CROOKSTON, Minn. - It was a windy, gloomy day in Northern Minnesota, and the conditions certainly affected play early on as Concordia trailed 16-3 at the half. But halftime adjustments allowed Concordia University (1-1) to rattle off three unanswered second half touchdowns en route to a 34-24 road win at Minnesota, Crookston (0-2) at Ed Widseth Field.

Concordia sophomore running back Tre Spears (Chicago, Ill. ) produced his second-straight 100-yard game, going for a career-high 187 yards and a 31-yard, go-ahead fourth quarter touchdown run. He carried the ball 25 times for a 7.5 average, which included a key 44-yard fourth quarter run as well.

As a team, Concordia pounded the ball for 238 yards on 39 attempts, averaging 6.1 per rush.

Sophomore James Peterson (Blaine, Minn. ) completed 9-of-10 for 129 yards and two touchdowns in the second half as well to spark the turnaround.

Minnesota, Crookston countered with 303 rushing yards on 45 attempts led by Richard Haley's 186 yards on 24 carries, while quarterback AJ Barge added 59 yards on 10 attempts with a touchdown, and Keith McBride had eight carries for 52 yards.

At the half, Concordia had just three first downs and -2 passing yards. They were 0-for-6 on third downs and had an interception returned for touchdown deep in their own territory.

They were able to run the ball, though, with 19 team carries for 104 yards. But the host Golden Eagles also established the run with 207 yards on 22 attempts in the first half. UMC also struggled through the air with 16 passing yards on 15 attempts (7 completions).

In the second half, Concordia started with the ball going directly into the stiff 24-mile per hour wind. After a conservative game plan in the first half, head coach Ryan Williams opened up the offense despite the conditions, and the move paid off.

On the first play of the drive, Peterson connected with sophomore Cordell Smith (Mequon, Wis. ) for a 15 yard gain to the sideline. They'd hook-up again for 21 yards a few plays later to put Concordia into scoring position at the UMC 25 yard line. A 22-yard end-around run by redshirt freshman QB/WR Corey Cole (Fillmore, Calif. ) put the Golden Bears inside the five with a 1st and goal.

Three runs later, Peterson snuck it over the goal line for his second touchdown run of the season.

The opening drive of the second half sent a message, as Concordia went 68 yards on 11 plays in 3:18, and for the first time in the game (for either team), passing was a factor.

A short kickoff and solid return gave UMC the ball at the 50 with the winds at their back. Runs of 12 and 22 by Haley along with a few short gains but the Golden Eagles at the CU 5 yard line. But Concordia's defense came up strong as junior Zach Moore (Chicago, Ill. ) stuffed AJ Barge on a 4th and 1 deep in the red zone.

The Golden Bears went 3-and-out on their own 5-yard line and had to punt into the wind, giving UMC the ball back on the CU 29 yard line. eight plays later, the Golden Eagles faced a 3rd and goal on the CU 7, but Barge fumbled at the 15 with junior Denzell Blackmon (Chicago, Ill. ) scooping it up and returning it the distance. A holding penalty brought the play back, but the turnover would stand.


The touchdown gave Concordia the lead back, 17-16, entering the fourth quarter.

With the wind at his back, sophomore Tom Obarski (Burnsville, Minn. ) delivered one of his four touchbacks in the game to start the quarter. The defense held strong again, and a short 20-yard punt gave Concordia the ball on their own 39 to start the next drive.

On a 1st and 10 from their own 49, Concordia gave the ball to Spears who buried the Golden Eagles with a 44-yard run to the UMC 7 yard line and on the next play, Peterson found Smith for a 7-yard touchdown strike to give Concordia three straight touchdowns and a 24-16 lead with 10:40 to play.

The Golden Eagles countered with an 8-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 32-yard touchdown keeper by Barge, and he added the 2-point run to tie the game.

With seven minutes to play, Concordia once again started with favorable position thanks to the wind advantage. They methodically drove from their own 38 to the UMC 31 using seven plays with the longest being a 13-yard connection from Peterson to senior Nate Thienes (Lake Elmo, Minn. ).

But Spears broke it open again with a 31-yard touchdown dash. On the first play of UMC's ensuing drive, Blackmon intercepted the pass and returned it to the 20-yard line with 3:07 to play.

Concordia stalled offensively but Obarski delivered his second field goal of the game, a 31-yarder, with 2:04 to play to take a 10-point lead late in the game.

UMC tried to rally, but only advanced 43 yards in seven plays before turning it over on downs at the CU 18 yard line to end the game.

Peterson finished the game with 127 yards passing and two touchdowns, completing 12-of-20 with one interception - Concordia's only turnover.

He found six different targets in the game, led by Smith and Thienes with three receptions each. Mason led the team with 54 yards receiving, which came on consecutive catches including the 32-yard touchdown.

Defensively, sophomore Jordan Halverson (Fridley, Minn. ) led the team with 14 tackles including 3.0 for loss and blocked a PAT attempt in the first half.

Junior Jay Moten (Spicer, Minn. ) added 10 tackles (seven solo). Adding punch in the secondary, Blackmon had a fumble recovery and an interception in the second half, and pitched in five tackles.

Up front, Moore had a pair of sacks to give him three for the year, adding five tackles (all solo).

Concordia finished the game with 365 yards of total offense while UMC out-gained them with 392 yards. UMC also had 24 first downs to Concordia's 16.

The Golden Bears were just 2-of-11 on third downs and 1-of-3 on fourth downs. But they scored on all four trips to the red zone. Meanwhile, UMC was 5-of-14 on thirds and 1-of-4 on fourths. They converted just 2-of-6 times in the red zone.

The Golden Bears have now won 9-straight games against UMC and three in a row in Crookston at Ed Widseth Field.

They return to action next Saturday, September 15 for Day of Heroes at Sea Foam Stadium against #2 Minnesota Duluth with a 6 p.m. kickoff.