Concordia Wins Defensive Battle

On a homecoming night and a Fall Fest weekend, the Concordia Panther football team was able to squeak out a 7-0 victory over the Marysville Bulldogs at Harold M. Clark Stadium. A game that featured only 9 drives total going into the final quarter, the Panthers won the defensive slugfest.

On the opening drive of the ballgame, Marysville used its unique flexbone style offense to execute a drive that lasted over 7 minutes before they were forced to punt. Concordia took their first possession of the ballgame on their own 20-yard line with only 4:53 to go in the first quarter. The Panthers executed a couple of plays to get into Bulldog territory and ran out the rest of one of the fastest first quarters of football anyone will ever see.

The Concordia drive stalled, and they turned it over on downs after not converting on a 4th and 5 on the Bulldog 36. For Marysville, they were able to get all the way down to the Panther 25 before they couldn't convert on a 4th and 10 and gave the ball back to CHS.

The next Panther drive resulted in another turnover. On 2nd and 5 from the Bulldog 36, Drake Blochlinger threw across the middle of the field looking for Kale Schroeder, and the route was jumped by JT Becker from the Marysville safety spot to force interception number five of the season on Blochlinger.

Once again, the Panther defense made the stop when they needed to. Concordia forced a quick 3 and out and a Bulldog punt from their own endzone. Cam Wetter got the punt off in time; however, it went straight up into the air and landed at the Marysville 16-yard line. The Panthers got to start their final drive of the first half inside the red zone.

With 1:56 to go in the half and two timeouts, Concordia sat in a golden opportunity. The Panthers once again shot themself in the foot. On 3rd and 11, Blochlinger used his legs to his advantage as the Junior scrambled out of the pocket on a pass play to cut up the middle of the field and dive inside of the 5 to set up what everyone thought to be 1st and goal. Yellow laundry on the field said otherwise as a holding penalty pushed Concordia all the way back to Marysville's 31-yard line. After an incompletion, Parker Jackson attempted a 48-yard field goal that fell short, Marysville ran out the clock, and thus ended a fast first half of football that only saw 6 combined drives and no points.

To start the second half, it was more of the same. The Panthers on the opening drive of the quarter took off 4 minutes of the clock, got the ball down to the Bulldog 34-yard line before being stopped on 4th and 8, and gave it back to Marysville. The Panther defense forced a quick three-and-out and had the ball right back.

This time, the Bulldog defense forced the Panthers to punt on a quick three-and-out for the first time all game. That's when punter Parker Jackson flipped the field for CHS.

Marysville was able to execute a couple of plays and get out of the shadow of their own endzone to end the third quarter. The final 12 minutes of the game began with the score still tied at 0 and only 9 total combined drives completed.

Marysville, continuing their drive that started inside of their own 1, finally came to an end. On 4th and 10 from the Concordia 36-yard line, quarterback Drake Blochlinger made the defensive play of the game.

Head Coach Brad Wildeman spoke on how impressed he was by the defense as a whole.

After the huge stop, the Panther offense used the momentum to head towards the endzone. After a big pass play to Schroeder and a couple of big runs by Ryker Wildeman, the Panthers were set up 2nd and goal from the Bulldog 6. That's when Blochlinger finished it.

On the play, Blochlinger was able to follow his tight end, Parker Jackson, and his tailback Braytin Hake, into the endzone. Hake earned the H&R Block of the game for the play after plowing into the endzone over a Bulldog with Blochlinger right on the back of his jersey. The 6-yard touchdown run capped off a 9-play 61-yard touchdown drive, and after Jackson's PAT, the Panthers led 7-0, and that's all they needed. Wildeman shared how big a drive it was for his offense.

Concordia, after blowing a 9-point lead with three minutes left in the game against Abilene, needed the stop they couldn't get last week. Holding on to a 7-point lead with 5:27 to go in the game. Once again, the Panther defense answered the call, and on 4th and 5 from the Panther 39, Concordia ended the game with a big pass breakup from Parker Jackson.

The Panthers got the football with 2:45 to go in the game, got the first down they needed, and ran out the clock to a victory. Here's what Wildeman said after the win.

KNCK Radio's MVP belonged to Koehn Williams, who seemed to make every big defensive play Concordia needed, finishing with 7 tackles, and battling in the trenches on the offensive line all night long. Blochlinger finished going 6-12 through the air for 76 yards and an INT. He also ran the ball 12 times for 38 yards and the lone touchdown of the game. Jackson also added 10 tackles and a reception for 17 yards. Ayden Krier with 2 catches for 37 yards and 2 carries for 24 yards. Ryker Wildeman with 2 rushes for 20 yards and Braytin Hake with 14 rushes for 50 yards. Kale Schroeder finished with 2 receptions for 19 yards.

Tonight, Senior safety Rush LeDuc was named Homecoming King alongside Panther volleyball setter Rylie Jessup, who was named Queen. Brad Wildeman said the homecoming crowd and festivities helped with a win.

Concordia improves to 2-2 on the season, earning their first NCKL win and a critical district win in 3A. Concordia will travel to Chapman on Friday, October 3rd. The Fighting Irish are off to a 0-4 start after falling to Clay Center 44-8 on the road. The Farm Country Ford Drive to the Game will begin at 6:30 with kickoff at 7 pm.