Presented by Team Rehabilitation
(Bourbonnais, IL) – Concordia football traveled to Olivet Nazarene on Saturday afternoon for an MSFA crossover game. The game was closely contested with both teams trading touchdowns, but the Cardinals eventually pulled away to claim a 34-28 victory.
Gavin Brooks threw for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns. James Carpenter led the ground game with 49 rush yards. Seeger DeGayner had 119 receiving yards and a touchdown while also throwing a TD pass. Logan Hay had 87 yards with 2 touchdowns while Jordan Garcia added 60 yards and a TD.
On defense, Liam Karry led all Cardinals with 14 tackles. David Cagle was second with 9 tackles. Casey Rauch and Marvitis Dupree tied for second with 6 tackles apiece.
Concordia received the opening kickoff with Seeger DeGayner making a 75-yard return. However, Olivet Nazarene was able to stop the Cardinals on 4th down deep in the redzone. The Tigers put together a touchdown drive on their opening possession and led 7-0 after the first quarter.
The Cardinals tied the game with a 10-play, 75-yard drive when Gavin Brooks fired to Jordan Garcia in the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown strike. On the ensuing kickoff, CUAA special teams made a fumble recovery to get the ball at the ONU 28-yard line. Seeger DeGayner eventually hauled in a spectacular one-handed catch to put CUAA ahead. Olivet Nazarene returned the ensuing kickoff to tie the game and the score was 14-14 at halftime.
ONU scored on their opening drive of the third quarter to take the lead. The Cardinals trailed after the third quarter, but converted on a drive that stretched to the fourth quarter. On a double-reverse trick play, Seeger DeGayner threw a 16-yard pass to Logan Hay in the endzone to tie the game.
Concordia's defense changed the momentum when Kelly Matthews made a big hit jarring the ball loose and Chase Maynard returned it for a 38-yard touchdown. Liam Karry recovered a fumble on the next series which led to Gavin Brooks finding Logan Hay for a 10-yard touchdown.
Logan Nahrwold-Settle recovered a fumble later in the quarter. ONU was able to score a touchdown with 39 seconds left, pulling within one score. However, the Cardinal special teams recovered the onside kick attempt and secured the 34-28 win.
Concordia will return home to host Judson next Saturday at 1pm.
