(Des Moines, IA) – Concordia football competed in the first round of the NAIA playoffs when they traveled west to face #4 Grand View. The #12 Cardinals came in 8-2 overall on the year while the Vikings entered a perfect 11-0. CUAA fought hard and stuck with Grand view for the entire game, but a blocked PAT late in the contest lifted the Vikings to a 31-30 win.
Peter Morrison (JR/Fort Wayne, IN) threw for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game. Parker Graham (SO/Livonia, MI) and Roderick Dailey (SR/Detroit, MI) tied to lead receivers with 58 receiving yards and a touchdown apiece. Omar Sinclair (SO/Norcross, GA) led the rushing attack with 51 yards on the day.
On defense, Reggie Thompson (SR/Chicago, IL) led the Cardinals with 11 tackles. Alex Hinojosa (JR/Allen Park, MI), Hunter Maynard (JR/Plain City, OH), and Ryan Fish (JR/Allen Park, MI) tied for second with 8 tackles apiece. Cooper O'Gara (SR/Cincinnati, OH) added 6 tackles on the day.
Concordia kicked off to Grand View to begin the game. The Cardinal defense held the Vikings to a field goal on a 15-play, 64-yard drive. Roderick Dailey set up the CUAA offense with a 41-yard kickoff return on their opening series. A 23-yard reception by Clay Coltson (SR/Hastings, MI) set Concordia up in the redzone at Grand View's 4-yard line. While the Viking defense denied a touchdown, a 21-yard field goal by Wyatt Mast (JR/Delton, MI) tied the game 3-3.
Grand View scored the first touchdown of the game on a 10-play, 77-yard drive that spanned into the 2nd quarter. The Cardinals responded with an 11-play, 65-yard scoring drive of their own. Peter Morrison capped off the drive by taking the ball himself and punching in a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game 10-10.
Both teams exchanged defensive stops on the next two possessions. After the Concordia defense forced a three-and-out, CUAA special teams appeared to make a huge play with a blocked punt. However, a very late personal foul call for leaping gave the ball back to the Grand View offense.
The Vikings drove down the field and were able to tack on another touchdown with 18 seconds remaining. Concordia trailed 17-10 at halftime.
The Cardinals started the 2nd half with the ball and Peter Morrison led a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Facing 4th-and-2, Morrison fired into the secondary and found Roderick Dailey for a 22-yard touchdown to tie the game.
Concordia attempted an onside kick, but the Vikings were able to recover the ball. Grand View capitalized on the favorable field position with another touchdown to retake the lead 24-17.
A turning point in the game came on the ensuing kickoff. Grand View kicked off deep into CUAA territory but the ball was muffed by the Cardinals. The Vikings recovered the ball at the 2-yard line and Grand View quarterback Johnny Sullivan punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown.
The Cardinals continued to battle with an 8-play, 72-yard scoring drive. Facing 3rd-and-8 at the Grand View 27, Peter Morrison rolled out multiple times and escaped pressure finding Parker Graham for a 1st down. Morrison connected with Graham again in the endzone for a 7-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 31-24.
Both teams exchanged defensive stops with punter Kenneth Webb (FR/Scottsboro, AL) pinning the Vikings at their 1-yard line. Concordia got the ball back at their own 49-yard line and the Cardinals pulled within a point when Peter Morrison rolled out and found Luke Wilson (SO/Croswell, MI) for a 21-yard touchdown. However, the game-tying PAT was blocked by Grand View keeping the Cardinals down 31-30.
The Concordia defense looked to make a stand late in the game, but Grand View was able to pick up several critical first downs to keep the clock moving. The Vikings were able to move into victory formation and claim the hard-fought 31-30 win as time expired.
