ST. PAUL, Minn. - This Saturday, Concordia-St. Paul (2-2 NSIC, 2-2 South) hits the road for the third time this season looking to upset a nationally-ranked opponent on its home field. This week, it's #8 Minnesota Duluth (4-0 NSIC, 4-0 North) for the first of a four week NSIC North-South Division slate. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Malosky Stadium. Read the full preview in this week's game notes.

COACHES SHOW
Beginning last Friday night, 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. On the first show, Langfellow had a chance to chat with junior wide receiver MJ Williams and redshirt freshman cornerback Marcus Haskins.

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, available in Spotify, iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher and TuneIn Radio. It will be available either late Friday night after the initial airing or on Saturday morning.

WATCH LIVE
All games in the Northern Sun are available to watch live or on-demand online on GameCentral through the NSIC's agreement with Stretch Internet or via multiple streaming devices such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and Android TV (search 'NSIC' for the app).

Saturday's game at UMD will also be aired locally in Duluth on My 9 TV / KBJR 6 for the 11th consecutive year with KBJR-TV sports director David Coy and former long-time defensive coordinator Vince Repesh calling the game.

The game can also be heard on the radio in the Duluth area on KDAL (610 AM / 103.9 FM) with Jeff Pappas handling play-by-play, joined by ex-University of North Dakota offensive lineman Gregg Swartwoudt providing color commentary.

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!

2018 TEAM CAPTAINS
Concordia head coach Shannon Currier has announced plans to have rotating team captains each week throughout the fall season, starting with 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.

For the fifth straight week, junior defensive end Jackson Dobbs has been named a captain, joined on defense by redshirt freshman cornerback Marcus Haskins while senior quarterback Dom McKinzy earned the nod for the fourth time in five games and junior wide receiver Marcus Gustaveson repeated.

SERIES NOTES: UMD 9, CONCORDIA 3
The Golden Bears surprised everyone on October 9, 1999 in securing a 35-27 win over UMD at Griffin Stadium in the Golden Bears' first year in NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun. CSP did it again one year later on October 7, 2000 with a 37-27 win at Malosky Stadium.

While in the first year, CSP improved to 2-3 overall and 2-2 NSIC, the second win over UMD sent the Golden Bears to a 5-1 start overall and 3-1 in the Northern Sun in the first year under head coach Shannon Currier.

UMD won the next three meetings before a lopsided 38-6 home win at Griffin Stadium in 2004 evened the series.

Although Concordia hasn't won since that 2004 triumph and is on a six game skid against UMD, the teams have played sparingly after playing every year from 1999 to 2005 when UMD left the Northern Sun for the now-defunct North Central Conference. The Bulldogs rejoined the league in 2008 and promptly won the NCAA Division II championship, opening the year with a 40-0 win over Concordia in the final year CSP played at Griffin Stadium.

But Concordia will be making just its third trip north to Malosky Stadium since heading there for a 56-0 loss in 2009. In the only meeting in between, Concordia nearly pulled off an upset of the third-ranked Bulldogs, falling 20-13.

In their last meeting, Concordia nearly knocked off the 23rd-ranked UMD squad, falling short in a 52-49 shootout with CSP having a shot to take the lead in the closing minutes.
In the last five meetings in the series, UMD has been nationally-ranked in all five dating back to 2008, and this will be the fourth time the teams will play with UMD sporting a top-10 ranking (#3 in 2009, #2 in 2012, #3 in 2014).

Concordia's only win in Duluth was in its first trip in 2000, falling in the last five contests held at Malosky Stadium.

Head coach Shannon Currier holds a 1-4 career record against UMD and is 1-2 in Duluth.

LAST MEETING: #23 UMD 52, CONCORDIA 49
CSP got a out to a quick 14-0 lead, scoring on a 14-yard TD pass from Ron Johnson to Marcus Gustaveson and 34-yard interception TD return from Jonathan Johnson. UMD struck back with two TDs of their own, sandwiched by a 1-yard TD catch by TE Matt Bjork.

With the scoreboard reading 21-14 entering the second quarter, the Golden Bears widened their lead with a 1-yard R.Johnson TD run. The Bulldogs then scored TDs on back-to-back possessions, nearly tying the game (28-27) after missing the PAT. CSP took the lead with a 73-yard trick play TD pass from receiver Alquawn Vickers to receiver Elias Arlington, leading at the half by a score of 35-27.

UMD came out scoring to start the second half, converting a FG and rushing for two TDs to take a 37-35 lead. CSP answered back with two TDs of their own, including a 20-yard TD from Johnson to Gustaveson and 31-yard TD run by R.Johnson. UMD then scored the eventual game winning TD with 2:03 left in the contest to take a 52-49 lead.

CSP had a strong last look, though, driving down to the UMD 30-yard line, but a series of penalties, sacks, and incomplete passes pushed the Golden Bears out of field range and into a 4th and 29 scenario which they unable to convert.

