What Goes Around Comes Around

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/27/25)---Concordia proved the old saying against Gustavus " what goes around comes around".    

A week ago, the Cobbers lost in the final minutes on a missed extra point attempt. On Saturday, Concordia won in the final minutes on a missed extra point attempt.

Karma was in full effect at Jake Christiansen Stadium for the Cobbers' 14-13 win over the Gusties. CC has now played back-to-back 1-point games for the first time in recent history.

The win evens Concordia's conference mark at 1-1 and the Cobbers are now 2-1 in all games.

The win also followed the modus operandi for Concordia in the early part of the season. Start slowly and then put up points in the second half to get back in the game.

The Cobbers trailed 7-0 at the half against Gustavus and have scored three points in the first half of their first three games this season. But then Concordia goes into the locker room, gets a dose of head coach Terry Horan and comes out in the second half and outscores their opponents by a combined total of 44-23.

That recipe proved to be the winner against the Gusties as CC scored both of their touchdowns in the third quarter and held off a last-minute Gustavus comeback attempt.

Sophomore wide receiver Grant Mages proved to be the offensive star of the day for the Cobbers. He was responsible for both touchdowns and came away with a career-high seven catches for 66 yards in the game.

His first TD catch tied the game with 9:20 to play in the third quarter. He beat the GAC defensive secondary to the back of the end zone from 22-yards out and hauled in the perfectly thrown ball from Nick Walter. The score was his third career TD for the maroon and gold.

Mages gave Concordia its first lead of the game in the final minute of the third frame. He made a cut inside the Gustie linebackers and was wide open for the game-winning score from the arm of Jersey Selzler.

The Cobber Black Shirt defense shut down the Gusties for the better part of 50 minutes. Gustavus scored on their opening possession of the game, but then didn't get another first down until the fourth quarter.    

CC limited the Gusties to only 104 total offensive yards from after their scoring drive until the start of the fourth quarter which included only 16 yards in the entire third quarter of play.

With the Cobber defense not giving up big chunks of yardage, it appeared that CC would coast to the 14-7 win. That plan took a dramatic turn when Gustavus to possession of the ball on their own 13-yard line with 4:02 left in the game. They proceeded to rattle off their longest drive of the game that included five first downs.

The Gusties got to within a point with 9-yard TD pass with 1:17 remaining in regulation.

They lined up for the extra point but the kick went wide. Unfortunately for the Cobbers' special team, they were flagged for an offside violation.

The ball was then moved half the distance to the goal line and after taking a timeout, Gustavus decided to go for the 2-point conversion and the win.

The Black Shirts had one more defensive stop in the bag as they stuffed the quarterback keeper on the ensuing conversion attempt.

The Cobber defense allowed only 146 yards between the two Gustavus scoring drives.

Concordia came up with 214 total offensive yards. They had a balanced 108 yards on the ground and 106 through the air.

Senior Jacob Pipho had a monster game for the Black Shirts. He blocked a punt, came up with an interception, forced a fumble and posted a team-high 7.0 solo tackles.

Kyle Mages and Jace Springer also had 7.0 tackles on the day.

Cobber signal callers Selzler and Walter both threw for a TD pass, combined for 106 yards and didn't toss an interception.

Mason Hughes spearheaded the running attack with 16 carries for 56 yards.

Besides the 7-catch, 66-yard, 2-TD performance from Grant Mages, Davion Henderson was targeted six times, came up with three catches for 24 yards.

Concordia will stay at home when they host St. Scholastica on Saturday, Oct. 4 as part of the annual Homecoming celebration.