Warriors Take Down Bulldogs in Double Overtime Thriller

SEWARD, Neb. – As classic rivalry games usually play out, they go down to the game's final play. The Saturday matchup between Midland University and Concordia University was no different, as the Warriors recorded a 39-37 double-overtime victory on a backward lateral pass to tackle Callan Phillips on a game-ending two-point conversion.

Midland withstood a Concordia nine-play drive to begin the game forcing a punt, where they took over at their own 18-yard line. After a 12-play drive stalled, Jared Quinonez came on and kicked a 40-yard field goal, putting the Warriors ahead 3-0, with 6:54 left in the opening quarter.

After Concordia received the ensuing kickoff, the Warriors forced a Bulldogs' punt four plays later. The defenses for both sides settled in as the teams exchanged punts on their next possessions. The Warriors began a drive at its own 30-yard line with just over two minutes left in the quarter. After an illegal formation penalty by the Warriors and two straight incompletions, running back Tyson Denkert rattled off a 75-yard touchdown run to extend the lead. With Quinonez's PAT, Midland led 10-0 with 1:21 left in the quarter. Midland's defense forced a punt as the first quarter came to an end with the score, 10-0.

To begin the second quarter, the Bulldogs held the Warriors on a three-and-out, forcing a punt. With the Bulldogs beginning their next drive at their own 27-yard line, they put together their best drive of the day. An eight-play 73-yard march that culminated with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Austin Jablonski from DJ McGarvie. Peyton Atwood's extra point made the score 10-7, with 10:23 remaining in the quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Warriors' special teams came up big. Behind great blocking, Tyson Denkert returned the ball 91 yards for a touchdown. Quinonez's extra point put Midland ahead 17-7 with 10:18 left in the first half.

Concordia put together another long drive, but, would turn the ball over. Midland's Xavier Green intercepted a McGarvie pass on the eleventh play of the drive, giving the Warriors' offense the ball back with 6:46 remaining in the second quarter. The offense put together a drive of over five minutes but was forced to punt.

The Bulldogs took over the ball at their own 20-yard line with 1:20 to go before halftime. Two long pass completions, plus a defensive penalty, gave them first and goal at the 10-yard line. Concordia could not punch the ball into the endzone and had to settle for an Atwood 27-yard field goal on the final play of the half. Midland held a 17-10 lead at the intermission.

Midland received the ball to begin the second half and put together a six-play drive that stalled. Jared Quinonez came on to attempt a 37-yard field goal, but it landed short, and Concordia took over at their 20-yard line. The Warriors' defense forced a punt, and Denkert returned the kick 46 yards to the 21-yard line. On a fourth down and one, at the Concordia 12-yard line, Denkert kept the drive alive with a two-yard carry to the 10-yard line. After the Warriors could not punch the ball into the endzone, Quinonez came on to attempt a 28-yard field goal. The kick into the strong wind was off target, bouncing off the left upright, keeping the score, 17-10 in favor of the Warriors.

On the third play of the Concordia drive, McGarvie's pass was intercepted by Robert Vega, Jr., and the Warriors took over at the 23-yard line. Concordia's defense stepped up and forced a Midland punt, after a three-and-out. After seven straight rushing plays by Concordia's Devin Ziegler, the quarter ended with Midland still leading, 17-10.

On the third play of the fourth quarter, Concordia's Mark Arp carried the ball into the endzone on a three-yard touchdown run. Atwood's extra point tied the game at 17-17 with 14:15 left in the final quarter.

After a nine-yard carry by Denkert on the Warriors' next drive, Jacob Jones threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Kalynd Coats to put MU back in front. Quinonez split the uprights and the Warriors led 24-17 with 13:31 remaining.

The Bulldogs' offense went to work on the next drive and put together a march of twelve plays. However, the Warriors' defense intercepted McGarvie for the third time, when Treden Davis-Reed picked off a pass at the goal line with 10:13 to play. The Warriors tried to engineer a drive to chew up the clock and go ahead by two scores, but Jared Quinonez missed his third field goal of the day when his 47-yard attempt fell short.

The Bulldogs took over with 5:08 remaining. Six plays into the drive, Midland forced Concordia into a punting situation. However, the Bulldogs' kick into the wind did not cross the line of scrimmage and CJ Dyhrkopp took advantage of that as he picked up the ball and carried it 13 yards for a first down at the Midland 42-yard line. Six plays later, the Bulldogs converted on another fourth down. On fourth down and one, at the Midland 14-yard line, Austin Jablonski carried the ball for two yards giving his team a new set of downs at the 12-yard line. Three plays later, Devin Ziegler carried the ball into the endzone from one yard out. Atwood's extra point tied the score, 24-24, with 20 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, Denkert returned the ball to the Midland 30-yard line before fumbling the ball. Concordia was able to pounce on the ball, giving them a chance to win the game. The Warriors' defense stepped up to the challenge, forcing three incomplete passes, and sent the game into overtime.

