ST. PAUL, Minn. - This Saturday, the Concordia University football team looks to bounce back from a tough loss last week when they head north to take on Minnesota, Crookston in an NSIC North-South matchup. The Golden Bears from Concordia are 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the NSIC Overall standings while the Golden Eagles of UMC are 1-7 overall and 0-7 in the NSIC Overall standings. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Bears have not lost on the road in 2010.
The Concordia football team has won their last five games on the road dating back to the 2009 season with their last road loss on Sept. 26, 2009 at Augustana, a 30-23 defeat. This year, Concordia has won at Northern State, #11 Minnesota State and #23 Wayne State. They have only played at Ed Widseth Field once under head coach Mark Mauer and that was in his first season in 2004, a 36-13 win for CU. They've played four times under Mauer, with the last three meetings being a 170-13 margin in favor of Concordia, an average of 56.7 to 4.3. They've shutout the Golden Eagles in each of their last two games at the Metrodome in 2006 (49-0) and 2007 (48-0) and won 73-13 in 2005 at Griffin Stadium during their NSIC Championship season.
While Concordia is a perfect 3-0 on the road with a five game road winning streak, they've also compiled a 5-3 season record in 2010 against the 2nd-ranked strength of schedule in Division II football. Their opponents have compiled a 32-16 record to date in 2010. And in NSIC play, Concordia is 4-3 and in a five-way tie for 4th place in the standings, and have posted a 3-1 record against the other four teams that comprise the five-team tie, a fact that bodes well for a team looking to reach the Mineral Water Bowl for the third time in school history and first time since 2005.
But a loss to Winona State last weekend gives the Warriors the upper-hand and puts them in control of their own destiny. But Concordia's remaining schedule has a cumulative win-loss record of 5-18 compared to the Warriors' 10-14. Winona State this Saturday is at Southwest Minnesota State who is capable of knocking off the Warriors, and they finish their season with a home game against Wayne State and also must defeat U-Mary.
But it all starts this Saturday as the Golden Bears look to continue battling for postseason rights.
Concordia's defense boasts the third ranked pass defense (182.9 yards per game) and leads the NSIC in sacks (25) while the offense has been efficient and balanced throughout the season (233.1 passing, 132.0 rushing, 23.0 points per game). Minnesota, Crookston is most effective on the ground (112.8 yards per game) but has been unable to provide a passing game with just 115.0 yards per game and is last in the league in turnover margin (-13) while Concordia has only turned the ball over eight times this season.
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