(Indianapolis, IN) – Concordia football traveled to #2-ranked Marian on Saturday afternoon for a significant MSFA Mideast matchup. The #10-ranked Cardinals entered 3-0 in the MSFA Mid-East and 6-1 overall while Marian came in 2-0 in the Mideast and a perfect 6-0 on the year. While both teams entered with the top 2 defenses in the country, 916 total yards were accumulated in the game. 34 first half points by the Knights eventually led to a 48-17 win.
Joe Conner (JR/Flat Rock, MI) led the Concordia offense with 143 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns along with 75 receiving yards. Roger Engle (JR/Lorain, Ohio) passed for 255 yards in the game. Roderick Dailey (JR/Detroit, MI) led all receivers with 79 yards while Donte Desalle (SR/Nashville, TN) finished with a team-high 7 catches for 72 yards. On defense, Andrew O'Hara (SR/Cleveland, OH) led the team with 10 total tackles. Jay Koski (SR/Portage, MI) checked in second with 9 tackles and Timothy Koehler (SR/Belvidere, IL) recorded 8 tackles.
Concordia kicked off to begin the game and Marian started off with a 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive. The Cardinals responded with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive on their first possession. Donte Dasalle made a key first-down catch, Parker Graham (FR/Livonia, MI) recorded runs of 12 and 13 yards, and Joe Conner powered his way through defenders for a game-tying touchdown.
Marian answered back with a touchdown on the next series, taking a 14-7 lead as the 1st quarter came to a close. The Knights then capitalized on a Concordia fumble, taking advantage of the short field to take a 20-7 lead. Marian's defense forced a three-and-out, and the Knights scored again to take a 27-7 advantage.
The Cardinals battled back on the next series, opening up their bag of tricks with a "flea flicker" play. Joe Conner took a handoff, flipped the ball back to quarterback Roger Engle, and then Engle fired deep to Roderick Dailey for a 32-yard gain. Joe Conner eventually completed the 7-play, 75-yard drive with a strong 14-yard touchdown run up the middle.
Marian continued to move the ball on offense and the Knights scored again to take a 34-14 lead. Concordia's final drive of the 1st half began with 2:41 remaining. Roger Engle and Parker Graham alternated at quarterback, steadily moving the team downfield. While a CUAA touchdown was called back due to a penalty, Ross O'Brien (SR/Perrysburg, OH) drilled a 22-yard field goal as time expired to cut the deficit to 34-17.
Turnovers plagued Concordia in the 2nd half. The Cardinals began the 3rd quarter with the ball, but the drive ended with a lost fumble. While CUAA's defense responded by forcing a punt, the Knights caused another fumble on Concordia's next possession. Marian needed only one play to capitalize, recording a 28-yard passing touchdown to extend their lead to 41-17.
A well-executed trick play led to Roger Engle passing to Joe Conner for a 50-yard gain, but the Marian defense forced a fumble at the end of the play. The Knights took advantage of the opportunity with a touchdown drive that spanned into the 4th quarter.
Neither team scored for the remainder of the game. The Cardinals had a promising drive late in the 4th quarter that made it to the Marian 12-yard line, but a 4th-down pass attempt floated out of the endzone. As time expired, Marian emerged with a 48-17 win over Concordia.
The Cardinals fall to 6-2 overall after the loss. Concordia will look to regroup when they travel to Taylor next week on Saturday, October 27. The game is set to begin at 1pm.
