Game Changers Go Against Cobbers In Northfield

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (10/23/21)---A trio of game-changing plays all went against Concordia in their 28-27 overtime loss at Carleton. If the Cobbers had any one of the three improbable plays go in the favor they would have left Northfield with a win.

The first game changer came with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter when the Cobbers had the ball on a 4th-and-1 situation at the Carleton 9-yard line. The Knights defense was able to come up with the stop on a quarterback sneak. A Cobber conversion would have allowed CC to run out most of the clock.

The second game changer came on the final contested play of the game. Carleton was facing a 4th-and-20 on the Concordia 30-yard line with only 12-seconds to play. The Knights quarterback dropped back, eluded a rush and rolled to his right where he launched a high-arcing, jump-ball pass to the right corner of the end zone. One of the Carleton receivers was able to find some free space and came down with the game-tying score.

The final play that swung the game in the Knights' favor came in overtime. Concordia scored on the sixth play of overtime on a Ben Hoggarth 3-yard run. Unfortunately for the Cobbers, the snap on the extra point was mishandled and an impromptu pass attempt was intercepted.

Carleton (6-1, 4-1 MIAC) won the game on their third play of OT on a 9-yard TD pass and a converted PAT kick.

The first half was all Concordia as they scored on their very first possession and rolled to a 21-7 lead at the break.

Senior quarterback Tanner Dubois opened the scoring when he faked a handoff, rolled right and then turned up field and sprinted 43 yards through the Carleton defense. The score at 10:16 was Dubois' third rushing TD of the season.

The Knights tied the game at 7-7 at the 6:12 mark of the opening quarter, and then the Cobbers' two running backs gave CC a 21-7 lead at halftime.

Peyton Mortenson capped an 8-play, 93-yard drive when he took a screen pass from Dubois and ran 16 yards for the score.

Hoggarth finished the scoring in the opening half. He powered his way over the goal line from 1-yard out with 11-seconds left to go in the half. The score finished off an 11-play, 63-yard drive and was Hoggarth's team-leading fifth rushing TD of the year.

The second half was a case of holding on to the ball but not scoring for the Cobbers. Concordia had the ball for 11:09 of the 15:00 in the fourth quarter, and 20:26 of the 30-minutes in the final two quarters, but couldn't come up with the back-breaking score.

Concordia finished the game with 33:32 of possession time – their second highest total of the season.

The Cobbers outgained the Knights 463-338 in total offensive yards. CC had a balanced attack with 272 passing yards on 45 pass attempts, and 191 rushing yards on 43 attempts. The 191 rushing yards is the second time this season that Concordia has rushed for over 150 yards as a team.

Dubois went 32-for-45 for 272 passing yards and had the one TD strike to Moretenson. Dubois also rushed for 56 yards on eight carries.

Hoggarth posted his second 100-yard rushing game of the year. He carried the ball 21 times and came away with 113 yards. He leads the Cobbers in rushing this year with 300 rushing yards.

Hoggarth also caught a season-high eight passes for 57 yards and had a 21-yard pass reception.
  
Freshman receiver Adam Tonsfeldt had his best college game. He caught six passes for a team-high 84 yards and had a 43-yard reception in the second quarter which set up the Cobbers' second score.

Junior linebacker Ty Moser led Concordia with 7.0 tackles and 1.0 sacks. He was a part of the Black Shirt defense that recorded a season-high 4.0 sacks.

Noah Jenson and Mitchell Sullivan both finished with 6.0 total tackles and 1.0 sacks. Samm Hegg-Entzion and PJ Parmelee combined for the other CC sack.                      

UP NEXT: Concordia will return to play in the Skyline Division when they host Augsburg on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. The Auggies are 4-3 overall and 4-1 in the MIAC this year.