SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - On a warm, windy fall afternoon, Concordia-St. Paul (1-2 NSIC) dropped a 50-14 road decision to Sioux Falls (2-1 NSIC) on Saturday at Bob Young Field.

Concordia looks to get back in the win column at home next Saturday, September 25 with a noon kickoff against Southwest Minnesota State (0-2) with the Mustangs looking for their first win of the year tonight at home against a winless UMary (0-2) squad.

The wind, consistently blowing at 15-20 miles per hour with strong, sustained gusts, played a clear factor in the development of the contest.

Sioux Falls KWSN radio broadcaster Tom Frederick noted the impact late in the first quarter, with CSP trailing 17-0 and about to punt deep in its own territory, "The most important play of the day (so far)? The coin toss!"

With USF winning the toss and deferring, the Cougars elected to attack the north end zone with the wind blowing out of the south. The conditions impacted the kicking game, as CSP had its punt blocked on the opening drive of the game, setting up the Cougars with a short field at the CSP 18 yard line. Concordia's defense held strong, forcing a Cougar field goal after a 3-and-out. USF would also start a drive at the CSP 49 yard line later in the quarter.

Concordia's offense couldn't get moving into the wind, though, accounting for just 24 yards in the quarter and one first down while the Cougars had eight first downs and 118 yards of total offense despite the short field position.

In the second quarter, with conditions flipped, freshman Parker Dahlman unleashed his strong kicking leg with a 69 yard punt to the USF 6 yard line and the CSP defense held, forcing a Sioux Falls punt from its own 22 yard line. The Cougars were only able to muster an 11 yard punt, setting up the Golden Bears with field position as the USF 33 yard line.

The wind, and momentum, at their backs, CSP marched into the red zone with a 30 yard pass from Conner Cordts to running back Lajuan Preston. On 4th-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line, it was freshman running back Jaylin Richardson plowing through for the touchdown.

Cordts battled through the conditions to complete 9-of-20 for 161 yards, a strong 17.9 yards per completion. He had one touchdown pass and once again did not commit a turnover. Richardson led CSP with eight carries for 25 yards and a touchdown with a long run of 15 yards.

But the momentum would be short lived, as USF running back Thuro Reisdorfer unleashed his third of three touchdown runs in the game, this one his longest of 51 yards. On the ensuing kickoff, the wind-shortened kick into the wind was muffed by CSP, with Sioux Falls recovering. Four plays later, the Cougars found the end zone with their fourth rushing touchdown of the day, this one from 25 yards out by Landon Freeman for a 31-7 lead.

Reisdorfer rushed 14 times for 160 yards and three scores while Freeman had 19 carries for 105 yards with USF rushing for 393 yards on 56 rushing attempts.

It wasn't until late in the third quarter that Concordia found the end zone again, with Cordts connecting with wide receiver Nathan Gimza for a 65-yard strike on the first play of the drive to make it a 41-14 game.

Defensively, linebacker Foster Conzet and cornerback Preston Piltoff led the team with eight tackles apiece, with Piltoff adding a pass breakup in coverage. Defensive end Richard Ficociello had four tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss and a sack.