The junior quarterback Johnson led the Golden Bears offense with five total TDs, including three passing and two rushing. Johnson also threw 16-32 for 252 yards and rushed for 70 yards. The freshman Gustaveson was a force in the passing game, catching seven passes for 115 yards for two TDs.

Leading the team in rushing was Darius Chapes. The senior running back collected 75 yards on eight carries, averaging 9.4 yards per rush.

Leading the defense in tackles was senior Sam Johnson, who collected 14 on the day. J.Johnson also collected six tackles and an interception in the loss.

CSP amassed 511 yards of offense on the day, averaging 8.8 yards per play. The game featured 1,093 yards of total offense and 101 total points.

LAST WEEK: CONCORDIA 29, WAYNE STATE 7
Last Thursday, the Golden Bears (2-2 NSIC, 2-2 South) battled the Wildcats (1-3 NSIC, 1-3 South) - and the weather - and came out with 29-7 victory.

After a 30 minute delay before the game, CSP got out to a fast start with a blocked punt by Grant Ericksen, his second of the season. Two plays later, the Golden Bears scored on a 13-yard TD run by Shaq Johnson, set up by a 28-yard run by Dom McKinzy for a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into play.

The thunderstorms then kicked back in and caused another delay, which lasted an hour and 29 minutes. When the action resumed, CSP quickly got back to putting points on the board, this time in the form of safety on a botched snap by the Wildcats.

With a 9-0 lead heading into the second quarter, the Golden Bears amped up the offense. After a Jonas Schenderlein 30-yard field goal, CSP scored again on 31-yard touchdown pass from McKinzy to Marcus Gustaveson.

Leading 19-0, the Golden Bears got the ball back on an interception by Marcus Haskins with 26 seconds to go before halftime. CSP then struck again with a 40-yard touchdown pass from McKinzy to MJ Williams, widening their lead to 26-0 at the break.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Wildcats punched in a 1-yard touchdown in fourth, but CSP answered with another Schenderlein 36-yard field goal for the 29-7 final.

A team effort on defense propelled the Golden Bears to stop the Wildcats offense, who entered the day averaging over 291 yards passing and had the leading receiver in the NSIC in Nate Rogers. The Golden Bears held Wayne State to just 160 yards passing and limited Rogers to just 40 yards on five catches.

The redshirt freshman cornerback Haskins led the secondary's effort, tying for the team lead with four tackles, intercepting a pass, forcing a fumble, and breaking up two passes. Six Golden Bears tied for the team lead with four tackles, and 11 had at least three. The defense also collected six tackles for loss on the game.

Leading the offensive attack for CSP was the senior quarterback McKinzy and the sophomore running back Johnson. McKinzy passed 15-31 for 198 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 43 yards. Johnson rushed 12 times for 94 yards and also punched in a score.

McKinzy's main targets on the day were Williams and Gustaveson. Williams corralled six passes for 79 yards and score while Gustaveson totaled 85 yards on four catches, adding a touchdown grab.

CSP CRUSHING TURNOVER MARGIN
Just a year ago, Concordia was plagued by the turnover margin with just over one turnover created per game on only three interceptions while committing nearly two giveaways per outing. CSP only won the turnover margin twice and had a negative in the take/give six times. The result led to Concordia being outscored 47-22 off turnovers.

But a program that had four defensive coordinators in four years from 2014 to 2017 is thriving in its second year under Craig Stern's direction. Concordia has not lost the turnover margin in 2018 and has finished positive in the take/give in three of the four games, averaging +1.25 per game. The team has already forced nine turnovers and its five interceptions is two more than its total from 2017.

The flip has led to a 28-0 scoring margin off turnovers and while Stern's defense has created two or more turnovers every week, senior quarterback Dom McKinzy has excelled under center with an 8-to-2 TD-INT ratio with a 137.2 efficiency rating on 97 pass attempts.

RED ZONE CHANGES
A key ingredient to CSP's 2-2 start following a pair of 2-9 campaigns and a stretch of five wins in three seasons has been a trend in a positive direction in the red zone on both sides.

Last year, CSP converted 16 red zone touchdowns in 11 games at a 43 percent rate, reaching the opposition's 20 just over three times per game (37 in 11 games) and converting it to points 70 percent of the time (26-37). This year, Concordia is scoring touchdowns 60 percent of the time and has scored on 90 percent of its 10 trips to the red zone. Although the Bears aren't reaching the red zone as frequently, the reason has been the team averaging two scores outside of the red zone per game through a combination of big plays, long field goals along with a special teams TD.

Defensively, the Bears allowed opponents to reach the red zone 48 times, or over four times per game. Opposing offenses scored 11 more red zone TDs (1 more per game) and had put points on the board nine more times overall (35 to 26). In 2018, Concordia has allowed eight opponent red zone touchdowns in 13 trips (62 percent) but more importantly is that CSP hasn't allowed a red zone field goal, holding opponents scoreless inside the 20 five times while the Golden Bears have cashed in nine of their 10 trips for points, leading to a small 55-50 scoring deficit through four games compared to last season's 211-140 scoring deficit.

