting 2017 season, the Cardinals led by 2^nd year coach Joshua Schumacher are set to play yet another difficult schedule in 2018. Since the 2013 season, the program has improved its record by two wins every year, culminating in a 9-2 record in 2017 with the first ever NAIA playoff berth in school history. The 2018 schedule features many of the same opponents as the 2017 season including some of the nation's top teams and a few new challengers.

Concordia will begin its 2018 campaign against their second NCAA Division II opponent in as many years. Malone University will host the Cards at Tom Benson Stadium which is part of the newly renovated Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The Pioneers posted a 1-9 record last year and fell to MSFA Mideast's own Taylor University, 21-28.

The Cardinals will return to Cardinal Stadium for the next two weeks as Trinity International University comes to town. Concordia has had the upper hand in this series as of late, securing victory in the past three meetings. Last season the Trojans went 2-8 and lost to CUAA with a 34-20 score.

The second matchup of the early homestand will be against Olivet Nazarene University. At the time of last year's meeting both sides were receiving votes in the NAIA, but it was Concordia who would walk away with another for the win column after a 38-16 defeat of the Tigers. Olivet Nazarene would go on to a 6-5 record on the year.

Concordia will hit the road for the next two weeks as they square off against Robert Morris University in Chicago. After four losses to the Eagles, the Cardinals took command with a 34-26 triumph in 2017.

Next up for the Cardinals is Lindenwood University-Belleville. History has seen Concordia with the advantage, winning the last two matchups by an average of 54 points. The first MSFA Mideast game of the season for the two teams, Concordia will take to the maroon-and-grey stripped turf of Lindenwood Stadium for their fourth bout with the Lynx.

On October 6^th, Concordia will welcome University of St. Francis to Ann Arbor for another showdown of two of the top teams in the NAIA. In their last battle, CUAA had an 18-15 lead going into the fourth, but allowed a fumble recovery for a touchdown followed by an onside kick and consequential rushing touchdown in the final four minutes to suffer their only loss of the regular season. St. Francis would go on to complete their perfect season and win the NAIA National Championship against the team that knocked the Cardinals out of the playoffs, Reinhardt University.

Concordia will remain at home the following weekend as they play host to Missouri Baptist University. The Cardinals have yet to surrender to the Spartans, as CUAA has won all three prior meetings, including a 66-21 rout in 2017. October 13^th will also serve as Concordia's Homecoming weekend.

Indianapolis will be the site for the Cardinals on October 20^th as they face off against Marian University. The Knights have had the advantage in previous years, as they have been perennial playoff contenders year in and year out. In one of the most memorable moments of last season, Roger Engle stepped in to lead an eventual game winning drive in the final minutes to hand Marian its third loss and essentially knock them out of playoff contention.

Concordia will stay on the road as they will line up across from Taylor University. Despite winning the past two times 31-14, the Trojans have been able to give the top three teams in the division trouble recently. Taylor also upended Concordia's season opener, Malone University, in their 2017 campaign.

Last season the Cardinals enjoyed a bye week before closing out the regular season, but this year Concordia will invite newcomer Indiana Wesleyan University to Cardinal Stadium. The Wildcats will be in the inaugural season of their football program and will be joining the MSFA in 2019. November 3^rd will mark the last home regular season game for the Cards, when all seniors will be honored for Senior Day.

To cap off the regular season, the Cardinals will make the short trek to Adrian, Michigan, for another battle with rival Siena Heights University. The series record now sits at three a piece after CUAA erased a 20-point deficit in 2015 and blanked the Saints in the past two meetings. The Cards have effectively outscored Siena Heights 106-7 since the start of that comeback in 2015.

Coach Schumacher and the Cardinals pride themselves on playing a difficult schedule from start to finish. "We are excited to go on the road to open the season with Malone. Malone is a talented team and the coaching staff has been building their team with great athletes. We look forward to the challenge of competing against NCAA Division II opponent for the second time in two years." When it comes to conference play, the Cards embrace the challenge of the MSFA. "The MSFA is hands down the best league in the NAIA. We know every week will be a challenge and we relish the competition."

"We are excited to see how we as a team evolve to the different personnel," says Schumacher. "Every year we have new leaders. It is always exciting to see how they connect their teammates with their vision for our team. We are confident as a coaching staff that our leaders will continue to invest into our young members of our team."

September 1, 1:00 PM CUAA @ Malone University

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium - Canton, OH

Will be the first meeting between the two teams

September 8, 1:00 PM Trinity International University vs. CUAA

Cardinal Stadium - Ann Arbor, MI

Last meeting - W 34-20 (2017)

September 15, 1:00 PM Olivet Nazarene University vs. CUAA

Cardinal Stadium - Ann Arbor, MI

Last meeting - W 38-16 (2017)

September 22, 2:00 PM CUAA @ Robert Morris University (IL)

Morris Field - Arlington Heights, IL

Last meeting - W 34-26 (2017)