ST. PAUL, Minn. - This Saturday, Concordia-St. Paul (4-4 NSIC, 2-2 South) returns to NSIC South Division play, hosting Senior Day against Augustana (5-3 NSIC, 2-2 South) with a noon kickoff at Sea Foam Stadium.

SUMMIT ORTHOPEDICS: OFFICIAL GAME SPONSOR
This Saturday's official game sponsor, Summit Orthopedics, will provide CSP Rally Towels to the first 500 fans. Summit Orthopedics has provided the official team physicians of the Golden Bears since 2014.

SENIOR DAY
The Golden Bears will be honoring an 11 member senior class on Saturday: Dom McKinzy, Emanuel Jones, Isaiah Walker, Samuel Kessler, Davarus Clark, Cleandre Robinson and four year contributors Jonas Schenderlein, Terrell Taylor, Brandon Russell and Adam Miller while redshirt junior Brian Szutkowski will graduate with the senior class. Of the 11 members of the senior class, Taylor and Miller have both with the program for five seasons including their redshirt season.

Due to the twists and turns of football eligibility, three of the program's listed seniors on the 2018 roster, John Damrow, Andre Eubanks and Jake Tanner will return for one more season with the club.

The seniors will be honored on the field as part of the pregame introductions approximately 10 minutes prior to the noon kickoff.

WEATHER OUTLOOK
As of Wednesday afternoon, this Saturday's game will be played with temperatures ranging from the mid-to-upper 40s with a high of 50 degrees for the day with cloudy skies and a 30 percent chance of showers later in the day. Unlike the last two weeks, the southeast wind should be calm in the 5-to-10 mile per hour range.

AIMING FOR WINNING RECORDS - WINNING HOME SEASON SECURED
The Golden Bears will be playing for a winning record in both the NSIC overall and division standings in week nine for the first time since the Northern Sun started division play in 2012. The 2013 team was also 4-4 overall heading into week nine but featured a 1-3 mark in the NSIC South. The 2014 team won its last four games to finish with a winning NSIC South record (4-3) but that was after a 1-6 start, giving the squad a 2-6 record heading into week nine.

Concordia needs to win two of its last three games to secure its first winning season since a 6-5 overall record in the 2011 season which featured a 5-5 NSIC record in the season before Minot State was admitted to the league. CSP's last winning conference season was its 2010 Mineral Water Bowl squad that went 8-4 overall (7-3 NSIC) including a 5-0 road record.

Lastly, the Golden Bears have secured a winning home season at Sea Foam Stadium for the third time since the football team returned to campus to the facility in 2009. The 2011 team went 3-1 and the 2014 team went 3-2 at home. This year's squad is 3-1 entering Saturday's home finale against the Vikings. CSP is seeking its first four win home campaign at Sea Foam Stadium and its first four win home season since a 5-0 record in 2005 at Griffin Stadium, the program's last NSIC Championship and the second of three league titles. It was also the final year of the "Griff Myth," the 19 game home winning streak that spanned the entire 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons.

LIVE COVERAGE
The game can be watched online, free of charge as School Space Media produces a multiple camera broadcast with veteran broadcaster Dan Flanagan handling the play-by-play. The St. Paul native is a graduate of Fordham University (N.Y.) where he trained in broadcasting in multiple sports including the Rams football team in the Patriot League. Flanagan has been broadcasting for Golden Bear athletics since 2008. He'll be joined by color commentator Logan Anderson, former voice of Morningside College on 620 AM KMNS in Sioux City, Iowa where he earned a degree in mass communications.

Additionally, live stats are available as is the NSIC live scoreboard to follow league action in real-time.

For fans looking for an audio-only feed, the Crookston radio station, KROX 1260 AM will have the call by Leo Blavin. While the radio station covers the Crookston area in northern Minnesota, the audio call will be available online at www.kroxam.com.

STREAMING DEVICES
The School Space Media streamed webcast is now available through widely used streaming devices like the Roku, Amazon FireTV, Apple TV and Android TV. Simply search for NSIC to find the Stretch Internet application for the conference to watch games on your TV and in HD (where available).

DOWNLOAD THE CSP BEARS GAMEDAY FAN APP
Follow the Golden Bear football team along with the rest of your favorite CSP Bears squads by downloading the new gameday fan app, hosted by From Now On. The app provides users with a unique and customizable experience, allowing each user to select the sports they want to follow and how they are connected to CSP (fans, students, faculty/staff, alumni, etc). The app will also be a new way to stay updated on the action as well as to be the first to find out about promotions and special events!

