Sept. 24, 2011 - The Concordia Cougars were handed their first loss of the 2011 season this afternoon as Adrian College came back in the fourth quarter to edge the Cougars by a 19-17 score in non-conference play.

 

Adrian took the opening kickoff and took just two plays to open the scoring. Brandon Miller and Justin Hemm hooked up for a 47-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead just 53 seconds into the game.

 

Concordia did not move the ball on their first offensive series, but came through on their second drive. 

Jake Koehler (Belvidere, IL/Rockford Lutheran) hit Sherman Jones (Pensacola, FL/J.M. Tate) for 25 yards to begin the drive and later capped the 69-yard drive with a 31-yard strike to Savonte Hunt (Archer, FL/Buchholz). The extra point tied the score at 7-7 with 5:19 remaining in the quarter.

 

The Bulldogs came right back as Miller threw to Mitch Gabriele for a 24-yard gain. The drive eventually stalled at the 15-yard line, but Logan Misteff's kick was good was 32 yards out as Adrian grabbed a 10-7 lead at the ned of the first quarter.

 

The second quarter began with Concordia missing an opportunity to tie or take the lead. The Cougars marched to the six-yard line aided by a couple of Adrian penalties. However, on fourth down, the Cougars elected to pass up the field goal and go for the six points. Koehler's pass to Jamal Thomas (Weirsdale, FL/Lake Weir) was broken up, and the Bulldogs took over still holding a 10-7 lead.

 

Each team's next possession was ended by an interception with Chris Thompson (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran North) doing the honors for the Cougars. But Jeff Makowski's interception of Koehler led to Adrian's second touchdown. Hemm got behind the Cougars' defense to gather in a 67-yard toss by Miller. The extra point missed, leaving Adrian's lead at 16-14.

 

Concordia closed the gap in the final two minutes of the half. From the Cougar 46, Koehler threw to Thomas cutting across the middle. Thomas' speed got him around the corner to the right sideline, and the junior weaved his way to the end zone for a 54-yard score. The extra point made the score Adrian 16, Concordia 14 at the half.

 

The third quarter belonged to the defenses. Adrian held Concordia without a first down in their four possessions of the quarter. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs moved the ball downfield, but the Cougar defense rose to the occasion twice. Matt Rolf's (Rochester, MI/Lutheran Northwest) first of two interceptions ended one drive at the Cougar 25-yard line. Later in the quarter, Mitseff's field goal attempt from 22 yards was blocked by Marcus Frazier (Chicago, IL/Evergreen Park) and recovered by Malcolm Godwin (Ocala, FL/Vanguard).

 

Early in the fourth quarter, Mitseff missed a field goal from 29 yards out. The Bulldogs missed another scoring chance when Frazier and Oza Jackson (Montgomery, IL/Oswego East) stuffed Danny Cobb on a fourth-down rush in Concordia territory. The Cougars then marched the other way, sparked by Koehler's 17-yard pass to Jones. Koehler also picked up a key first down later in the drive on a 15-yard scramble. The drive stalled at the eight, but Danny Colapietro (Chicago, IL/Maine South) came on to drill a 25-yard field goal and give Concordia its first lead of the day at 17-16 with 6:42 remaining.

 

On the ensuing kickoff, the kick went out of bounds, giving the Bulldogs possession at the 40. Aaron Tenney completed passes of 16 yards to Hemm and 16 yards to Gabriele to moved the ball quickly downfield. On a third-and-12, Tenney hit Hemm for 10 yards to being up fourth-and-two at the Concordia 20. Adrian called time out to decide between first down and field goal, and the Bulldogs opted for the latter. Mitseff was on target this time from 37 yards, his kick giving Adrian the lead at 19-17 with 3:27 remaining.

 

The Cougars' final two drives came up short, and Makowski's second interception of Koehler with 1:44 left to play gave Adrian the final say.

 

Koehler was held to 14 of 42 for 203 yards with Hunt catching four balls for 61 yards. Concordia's rushing game was held in check with 29 carries for a net 86 yards. On the other side, Adrian's Cobb rushed 30 times for 167 yards. Quaterbacks Miller and Tenney combined for 14 of 32 for 267 yards with Hemm catching seven for 155 yards.

 

Concordia's defense was led by Rolf with 17 total tackles and his two interceptions. Thompson followed with 14 tackles (5-9) and an interception, and Jason Mielzynski (Chicago, IL/St. Laurence) added 10 tackles (5-5). Collectively, the defense made 10 tackles for a combined 37 yards in losses.

 

The Cougars (1-1) will open Northern Athletics Conference play next Saturday when they host Benedictine University for Homecoming 2011.