Business As Usual In 25-Point Win Over Augsburg

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/02/24)---It was business as usual for Concordia in its 38-7 win over Augsburg in Moorhead.

Cooper Mattern broke more passing records, Collin Thompson collected more sacks, the Black Shirts held an opponent to only one score and the Cobber special teams came through with more touchdowns.

The Cobbers scored the first 38 points in their lopsided win over the Auggies. CC has now scored at least 30 points in seven straight games. The Concordia defense has now held their opponents to seven or fewer points in three straight games and six overall contests this season.

Mattern ended the day by going 16-for-20 for 251 yards and three touchdowns. His 251 passing yards helped him break the program record for career passing yards. He has 5,809 career passing yards which eclipsed the old record of 5,612 set by Griffin Neal from 2011-14.

Catapulted by the change in offensive schemes, Mattern now holds every passing record in the Cobber record books as well as total offense yards from scrimmage. Mattern has 7,305 total yards from scrimmage in his career.

Thompson, who earned All-American honors last season from his spot at defensive end, posted his best game of the 2024 season. He had 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for a loss.

Thompson has 4.0 sacks on the season and 12.5 for his career.

Thompson helped the Cobber defense hold the Auggies to 194 yards of total offense and only 24 rushing yards. The Concordia Black Shirt defense continues to lead the MIAC in defense. CC is only allowing 11.1 points per game. That total is tops in the conference. CC is also third in the league in yards allowed per game (254.9).

This week's special teams' star was Owen Miller. Miller put the game out of reach for the Cobbers at the start of the third quarter. Concordia led 21-0 at halftime, with the outcome still hanging in the balance. Miller took the opening kick of the second half, cut to his right and raced 89 yards to the end zone.

It's the second time in the last three games that the Cobbers have taken a kickoff to the house. No other team in the MIAC has returned a kickoff for a touchdown this year and the two kick returns for a TD are tied for second in all of Division III.

Miller had another game-changing touchdown on the day. Concordia was clinging to a 14-0 lead in the final 5 minutes of the second quarter when Miller caught a short pass from Mattern, beat the Auggie defenders to the corner and sped past everyone for a 38-yard touchdown reception.

Miller finished the day with four catches for 93 yards. He also had a 43-yard reception on the day.

Sophomore Davion Henderson led the CC receiving corps with seven catches for 87 yards and one touchdown. Most of his catches were of the "hard earned" variety as they came on routes over the middle.

Touchdown Maker Jed Klang had the other receiving score for the Cobbers he scooped up a low pass and fell across the goal line for an 8-yard TD to open the scoring at the end of the first quarter.

Gunner Martinek had the final touchdown for Concordia. He powered his way into the end zone for a 4-yard score midway through the second quarter.

Senior defensive back Stuart DeMerit led the Black Shirts with 7.0 total tackles. He also had 3.0 pass breakups on the day.

Linebackers Ryan Weber and Jaiden Musse also had sacks in the game as the defense posted five sacks for the afternoon.

The win over Augsburg sets up a Skyline Division showdown with Bethel. The Cobbers will host the Royals on Saturday, Nov. 9 with the winner earning the division's title and a spot in the MIAC Championship game on Nov. 16.        

CONCORDIA vs. AUGSBURG HIGHLIGHTS