LISTEN TO THE COACHES SHOW WITH COACH CURRIER FRIDAY NIGHT
New this year, the Coach Shannon Currier Show debuted on 1440 AM KYCR radio in the Twin Cities following the prep football game of the week. The show is hosted by Wally Langfellow of Minnesota Score, and will be a weekly airing following the prep football game of the week, typically in the 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. hour. This week's show is the sixth episode and features player interviews with senior offensive tackle Terrell Taylor and junior defensive lineman Dylan Wood.

For fans who miss the show or are outside of the radio station's Twin Cities reach, the entire show will also be accessible via the CSP Bears Podcast, hosted by Buzzsprout and also available in Spotify, iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher and TuneIn Radio. Or, if you're around the house, tell Alexa to play the CSP Bears Podcast! It will be available on the podcast either late Friday night after the initial airing or on Saturday morning.

CHECK BACK FOR ENHANCED PREVIEW COVERAGE
For fans hungry for the most Golden Bear football content on the web, check the GAME NOTES index page as well as the CSP FOOTBALL WEEKLY index. The two pieces are created with different goals. Game notes, typically released on Thursday afternoons, is to serve concerned media members covering CSP, the opponent media market and those covering NSIC/DII football while the football weekly piece (released Thursday or Friday) is a document produced by the coaching staff to update alumni, family and recruits on behind-the-scenes life in Concordia football. Together they combine to tell the full story of Concordia football, especially when combined with the multimedia options with the CSP Bears Podcast and Coaches Show.

2018 TEAM CAPTAINS
Concordia head coach Shannon Currier has announced plans to have rotating team captains each week throughout the fall season, starting back in the first week of fall training camp. Captains are selected by the coaching staff based on performance on the field and as a leader in practice, meetings and in general day-to-day activities.

This week's game captains feature familiar leadership faces, with senior quarterback Dom McKinzy (5x) and junior offensive lineman Rich Kelly (6x) on offense while junior defensive lineman Kelly Pierce returns to the role for the fourth straight week and junior defensive lineman Dylan Wood earns the nod for the second time this year (also in week 1).

CURRIER TIES PROGRAM WINS RECORD
With the 21-13 win over Minnesota Crookston in week eight, Concordia head coach Shannon Currier has tied the program's all-time wins record with a 40-34 overall record in his seven seasons, reaching the record win total five games faster than Mark Mauer (2004-10) who finished with a 40-39 record in his seven seasons leading the program. Currier also ranks third in career winning percentage (.541). Additionally, Currier boasts a 24-12 career record in home games and is 7-0 in home openers.

DOBBS KEEPS NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK IN THE PROGRAM
For the second-straight week, Concordia-St. Paul was featured with the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week, this week to junior defensive end Jackson Dobbs. The Little Canada, Minnesota native tallied the third most sacks in a single game in Division II football on the season and the second most sacks and tackles for loss in the Northern Sun on the year. His 4.5 TFL and 4.0 sacks were the high mark in the conference this week and he added nine total tackles in a 21-13 win over Minnesota Crookston.

On the year, Dobbs is fourth in the league with 6.5 sacks, adding 8.0 tackles for loss and 33 total tackles in eight games. In his career, Dobbs has 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks and 111 total tackles across 25 games.

Last week, redshirt freshman safety Dez Bassett earned the honor with a 77-yard interception returned for a touchdown to break a third quarter scoreless tie in a 17-7 win at UMary.

GARRETT CONTINUES SACK-ATTACK
Sophomore defensive end Chris Garrett climbed up to third in the country in sacks per game last week, and remains there for a second straight week as he picked up 2.0 TFL and a sack against UMC in week eight. He now has 9.0 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in seven games on the year, adding 33 tackles which ranks fourth on the defense. Over the last three weeks, Garrett has been a menace to opposing QBs, producing 6.5 sacks and 7.5 TFL. In 14 games to start his career, he has recorded 19.5 TFL, 15.0 sacks and 77 total tackles and he's tied for fifth most sacks in DII-era football (1999-pres) on campus. His 9.0 sacks this year already rank sixth in DII-era single season history, as well.

HASKINS CONTINUES NATIONAL LEAD
Redshirt freshman cornerback Marcus Haskins continues his national lead in passes defended with 22 in eight games, adding three more pass breakups in week eight's 21-13 win over UMC. He also ranks 10th in the country in interceptions per game (0.6) with his five picks tied for the league lead. His 17 PBU is a new single season school record (DII era) and five interceptions are third most since 1999, just two shy of the DII era record. His five interceptions came in each of his first five career games played.

