ST. PAUL, Minn. - Senior inside linebacker
Jordan Halverson (Fridley, Minn./HS) became Concordia-St. Paul's all-time leader in tackles in a 51-7 losing effort on homecoming to Winona State (3-2 NSIC, 1-0 South). The Golden Bears fell to 1-4 on the year while dropping their South Division opener at Sea Foam Stadium.
Concordia will look to snap back-to-back losses next Saturday night with a 6 p.m. kickoff at Upper Iowa in Fayette.
Halverson had 12 tackles in the game, giving him 343 in his career to break Brian Doyle's 11-year old record of 342. Doyle was a linebacker for the Golden Bears from 2001-04, winning the program's first NSIC Championship in 2003.
Many of Doyle's teammates were present for homecoming, as the team honored the 2005 NSIC Championship team prior to kickoff in recognition of the 10 year anniversary of the second league title. Although Doyle wasn't able to be at the game, he did speak to the team at practice this week in which he recognized Halverson approaching the milestone with genuine support during a larger address to the team.
Halverson and the defense were placed in some less than ideal circumstances which led to the Warriors' 51 point output. The Warriors had an average starting field position at the 41 yard line compared to Concordia at the 26. WSU had two touchdown drives and two field goal drives of under 50 yards as the Warriors scored 14 points off of Concordia's three turnovers.
CU Football vs. Winona State 10.3.2015 - Images by
Justin Oakman
The Golden Bears started with the ball and looked poised to puts on the scoreboard in the opening quarter for the first time in 2015. Concordia's opening drive went 55 yards in 11 plays, churning 5:41 off the clock but ended on a fumble at the WSU 22 yard line.
On Concordia's third possession, starting at its own 35 with 2:18 to play in the quarter,
Ben Schramski was a victim of bad luck, as his deflected pass was nearly caught by an official which aided Winona State in intercepting the ball just before it hit the ground after the bobble.
Two plays later, Winona State had its second touchdown, a 14-0 lead and a world of momentum following Concordia's second hard-luck turnover.
Winona State used it as a springboard to a 38-0 halftime lead and eventually built a 48-0 margin midway through the third quarter.
Concordia's offense picked up in the second half with a strong third quarter drive, marching 82 yards on eight plays capped by a
Ben Schramski to
Bruce Russell touchdown from 15 yards out.
Schramski completed 21-31 for 191 yards and a touchdown but was sacked three times and intercepted twice. Russell's touchdown catch was his only grab of the game, but his second touchdown reception of the year.
Schramski connected with
Alquawn Vickers eight times for 87 yards, and Vickers added 116 kickoff return yards while finishing with 211 all-purpose yards.
Jason Oney also had eight catches, going for 59 yards.
Alex Carr led the ground game with 62 yards on seven attempts including a long of 34 yards.
Sam Maedke had another strong game punting the ball, averaging 39.6 on five punts with a long of 47 and one inside the 20.
Halverson wasn't the only defensive player to reach double-digits in tackles as
Dominic Nabak had 11 while
Jimmy Mireri had eight tackles and a pair of pass breakups.
Up front,
Chazz Roberts led the defensive line with six tackles including three tackles for loss.
Winona State tallied 532 yards of total offense compared to Concordia's 255. The Warriors passed for 360 yards as Jack Nelson completed 20-31 for 333 yards and three touchdowns before being replaced in the fourth quarter. He found Josh Mikes five times for 123 yards and two touchdowns including a 65-yard strike deep over the middle in the second quarter.
Paul Preston added a 100-yard rushing performance to WSU's stat line, rushing for 104 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown.
The Warriors converted 11-17 on third downs and 8-9 in the red zone including five red zone touchdowns.
