(Adrian, MI) – Concordia traveled to Siena Heights on Saturday afternoon for a matchup against the rival Saints. The Cardinals came in ranked #15 nationally with an 8-2 record while Siena Heights checked in ranked #20 and 7-2 overall. The game began as a tight defensive battle, but CUAA pulled away behind three touchdowns from Joe Conner (JR/Flat Rock, MI) to earn a 21-10 win.
Joe Conner led the offense with 267 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns giving him 1000 rushing yards on the season for the third consecutive year. Roger Engle (JR/Lorain, Ohio) went 11-23 for 86 yards. Donte Dasalle led Concordia receivers with 39 receiving yards.
Andrew O'Hara (SR/Cleveland, OH) led the defense with 2 interceptions along with 5 tackles. Alex Hinojosa (SO/Allen Park, MI), Jay Koski (SR/Portage, MI) and Reggie Thompson (JR/Chicago, IL) tied for the team lead with 6 tackles. Timothy Koehler (SR/Belvidere, IL) also recorded an interception in the match.
The Cardinals received the ball to begin the game and Roger Engle led a 9-play, 66-yard scoring drive on the team's opening possession. A 23-yard rush from Omar Sinclair (FR/Norcross, GA) helped move the team down the field, and Joe Conner eventually punched in a 1-yard touchdown run on the goal line.
The Concordia defense forced a three-and-out on the Saints' first possession. The Cardinals got the ball back on the Siena Heights 40-yard line, but a 4th-down pass attempt was incomplete leading to a turnover on downs.
On the next series, the Saints believed they had a free play after Concordia defenders appeared to jump offside. A deep pass was intercepted by Timothy Koehler, and after no flag was thrown the football went right back to CUAA. The ensuing Cardinal drive made it to the Siena Heights 22-yard line, but an incomplete pass on 4th down caused another turnover on downs.
The Cardinals had shut out Siena Heights for the last 2 years, but that streak came to an end after a 40-yard touchdown run from D'Aries Davis tied the game 7-7. Concordia nearly retook the lead when Roger Engle fired deep in the direction of Donte Desalle (SR/Nashville, TN), but the pass fell incomplete. Both teams clamped down defensively and the game remained tied 7-7 at halftime.
Siena Heights began the 3rd quarter on offense, but the Concordia defense forced a punt. CUAA made a 12-play, 81-yard drive highlighted by a 37-yard run from Joe Conner and a 4th down conversion on a run by Parker Graham (FR/Livonia, MI). However, a field goal attempt was blocked and the game remained tied.
Both teams traded defensive stops as the quarter went on, but the Saints broke the tie with a 36-yard field goal. The Cardinals would quickly come up with an answer on the ensuing possession. Joe Conner found a huge hole in the defense and ran for a 71-yard touchdown. Concordia led 14-10 after the 3rd quarter.
After forcing another Siena Heights punt, the Cardinals looked to run the clock down. The Concordia offensive line slowly wore down the Saints on a 12-play, 88 yard drive that took 7:04 off the clock. Omar Sinclair and Joe Conner combined to keep the ball on the ground, and Conner bounced outside for a 20-yard touchdown run to make the score 21-10.
The Saints nearly responded with a 61-yard run from D'Aries Davis, but Mark Wilson (SO/Highland Park, MI) raced back for the Cardinals and forced a fumble out of bounds at the 10-yard line. After the Concordia defense stopped 2 rushing plays, Andrew O'Hara made an interception in the endzone to stop the drive.
With time winding down in the game, the Cardinals kept the ball on the ground to run out the clock. A second interception from Andrew O'Hara on the Saints' last possession helped to seal the game, and the Cardinals claimed a 21-10 victory.
Concordia improves to 9-2 overall with the win. The Cardinals will now await the decision of the NAIA Playoff Committee as the team looks to earn their second consecutive at-large berth to the playoffs. The Selection Show will be held on the NAIA's Facebook Page Sunday, November 11 at 5:00pm.
