Box Score
after starting the game on a short field after a recovering an onside kick,
kole goodchild and concordia university-st. Paul went to work. Goodchild, the golden bears junior quarterback, led three touchdown drives in the game's first 16 minutes as concordia-st. Paul coasted to a 49-0 win over minnesota-crookston in the first game of the nsic/merchants bank metrodome football classic.
goodchild got the ball rolling with a 14-yard scoring pass to wide receiver
tyrone ruffin to cap a five play, 50-yard drive just three minutes into the game.
the next scoring drive was longer, but no less efficient. Taking over on their own 29-yard line after a failed fourth-and-10 attempt, goodchild marched the golden bears on an eight play, 71-yard drive that took 3:16. The two big plays were a 25-yard completion to ruffin, followed by a 21-yard scoring strike to tight end
eric tonkin (left).
goodchild used the big play to set up the third touchdown of the half. He hit senior wide receiver
cecil elekwachi (right) on a 36 yard pass. Four plays later, goodchild hit
jason simmons (left) on a 13-yard touchdown pass just 58 seconds into the second quarter.
the bears led 21-0 at the intermission
"we came out focused," goodchild said. "we had faith in the game plan and came out mentally sound. We did take these guys lightly and we hit on all cylinders."
goodchild finished the game, hitting 12 of 16 for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
the golden bears kept the pressure on in the third quarter when senior running back aaron cawthorn (right) took an option pitch from goodchild and scampered 14 yards down the sideline at 7:10 of the third quarter. Cawthorne finished with 58 yards rushing and 10 yards receiving.
senior jay schauder (left) took over the bears offense in the third quarter and hit elekwachi for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter to give csp a 35-0 lead. Elekwachi finished with a game-high 79 yards receiving.
less than a minute after that touchdown, senior cornerback antonio brown (right) picked off a umc pass and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown.
senior fullback josh robinson (left) finished the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run with 5:52 to play in the game.
concordia coach mark mauer wasn't surprised by the golden eagles attempt of an onside kick to open the game.
"they're a team that will take chances," mauer said. "they're having a tough year like we are."
mauer praised his starting quarterback, who missed most of last week's game with bemidji state after suffering a concussion. "kole has developed every ball game," mauer said. "every offense needs an intelligent quarterback, but we put a lot of responsibility on ours. He's smart."
concordia, who won the league title last season, ended the year on a high note for the graduating seniors. They ended the year winning three of their last four games, to finish 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the nsic.
"that was the objective," mauer said. "we played hard in honor of the seniors that contributed to the title last year."
crookston (0-11, 0-8) had their chances in both the second and third quarters. Kreutner, who came on in relief of starter chris zellmer, led the golden eagles inside the concordia 20, before a crookston wide receiver was stripped of the ball trying to make a move late in the first half.
another crookston fumble derailed the golden eagles' first drive of the second half. Crookston turned the ball over five times on three fumbles lost and two interceptions.
the bears defense was led by senior brad scherer (left) who had 11 tackles, including four solo and 1.5 for losses. Senior eric power (right) also finished with a strong perforance with nine tackles, including one for a loss.
as a team, the defense allowed a season low 214 yards of total offense, including a season-low 124 yards passing.
