(Indianapolis, IN) – #5 Concordia football traveled to #11 Marian for a critical MSFA Mideast Division clash on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals came in 5-0 while the Knights entered 5-2. CUAA kept the match close in the first half, but Marian maintained their lead in the second half to give Concordia their first loss of the year.
Gavin Brooks threw for 115 yards in the game. Parker Graham also saw time at quarterback, throwing for 47 yards and leading Concordia with 66 rushing yards. Seeger DeGayner led the team with 88 receiving yards.
On defense, Casey Rauch led Concordia with 12 total tackles. Aaron Rahn finished second with 9 tackles. Marvitis Dupree finished third with 8 tackles. Gerald McHenry recorded 2 interceptions in the game, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Hunter Maynard also notched a fumble recovery.
Marian kicked off to the Cardinals to begin the game, but after an early interception the Knights capitalized and took a 6-0 lead. Concordia's best offensive opportunity in the first quarter came when Gavin Brooks found Seeger DeGayner for a 59-yard pass down to the Marian 5-yard line. However, Marian made a goal-line stand after stopping a Concordia trick play on 4th down.
Gerald McHenry made the first of his two interceptions in the game at the end of the first quarter. Marian was able to convert a touchdown drive in the second quarter to pull ahead 13-0. The Cardinals fought back on defense when Gerald McHenry made his second interception of the game and returned it all the way for a 93-yard touchdown.
Concordia attempted an onside kick after the score, but despite an extra bounce Marian was able to recover the ball. The Cardinals trailed 13-7 heading to the locker room.
Marian converted on a deep pass in the third quarter to add another touchdown. The Cardinals drove into Marian territory when Parker Graham made a 22-yard rush and Keviantae Brown added an 18-yard run, but a fumble gave the ball back to the Knights.
Concordia extended a drive on a fake punt pass when Casey Rauch threw a 4th-down toss to Austin Shaban, picking up the first down. However, the drive stalled at the Marian 32-yard line forcing a turnover on downs.
Marian added another touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals kept fighting on defense when Hunter Maynard recovered a fumble at the bottom of a pile to give the ball back to the offense. While Concordia had several offensive series in the fourth quarter, Marian held on for the 25-7 win.
Concordia will remain on the road next Saturday, October 30 when they travel to Lawrence Tech. Kickoff is at 1pm.