To begin the first overtime, Midland was on offense first, and they scored immediately. Jacob Jones completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Javin Fish. Quinonez's extra point put them ahead 31-24.

On Concordia's possession of the first overtime, they scored on the fifth offensive play as McGarvie completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Luke Lang. Atwood's successful point-after-try tied the game at 31-31, sending the contest into the second overtime.

The Bulldogs were on offense first, and on their fourth play from scrimmage, Austin Jablonski completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Daylan Russell. Per the overtime rules, teams must go for a two-point conversion after a touchdown. On the conversion attempt, McGarvie's pass to Max Bartles fell incomplete, giving Concordia a 37-31 advantage.

Needing a touchdown to extend the game, the Warriors' offense executed. On the fourth play from scrimmage, Kalynd Coats carried the ball around the right end for an 8-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 37-37. With the game in the balance on the ensuing conversion attempt, the Warriors' coaching staff drew up a unique play for their conversion attempt.

Jacob Jones took the snap, moved to his right, then threw backward to the other side of the field offensive tackle Callan Phillips. Phillips cradled the ball in and went untouched into the endzone behind blocking from his teammates, handing Midland the win, 39-37, in two overtimes.

With the victory, Midland (6-4, 5-4 GPAC) recorded its eighth straight winning season under head coach Jeff Jamrog. Concordia falls to 3-5 overall and 3-5 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).

Offensively, Midland rushed the ball 42 times for 296 yards. In the passing game, they completed 8-of-17 attempts for 138 yards. Midland ran a total of 59 plays for 434 yards of total offense. Concordia rushed the ball 53 times for 227 yards. The Bulldogs completed 20-of-49 passes for 319 yards. Concordia ran 102 plays on the afternoon for 546 yards of total offense.

Kick returns were a big advantage for Midland. The Warriors had four kickoff returns for 158 yards and one touchdown. Concordia had two returns for a total of 50 yards.

For the second straight week, Tyson Denkert ran the ball for over 200 yards. The sophomore carried the ball 31 times for 215 yards and a touchdown, that went for 75 yards. He also returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and had a punt return for 46 yards.

Quarterback Jacob Jones completed 5-of-10 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Kalynd Coats caught three passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, that went for a 63-yard score. Javin Fish caught one pass for 25 yards, that went for a touchdown in the first overtime.

Defensively, Jay Ballard led the way with 13 tackles. The freshman also had a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Xavier Green added 11 tackles and an interception. Treden Davis-Reed had seven tackles, one for a loss of two yards. He added an interception and two pass breakups. Uiti Moe had seven tackles and one quarterback hurry. Tayver Thornbrugh had five tackles, and a half of a tackle for a loss of one yard, plus a pass breakup. Burton Brandt had five tackles, one for a loss of two yards, and a pass breakup. Gabriel VanWinkle had four tackles and a half of a tackle for a loss of two yards. Dane Christensen had three tackles and a quarterback hurry. Noah Ethan added a tackle and a pass breakup. Robert Vega, Jr., had one interception, which was returned for eight yards.

Concordia's Mark Arp carried the ball 24 times for 113 yards and a touchdown. Devin Zeigler had 25 carries for 90 yards and one touchdown.

DJ McGarvie completed 19-of-47 passes for 313 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Austin Jablonski threw one pass, which was completed for a six-yard touchdown. Jablonski also caught 11 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. Luke Lang had three receptions for 65 yards and a score. Daylan Russell caught one pass for a six-yard touchdown.

On defense, Michael Grindey led the Bulldogs with 12 tackles, one for a loss of three yards, and a quarterback hurry. Devon Polley added 11 tackles, one and a half for a loss of four yards. CJ Dyhrkopp had eight tackles and a forced fumble. Will Potratz had six tackles and two pass breakups. Carson Fehlhafer added six tackles, one half for a loss of two yards, and a quarterback hurry. Kyle Sterup had four tackles and two quarterback hurries. Luke Penrod had four tackles and one pass breakup. Daylon Henson and Stephen Hughes II added two tackles and a quarterback hurry, each. Michael Doiel had one tackle and a quarterback hurry and Karsten McCarter added one stop with one fumble recovery.

Next week, Concordia will host Doane (1-8, 1-7 GPAC) at 1:00 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium in Seward. Midland will play its final game of the season at Hastings (4-5, 3-5 GPAC). The battle for the Watchorn-McClaughlin trophy kicks off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4 at the Osborn Family Sports Complex on Lloyd Wilson Field.