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ST. PAUL, Minn. - This Saturday, the Concordia football team (1-3) opens NSIC South Division play on the road at 15th-ranked Minnesota State (4-0) at Blakeslee Stadium. It's homecoming for the Mavericks, with a 2 p.m. kickoff.
It's another tough test for Concordia as they'll play their second nationally-ranked opponent in three weeks. MSU is ranked as high as #7 in the country in the D2Football.com poll, coming in at #15 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll.
The national rankings are in line with MSU's national-power defense. MSU ranks in the top-10 in the country in several statistical categories, including boasting the top-ranked total defense in the land. They surrender just 158.3 yards per game overall, while their 38.5 rushing yards per game ranks fourth, scoring defense (10.3 ppg) ranks fifth and pass defense (119.8) ranks sixth.
In addition, MSU has the eighth ranked turnover margin in the country, averaging a +1.75 per game difference as they've forced 13 turnovers and committed just four on the year.
It all adds up to teams reaching the red zone just five times overall in four games (1.25 per game), totalling just 24 points against MSU in the red zone, or 6.0 per game.
But the Golden Bears have a few things in their favor as these teams haven't played a single common opponent from the NSIC North Division in the first four weeks. Concordia's opponents have a combined 9-7 record while MSU's are just 3-13.
While MSU boasts one of the best defenses in the country through four weeks, they haven't had the same tests that the Golden Bears might offer. Concordia's offense is ranked 22nd in passing (289.8 per game) and they have the league's fourth leading rusher,
Tre Spears (Chicago, Ill. ) (98.5 per game). Their receivers are led by the league's second leading target,
Cordell Smith (Mequon, Wis. ), with 380 yards and 17.3 yards per catch while
Tre Mason (League City, Texas ) is averaging more than 22 yards per catch on the other side.
Their multi-dimensional offense doesn't stop there, as tight end
Nate Thienes (Lake Elmo, Minn. ) has carved up opponents over the middle with 18 catches for 225 yards and his 275 pound frame has proven tough to tackle for opposing linebackers and defensive backs.
The offensive line, led by junior
Steven Davis (Harvey, Ill. ) at right tackle, has allowed just three sacks through four games, ranking 21st nationally.
A well-protected
James Peterson (Blaine, Minn. ) has been outstanding under center as one of the league's top passers. In seven career starts, he has four 300-plus yard passing games including a pair this season.
This Saturday's tilt will be a battle of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, but the matchup features plenty of intriguing angles including how MSU's offense matches up with Concordia's aggressive defense, and of course Concordia's special teams weapon, the right leg of sophomore
Tom Obarski (Burnsville, Minn. ).
