CROOKSTON, Minn. - Junior running back Sam Campbell (Cary, Ill.) had his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season and reached 1,000 all-purpose yards for the season. He scored three touchdowns, two by air and one by land, to lead Concordia University (6-3, 5-3 NSIC) to a 41-7 victory at Minnesota, Crookston (1-8, 0-8 NSIC) on Saturday afternoon at Ed Widseth Field. The CU defense forced a season-high five turnovers while producing a season-best performance by allowing only 222 yards of total offense to UMC. The win for Concordia secures their first winning season since 2005.
Campbell, pictured above, was impressive for Concordia with 183 all-purpose yards, rushing 14 times for 113 yards with a 17 yard touchdown run and an 8.1 yards per carry average. As a receiver, Campbell had two catches and broke both for touchdowns, one for 22 yards to start the game's scoring at 10:52 in the first quarter. His second receiving touchdown was his longest career rushing or receiving play, a 48 yarder late in the first quarter (1:03). He had 70 receiving yards in the game on the two touchdown catches. He hit the 1,000 all-purpose yard mark thanks to a 15 yard punt return earlier in the year. He's now reached the end zone six times on the year and has 18 career touchdowns (20 including his two TD passes).
While Campbell was the key catalyst to the offense rolling up a season-high 41 points, the quarterback play was once again solid as junior Spencer Ohm (below, Blooming Prairie, Minn.) passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns on 12-17 completions. He once again was not intercepted as the Concordia offense has played four consecutive turnover-free football games. The three TD passes tie his career-high, a feat he's now accomplished five times (four in 2010).
With the offense playing mistake-free football and producing the points, the defense was a big part of their success, setting the offense up with two short scoring drives of 38 and 30 yards while also producing their first defensive touchdown of the season. Redshirt freshman cornerback Denzell Blackmon (Chicago, Ill.) took back a 44 yard "pick-six" under a minute into the second half to extend Concordia's lead to 27-0.
Blackmon's interception was the third of five total turnovers forced by the Golden Bear defense. The first two turnovers in the first half were by forcing and recovering UMC fumbles; while Blackmon's interception was the first of three second half INT's for the secondary.
The secondary was the key to the defense once again. Entering today's game, Concordia boasted the third-ranked pass defense in the Northern Sun. Today, they surrendered only half of their season average passing yards allowed as UMC passed 20 times for just 99 yards in the game.
It was the defensive highlight for Concordia's defense on a day when they produced season-bests in total offense allowed (222 yards) and points allowed (7).
Making his first career start in the secondary, junior safety Jake Vann (Plymouth, Minn.) recorded a career-high 13 tackles, tying Arnold Doxie's (Sr., S, Chesapeake, Va.) team season high set last week. Doxie himself produced eight tackles in the game and forced a fumble at the other safety position.
The team's other interceptions went to linebackers Al Quaye (Jr., Champlin, Minn.) and Johnny Johnson (Eden Prairie, Minn.).
Vann wasn't the only defender to step up with a career best performance as senior linebacker Logan Hurn (Forks, Wash.) shattered his previous high six tackles with 10 while senior defensive lineman Luke Malinowski (Circle Pines, Minn.) surpassed his previous high of two tackles with a seven tackle effort.
Reserve corner and standout special teamer Jay Moten (R-Fr., Spicer, Minn.) had a career best five tackles and also had a 26 yard kickoff return in the game.
Concordia's only sack was registered in the first half by senior Tyler Johnson (St. Paul, Minn.), a play that forced a fumble which was recovered by teammate David Webster (Sr., NG, Maple Grove, Minn.).
Back on the offensive side, Ohm's 217 yards were distributed efficiently with junior Charles Gilbert (Jacksonville, Fla.) leading the team with three catches for 76 yards and a 38 yard touchdown catch. The touchdown for Gilbert was his eighth receiving score and ninth total touchdown of the season - all coming from at least 23 yards out.
Senior tight end Hayden Vavra (Cambridge, Minn.) surpassed his previous season-highs in the game as he had three catches for 55 yards and now has 30 receptions for 335 yards with two games to play. Senior Calvin Simon (Shakopee, Minn.) was able to keep his reception streak alive with one catch for five yards and has hauled in at least one reception in all 37 career games played.
Concordia scored six touchdowns in the game, with junior running back Jerry Shaw (Oak Creek, Wis.) also reaching the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the year as he finished with seven carries for 33 yards and had two catches for 12 yards as well.
The Golden Bear offense reached the 400 yard mark for the second time this season while playing their fifth turnover-free game of 2010. Their 180 team rushing yards was their second-highest total of the year as well.
They'll look to carry their momentum into their final home game of the season next Saturday at Sea Foam Stadium at 1:00 p.m. against Upper Iowa in an NSIC South Divisional matchup. The Peacocks are 2-7 overall, 2-6 in the NSIC and 1-3 in the NSIC South after edging Wayne State 21-20 today.
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