(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia football returned to Cardinal Stadium to host Taylor on Saturday afternoon in MSFA Mideast Division play. The Cardinals entered 5-2 overall on the year while the Trojans came into the match 2-4. CUAA took an early lead and outgained Taylor 488-180 in total yardage, cruising through the game to secure a 34-10 victory.
Omar Sinclair (SO/Norcross, GA) finished with 249 rush yards, giving him the 3rd-highest single-game performance in school history and just 30 yards behind Joe Conner's school record. Bobby Desantis (JR/Dearborn, MI) also added 75 rushing yards in the game. Peter Morrison (JR/Fort Wayne, IN) threw for 95 yards and a touchdown in the contest. Clay Coltson (SR/Hastings, MI) led the team with 44 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Hunter Maynard (JR/Plain City, OH) and Reggie Thompson (SR/Chicago, IL) tied for the team lead with 10 tackles apiece. Prince Alex AyoOla (SR/Dearborn, MI) finished with 9 tackles with Alex Hinojosa (JR/Allen Park, MI) and Ryan Fish (JR/Allen Park, MI) each recording 7 tackles as well. Drew Bordner (JR/Fort Wayne, IN) made his second interception of the season.
Concordia began the game with the ball and Omar Sinclair set the tone early with a 72-yard rush up the middle. Bobby Desantis checked in at running back and punched in a 3-yard touchdown to give CUAA an early lead. Taylor countered with a field goal later in the 1st and Concordia led 7-3 heading to the 2nd quarter.
After the Concordia defense forced a Taylor three-and-out in the 2nd quarter, Peter Morrison led a 7-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Omar Sinclair bounced to the left and rushed for a 30-yard touchdown, putting the Cardinals ahead 14-3.
The Trojans responded with a touchdown on a 10-play, 75-yard drive to cut the CUAA lead to 14-10. Concordia's offense got the ball back on Taylor's 44-yard line with 47 seconds left, and the team was able to convert before halftime. Peter Morrison lofted a pass on the right side that was hauled in by Clay Coltson for a 26-yard touchdown. CUAA led 21-10 heading to the locker room.
The CUAA defense forced another stop and the Cardinals converted again on offense. Omar Sinclair continued to have a career day on the ground with a 41-yard rush into Taylor territory, and the running back eventually rushed for a 33-yard touchdown to extend the Concordia lead.
The Cardinal defense continued to hold Taylor's offense off the scoreboard. A 9-play, 59-yard drive on Concordia's next possession led to a 25-yard field goal by Wyatt Mast (JR/Delton, MI). CUAA held a 31-10 lead after the 3rd quarter.
The Cardinals continued to milk the clock on offense and took 5:41 off the clock on an 11-play, 63-yard drive that spanned into the 4th quarter. Wyatt Mast kicked a 19-yard field goal to put Concordia head 34-10.
Bobby Desantis took a heavy workload on the ground in the quarter adding to his career day and helping the Cardinals to run down the clock.
The Cardinals made one more defensive statement when Drew Bordner intercepted a pass on Taylor's final drive of the game. Concordia moved into victory formation and the team brought home a 34-10 victory.
Concordia improves to 6-2 overall with the win. The Cardinals will now enter a bye week. The team's next contest will be on the road Saturday, November 9 against MSFA newcomer Lawrence Tech. That game will kick off at 1pm.
