ST. PAUL, Minn. - #25 Concordia-St. Paul (2-1, 2-1 NSIC) dropped its first game of the year 34-3 to #24 St. Cloud State (3-0, 3-0 NSIC) on Saturday evening at Sea Foam Stadium. It was Concordia's Day of Heroes, the fifth annual Military Appreciation Day on campus.
CU Football vs St. Cloud State 9.21.2013 - Images by
Justin Oakman
St. Cloud State asserted itself early, scoring on the game's opening drive after eight plays and 75 yards. Phillip Klaphake rushed in from three yards out just 3:27 into play. Klaphake would throw for 243 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 40 yards and one score.
The Huskies scored two more times in the quarter for a quick 21-0 lead, and added another touchdown and field goal late in the second quarter for a 31-0 halftime margin.
The Golden Bears had three first downs in the opening half while SCSU 16. SCSU out-gained Concordia 304-74.
Concordia was unable to climb out of the hole, despite taking the second half's opening drive 56 yards in eight plays. The drive stalled out on the SCSU 12 yard line and was completed with a missed field goal. Junior quarterback
Jared Russo had two big connections on the drive, a 20-yarder to sophomore
Gabe Boyce to get into SCSU territory, and a 28-yard strike to junior
Cordell Smith down to the SCSU 16.
The Golden Bears' lone scoring drive was an impressive 17-play, 66 yard march over 8:26 with junior
Tom Obarski delivering a 24 yard field goal with 3:46 to play in the game. The drive featured two third down conversions and a 4th-and-1.
Despite the slow start, Concordia's defense held St. Cloud State to 133 yards in the second half, and 437 for the game.
The Golden Bears rushed for 85 yards on 32 attempts led by junior
Tre Spears with 20 attempts for 60 yards.
Russo completed 11-22 for 121 yards while connecting with six different targets. Senior
Raphael Washington had two catches for 32 yards and Smith had two catches for 36 yards.
Defensively, senior safety
Mike Willett had a game-high 12 tackles whlie junior safety
Abdullah Asad added nine and forced a fumble. Sophomore
Josh Trifunov had nine tackles and a sack, as well.
Concordia returns to the road next Saturday to face MSU Moorhead with a 2 p.m. kickoff at Nemzek Stadium.