TURNOVER CITY ON THE CSP DEFENSE
Concordia's defense has racked up 15 turnovers in eight games, nearly two per game. Last week, they forced UMC into three turnovers which led to a 14-7 scoring margin off turnovers in a 21-13 victory. They turned a pair of fumbles early in the third quarter into touchdowns on just three plays, too, helping set the offense up in successful situations. On the year, CSP has forced three turnovers in a game twice and two turnovers in four games. The 15 turnovers on the year is the most since forcing 20 in the 2014 season, and that year the team had forced 13 through eight games. Additionally, they've played excellent fourth down defense as opponents have gone 0-for-2 each of the last four games and 3-for-17 on the season overall.

GROUND GAME KEEPS ROLLING
In week eight's 21-13 win over Minnesota Crookston, the Golden Bear offensive line paved the way for a 6.4 per carry average and 283 rushing yards. It's the third consecutive 200-plus yard rushing performance in a row and the fifth in eight games this year. CSP's ground game has produced at least 94 yards every game this season, with the season-low 94 yards at the #1 team in the country, Minnesota State back in week three. For the third time this year, CSP rushed for at least 200 yards and held the opponent to under 100 on the ground as UMC rushed for 85 yards on 50 carries on Saturday.

On the year, Concordia is averaging 191.0 yards per game on the ground which is 38th in the country and fifth in the Northern Sun. The run defense holds opponents to 139.1 yards per game which is 62nd nationally and seventh in the league. Together, it adds up to a +51.9 per game advantage.

The unique aspect of the team's efficient ground game has been the variable attack by the ball carriers. Sophomore Lajuan Preston has had three 100-yard performances over the past four outings and is averaging 6.7 yards per carry which ranks 15th in the country (2nd NSIC) while leading the team in rushing attempts (82) and yards (551), ranking seventh in the league in rushing. Prior to Preston assuming the feature back role, it was sophomore Shaq Johnson leading the way with 367 yards (5.6 avg) and 49 receiving yards through four games with five total touchdowns before suffering a season ending injury.

Senior quarterback Dom McKinzy can also handle a big workload on the ground, leading the team in rushing in each of the last two weeks with a combined 35 carries for 201 yards and two rushing touchdowns and is coming off of a 15-131 ground performance. He leads the team with three rushing touchdowns and has rushed for 293 yards on 78 attempts on the season, including the lost yardage on sacks when leading the passing game. McKinzy has passed for 1,262 yards (94-187) and 10 touchdowns, as well.

McKinzy and Preston each topped 100 rushing yards last week, the first time the program has had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game since 2005 when James McNear and Brian Holmes achieved the feat against Wayne State. The 2018 Bears have now had three 100 yard rushers: McKinzy, Johnson and Preston.

The ground attack gets even deeper as senior Emanuel Jones (43-155, 2 TD), junior Garrett Gardner (28-119) and redshirt freshman Jeremiah Johnson (15-42, 1 TD) all regularly contribute to the workload. Preston has only been tackled behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of two years all season while Gardner (0) and J.Johnson (1) have also been steady at contributing positive yardage on a consistent basis.

With a busy cast of characters, the one constant has been the strong blocking up front led by veteran offensive linemen senior tackle Terrell Taylor and junior guard Rich Kelly who have primarily played side-by-side this season. With injuries to centers Samuel Kessler and Matthew Montgomery, Kelly is listed as the starting center on the two deep with redshirt freshman Tyson Kauffman slotting in between Kelly and Taylor. On the other side, sophomore tackle Cris Wasylciw and junior guard/tackle Ethan Aune have predominately played the positions with sophomore Tanner Haechten working back into the mix after returning from an early season injury. Senior Davarus Clark has been featured in short yardage and on PAT/FG units up front, as well.

SERIES HISTORY: AUGUSTANA 10, CONCORDIA 4
Concordia won three of the four meetings in the series when Augustana was a member of the now-defunct North Central Conference (NCC) from 2000 to 2007. But since Augie has been a Northern Sun member (2008-present), the Vikings have won nine of the last 10 contests including the last three. CSP's last win was a 17-7 home win in 2014 and Concordia is now 2-5 at home against the Vikings and 1-3 at Sea Foam Stadium (2009-present).

Coach Shannon Currier is 0-2 against Augustana, as the Bears didn't face the Vikings under his leadership from 2000-2003.