TOUGH ROAD SLATE IN 2018
The Golden Bears have had among the strongest road schedules to start the 2018 season. Saturday's game at #8 Minnesota Duluth marks the third-straight nationally-ranked opponent to start the 2018 season. Concordia opened the year with a heart-breaking 27-24 loss at #20 Sioux Falls despite leading 24-20 after a field goal extended the lead with 32 seconds left. The Cougars started on their own 40 with 26 seconds to play and scored in four plays, completing three straight passes and scoring with three seconds to play. Concordia then fell 46-13 at #2 Minnesota State, taking a 14-6 deficit into the second quarter despite being even in first downs (6-6) and trailing by just five yards of total offense (139-134) at the quarter break. Minnesota State then converted a 3rd-and-17 with a 27-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. The back-breaking score not only put MSU ahead 21-6 in the second quarter in Mankato, it was the start of a 32-0 quarter for MSU that included a pair of safeties on back-to-back defensive plays.

Concordia looks to pick up a win over a ranked opponent at #8 UMD after being within a score of the Bulldogs each of the last two meetings, a 20-13 loss in 2014 when UMD opened the year third in the country and a 52-49 loss at Sea Foam Stadium in week three when UMD was ranked #23 while CSP was attempting to open Currier's return with a 3-0 record.

CSP's last win over a nationally-ranked team was a 27-24 win vs #24 Wayne State in 2011 at Sea Foam Stadium and the last win over a nationally-ranked team on the road was a 28-26 win at #11 Minnesota State in CSP's 2010 Mineral Water Bowl campaign. CSP has lost 16 straight games to ranked teams entering Saturday.

CSP TOPS QUALITY OPPONENTS
Although Concordia has dropped a pair of games at nationally-ranked opponents, it has enjoyed a 63-14 scoring margin in home victories over Upper Iowa (34-7) and Wayne State (29-7).

The wins were quality decisions, not just for scoring margin, but the 2017 Golden Bears were 2-9 NSIC, 1-6 South, with Upper Iowa and Wayne State both posting 6-5 overall seasons in 2017, the Wildcats 4-3 in the division and Peacocks a 3-4 division squad.

Entering 2018, Concordia was tabbed 14th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, with Wayne State picked ninth and Upper Iowa 11th overall. In the NSIC South, CSP was picked seventh, behind Wayne State (5th) and Upper Iowa (6th).

Through four weeks, Concordia has faced the #1, #3, #9 and #11 teams in the 16-team NSIC according to the preseason poll with a collective 32-12 overall record (19-9 South). This year, CSP's four opponents are a combined 9-7 with all games played in the division.

SOUTH DIVISION TURNAROUND
With Concordia's 37-20 win in the 2017 season finale over SMSU, the Golden Bears snapped a 20-game losing streak in the NSIC South Division. After ending 2014 on a four game winning streak - all South Division wins - to end the year 4-3 in the NSIC South, the Golden Bears went winless in the division in 2015 and 2016 before the 2017 victory over the Mustangs.

The Golden Bears have now won three of their last five NSIC South contests, with all three wins coming at Sea Foam Stadium.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
UMD has gone 4-0 start the season, and is currently ranked #8 in nation. The Bulldogs have defeated Minot State, MSU Moorhead, St. Cloud State, and Bemidji State en route to their undefeated start.

UMD has averaged 44.0 points per game, while giving up just 11.5 points a game to their opponents.

The Bulldogs have dominated in the ground game, rushing for 955 yards (238.8 per game) and holding opponents to 278 yards on the season (69.5 yards per game). The Bulldogs have run for 14 TDs compared to one for their opponents.

UMD also holds a wide positive margin in passing statistics, throwing for 1,018 yards through four games (254.5 yards per game) compared to 539 for their opposition (134.8 yards per game). The Bulldogs have a 10-to-4 passing TD advantage.

The Bulldogs' offense averages 38:23 minutes per game in possession of the football. That mark is first in the NSIC by over six minutes.

A combo of Bulldogs lead in the running game, quarterback John Larson and running back Wade Sullivan. Larson has rushed for 257 yards (6.4 ypc) and three  TDs while Sullivan has gone for 236 yards (5.2 ypc) and five scores.

Larson has also thrown for 211.0 yards per game and eight TDs. The QB has completed 60.8 percent of his passes and also has three INTs.

A trio of receivers have been the main targets for Larson, including Jason Balts (14-264, 2 TDs), Johnny McCormick (12-213, 3 TDs) and Nate Ricci (10-151, 2 TDs).

On the defensive side the of the ball, UMD has had 10 players record 10 or more tackles on the season and seven that have recorded 15+. Linebacker Bill Atkins leads the team with 18 tackles through four games.

Leading the secondary for the Bulldogs is defensive back Tareq Abulebbeh, who is tops on the team with two interceptions and four passes defended.

As a team, the Bulldogs have amassed 38 TFL for a total of 175 yards with 15 players recording a TFL, led by linebacker A.J. Naatz with 6.0. Linebacker Gus Wedig has also been a force on defense, collecting 17 tackles, five tackles for loss, and forcing two fumbles.