FAYETTE, Iowa - It was a tale of two halves on a damp fall Saturday evening at Harms-Eischeid Stadium in northeastern Iowa, and in the end Concordia-St. Paul's (1-5 NSIC, 0-2 South) comeback attempt fell just short in a 34-29 loss at Upper Iowa (4-2 NSIC, 1-1 South).

The Golden Bears return home for the next two weeks against nationally-ranked opponents, hosting #22 Winona State next Saturday evening with a 6 p.m. kickoff before bringing in #6 Sioux Falls in two weeks for a noon start. Earlier today, WSU defeated USF in Sioux Falls, suggesting a rankings shakeup between the squads this week.

Facing one of the stingiest pass defenses in the country as Upper Iowa entered play ranked fourth nationally allowing just 117.4 yards through the air per game, Concordia was able to pass for nearly that much (110) in the first half alone.

By game's end, Concordia senior quarterback Ron Johnson found sophomore wide receiver Marcus Gustaveson nine times for 93 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson finished the night 23-44 for 262 yards and was not intercepted.

Sophomore running back Darnell Rolle also had a strong game, combining for 126 yards with 21 carries for 86 yards and three catches for 40 yards.

The defense saw big plays in the pass rush from freshman defensive end Chris Garrett who made two sacks, giving him three in just two career games. Garrett had eight tackles and also batted down a pass. Sophomore defensive lineman Dylan Wood finished with nine tackles including three for loss, as well.

Taking a play from Upper Iowa's playbook, Concordia-St. Paul also picked up a blocked punt in the third quarter, setting up a one play touchdown drive from five yards. Entering play, CSP had yet to block a punt and had two blocked kicks on the season while UIU had a combined eight blocked kicks/punts.

But Upper Iowa jumped on the scoreboard first. In a rainy first quarter, UIU was able to convert a 4th and 3 from the CSP 11 and scored two plays later for the 7-0 lead nearly 10 minutes into play.

On Concordia's second possession, the Bears marched into Peacock territory but a 4th and 1 rushing play was ruled short after measurement as Upper Iowa's play on fourth down in the first quarter proved decisive early.

The heavy rain and windy conditions halted the two teams' passing attack. Upper Iowa wouldn't attempt a passing play until the Golden Bears forced an incompletion on 3rd and 9 with about 11 minutes to go in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, Concordia and senior quarterback Ron Johnson completed five of its first six passes but for just 17 yards.

In the second quarter with a 2nd and 8 at the CSP 40, Johnson was flushed out of the pocket and with the slick conditions UIU was able to spring the ball loose and recovered at the CSP 24.

Just like the first quarter with UIU capitalizing on the fourth downs, the Peacocks would capitalize on fumbles as Concordia forced a fumble in the red zone, but it was Peacock rusher, Ryan Parmely who fell on it in the end zone for the 14-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter with CSP trailing, Garrett made the first of two big sacks on the night. A UIU penalty followed to push the Peacocks back to a 3rd and 17.

The defensive stop gave the Golden Bears the ball with 1:38 to play at their own 20 yard line, looking for momentum before the break as UIU would start with the ball in the second half.

Concordia delivered, executing a big third down as Johnson connected with sophomore Gabe Steed. The connection was also crucial in that UIU would have forced CSP to punt, potentially adding to the 14-0 lead before halftime.

Instead, Concordia would see another big connection as Johnson went deep down the middle to Rolle for 40 yards into the Peacock red zone for the first time.

From there, Johnson went to his favorite red zone target, Gustaveson. A 10-yard connection between the pair put CSP to the nine yard line. A play and a penalty later, they connected from 12 yards out for the first of three scores on the day.

The eight play, 80 yard scoring drive spanned 1:18 and gave Concordia the momentum it needed heading into the locker room. The offense picked up four of nine third down conversions in the first half, as well.

The CSP secondary did its part by holding UIU to 1-5 passing for 23 yards in the half while stifling the Peacocks to 1-6 on third down.

In the second half, the defense continued to play tough in holding UIU to a 3-and-out on the opening drive.

Although CSP stalled on offense, Concordia would continue to gain momentum as UIU drove to the CSP red zone, missing a 35 yard field goal.

With conditions improving as the rain pushed out of the area, Concordia's offense would also stall but senior punter Sam Maedke blasted a 62-yarder from the CSP 23 deep into UIU territory with just a one yard return to the 16.

Maedke had a big punting day, averaging 47.2 on six punts, putting two inside the 20 with one fair catch and a long of 62. The reigning All-NSIC South Division Second Team punter out-kicked his All-NSIC South Division First Team counterpart as Nate Skare averaged 37.5 on six punts and had one blocked.

Another defensive 3-and-out by the Bears forced a punt, and this time Concordia blocked it with senior Elias Arlington finding a gap to block the kick. Senior Deceon Schumann recovered at the UIU 5 yard line and junior Jake Tanner ran it in on a reverse.