LAST YEAR: AUGUSTANA 28, CONCORDIA 13
The Golden Bears traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to take on the Vikings last season, falling 28-13 in a matchup held on November 4th at Kirkeby-Over Stadium.

The Golden Bears did nearly all their damage through the air in that contest, and were within one score in the closing minutes of the contest. Senior Ron Johnson passed 27-54 for 349 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions.

Marcus Gustaveson was the biggest benefactor of the pass-heavy game script, as the sophomore wide receiver caught 10 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

On the defensive side of the ball, freshman Chris Garrett dominated with his biggest game of the season. The defensive end racked up nine tackles (including 3.5 for loss), three sacks, and three forced fumbles, leading to NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Freshman linebacker Blake Evans led the team with 13 tackles and senior defensive back Andrew Capirchio collected 10 stops and picked off an Augustana pass.

Missed opportunities was the name of the game for CSP on a cold Saturday afternoon. From late in the third quarter to the end of the game, Concordia turned the ball over on four of its last six possessions. The Bears also had a pair of missed field goals, one in the first and one in the second quarter.

The first half of the game did not feature much offense for either team, as they traded empty possessions until late in the first when the Vikings scored on a 26-yard TD pass from Kyle Saddler to Jake Welsheimer. The Golden Bears were able to get on the board with a 55-yard field goal from junior Jonas Schenderlein in the second quarter, and the score would remain 7-3 until halftime.

After Concordia forced a turnover to start the second half, Schenderlein drilled another field goal (42 yards) to bring CSP to within one (7-6). Augustana scored on two passing touchdowns at the end of the quarter, with a interception thrown by CSP giving the Vikings the ball deep in Concordia territory on the second possession.

Concordia would score a TD on a pass from Johnson to Gustaveson, but couldn't put more points on the board as the TD was sandwiched by interceptions, one of which was thrown in the end zone. The Vikings ran in a TD from a yard out late in the fourth quarter to seal the game.

ABOUT THE VIKINGS
The Vikings come into the matchup with 5-3 record in the NSIC and a 2-2 record in the NSIC South. All of their wins have come against teams with losing records while all of their losses have been against teams with winning records to this point in the season.

The Vikings rely on a high-powered offense, as they rank 5th in the NSIC in points scored (34.9) and 11th in the conference in points allowed (27.9).

Augustana has the top passing attack in the NSIC led by sophomore QB Kyle Saddler, averaging 313.9 passing yards a game. That mark is over 30 yards more than the next highest team in the conference, SMSU. They also have the most passing touchdowns with 22.

Saddler has also attempted the second most passes in the NSIC with 337, completing 51 percent of his throws. The sophomore has also thrown 11 interceptions, the second most in the NSIC.

The Vikings have one of the top receivers in the league in junior Nickel Meyers. Meyers is third in the NSIC in yards per game (100.4) and tied for second in the touchdowns (9). He also ranks fourth in receptions (48).

Aside from Meyers, the Vikings spread the ball around to a variety to pass catchers. WRs Brett Shepley (47.35) and Sean Engel (49.86) are both averaging nearly 50 yards per game. TE Chet Peerenboom is averaging 16 yards per catch and has hauled in four TDs.

In the running game, sophomore Rudolph Sinflorant leads the way with 98.43 yards per game (4th NSIC) on 4.5 yards per carry. Sinflorant has also collected seven rushing TDs this season.

On defense, senior linebacker Kirby Hora leads the team with 8.9 tackles per game (4th NSIC). Hora is also second on the team with seven tackles for loss and has picked off a pass. Senior defensive end Joey Newman is 5th in the conference with 11.5 TFLs.

In the secondary, junior safety Michael Kloza has picked off four passes and is fourth on the team with 39 tackles. Senior DB Avram Tynes has nine passes defended while redshirt freshman DB Eli Weber has eight, both top 15 in the conference.

Teams have been able to gain yardage against Augustana through the air, the Vikings are 12th in the conference in passing defense, giving up 225.5 passing yards per game.

The Vikings are the best in the conference when in comes to kickoff return yardage, as they average 26.1 yards per return. AU has also been stout on kickoff coverage, as they rank 2nd in the conference with a net average of 39.9 yards per kickoff.

Augustana has struggled punting the ball, as they are last in the conference with 26.9 net yards per punt. They are one of the more aggressive teams in the league on fourth down, opting to go for in 17 times this season (6th NSIC).

The Vikings have used their passing game to draw quite a few pass interference penalties. Augustana is second in the league in opponent penalty yards, with just over 81 per game.