Although Tanner didn't have a catch in the pass game, he had 50 all-purpose yards (3-21 PR, 1-24 KR, 1-5, TD rush). Arlington finished with 137 all-purpose yards (4-69 rec, 4-55 KR, 1-13 PR)

The point after attempt was unsuccessful as UIU kept a slim 14-13 lead with 6:23 to play in the third quarter.

For the third time in the quarter, Concordia's defense held a 3-and-out, getting a big 3rd and 1 stop at the UIU 34 yard line.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, freshman Lajuan Preston broke free for a 46 yard run to the UIU 24 yard line. Preston finished the night rushing five times for 57 yards in his top performance to date.

The Bears picked up a big 4th-and-1 conversion as Rolle bashed through the line for two yards.

Concordia would settle for a 30-yard field goal by junior Jonas Schenderlein to claim a 16-14 lead with 16 straight points.

It was his 13th consecutive field goal made inside of 50 yards where he's 15-of-18 in his career. He had a big night, making his two PAT attempts to extend that streak to 51 while also pushing five of his six kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

The slight lead was also short lived as the Peacock passing attack finally came alive on the next drive. Prior to the UIU drive start at 2:05 in the third, the Peacocks had completed just 5-of-14 for 47 yards.

But Brent Lammers, who was hurting CSP with his running ability, would finally strike with his arm. He completed 3-of-4 on the four play drive, capping the 75 yard march with a 42 yard touchdown pass for the 21-16 lead with 1:14 to play in the third.

Lammers had a big night, bruising the Golden Bears for 162 yards and a touchdown on 28 rushing attempts while completing 10-21 for 174 and two touchdowns through the air including 151 passing yards in the second half.

The Concordia offense continued to produce with plays of 13 and 15 yards before a 10-yard defensive holding penalty by the UIU secondary saved a big play deep down field to Gustaveson. Another nine yard play was followed by a Rolle three yard run to convert a 3rd and 1 before Johnson found Gustaveson for a 15-yard touchdown.

The methodical drive for Concordia was six plays, 65 yards and took just 1:38 to reclaim a 22-21 lead as the two point conversion was intercepted.

Lammers responded to the challenge on his home field again, running four times for 23 yards and completing a pair of passes for 52 yards with a long of 38 and a 14 yard touchdown. The two point pass was incomplete as UIU held a 27-22 lead with 11:46 to go.

After Preston broke off a 12 yard run for a first down on the first play of the ensuing drive, the Peacocks were able to get a stop. A strong 43 yard punt by Maedke was returned 82 yards for a touchdown by Jesse Vizzini as Upper Iowa reclaimed a two score lead, 34-22 with 9:35 remaining. It was UIU's fourth punt return for a touchdown on the season.

Facing a 3rd and 14 on their own 33 yard line, Johnson found Arlington for a 13 yard play at the sideline. Johnson converted a 4th and 1 keeper to keep the drive alive.

A few plays later on 3rd and 17, Johnson scrambled to his right to the sideline. With UIU closing in, Johnson threw back across the field to a wide open Arlington who picked up a majority of a 38 yard gain with his speed, racing to the UIU 20 yard line.

After facing a 3rd and 14 and a 3rd and 17 on the drive, the Golden Bears would convert another 3rd and 10 as Johnson found Gustaveson at the chains. After misfiring to Gustaveson in the end zone, the duo found their third score to make it 34-29 with 5:28 left in the game.

With UIU taking over at its own 27 yard line, freshman Blake Evans stopped the Peacocks for a two yard gain before Garrett, another freshman, had Lammers on the run on a passing play. Garrett forced Lammers to the turf for his second sack for a big loss of 18 yards to the UIU 9 yard line.

Lammers picked up 11 yards on 3rd and 26 to help with field position but Tanner returned a short 33 yard punt 11 yards to the UIU 42 yard line with 3:30 to go.

After a six yard loss on the first play, Johnson connected with Gustaveson for a 23 yard strike and Rolle followed with a bruising 12 yard run to the UIU 13 yard line.

A four yard play to Gustaveson gave CSP a 2nd and 6 from the UIU 9 yard line. From there, the Bears threw three incomplete passes.

The Peacocks took over with 1:45 to go from their own nine with two Concordia timeouts. Lammers iced the game with a 2nd and 9 rush for 19 yards.

CSP's defense received 11 tackles from sophomore safety Brian Szutkowski who leads the team with 46 on the season and has made at least six tackles each game.

The Concordia defense combined for eight tackles for loss (36) and had the two Garrett sacks. UIU also had eight tackles for loss (41) and added four sacks.

On the night, Concordia had two more first downs (22-20) and compiled 383 yards of total offense against one of the top defenses in the Northern Sun. CSP also held UIU to just 174 yards through the air although the Peacocks were able to run for 245 on 54 attempts.

Concordia's biggest advantage was on third downs, converting 8-of-20 while holding UIU to 2-of-13. CSP also scored four touchdowns and a field goal in six trips to the red zone while UIU reached the red zone four times, scoring three touchdowns and going scoreless once.