ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Concordia (Mich.) came into this Saturday's (Sept. 21) contest as the nation's sixth-ranked team and demonstrated why by scoring 30 unanswered points to register a 30-7 win over the University of St. Francis at CU's Cardinal Stadium.
 

The loss drops USF to 1-3 overall on the 2019 season while Concordia keeps its perfect season mark intact at 3-0.
 

The host Cardinals didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard once the game kicked off as CU scored on its first possession of the Mid-State Football Association (MSFA) Crossover game. USF was forced to punt on its opening possession and Concordia took the ball in Saints' territory and marched 49 yards in four plays into the end zone to go up 7-0. CU running back Keirell Jackson tallied on two-yard rush for the contest's first score. USF had a great opportunity to tie the game late in the quarter as the Saints started out on their own two-yard line with eight minutes remaining in the frame and 16 plays later had the ball at the Cardinals' 11-yard line with a first-and-10 situation.  However, on the next play quarterback Major Dedmond (FR/Freeport, Ill.) threw an interception in the end zone to thwart a potential scoring opportunity.
 

The Cardinals, who led 7-0 after the first quarter, capitalized on their pass interception by going 93 yards on 11 plays for the game's second score. A 13-yard TD pass from CU quarterback Peter Morrison to running back Omar Sinclair with 9:45 left before halftime made it a 13-0 score as the Cardinals failed to convert the extra-point kick attempt. 
 

The second half began with a bang as Concordia's Omar Sinclair took a Josh Holberry (SO/Huddersfield, England) opening third-quarter kickoff from the Cardinals' own seven-yard line the distance for a 93-yard TD just 14 seconds into the quarter. The extra-point kick by Wyatt Mast was good to give Concordia a 20-0 lead. The Cardinals' next score albeit a TD occurred on their next possession as the Saints were forced to punt on a three-and-out. CU would use the next four minutes steadily moving the ball down inside USF's field and with a first-and-10 opportunity, Morrison connected from 22 yards out with Roderick Daily for the TD as the Cardinals held a 27-0 advantage with just under nine minutes to go in the third quarter
 

Concordia built its lead up to 30-0 at the fourth quarter's 10:28 mark on Wyatt Mast's 35-yard field goal. USF was able to convert on its final possession of the contest and avert a shutout. The eight-play, 90-yard scoring drive commenced as quarterback Jamal Salaam (JR/Hanford, Calif.) hooked up with wide receiver Jameel Salaam (JR/Hanford, Calif.) for a 24-yard pass completion and two 10-yard Cardinal penalties would follow. Salaam would proceed to complete three aerials in a row, highlighted by an 18-yarder to tight end Mahlek Roberts (JR/Naperville, Ill.) and a 30-yard toss to Jameel Salaam, which put the ball at CU's 10-yard line. Following an incomplete pass, Jamal Salaam threw a 10-yard pass to Jameel Salaam for a Saints' touchdown with one minute and a half left to be played. Kicker Holberry tacked on the point after attempt for the final score.
 

USF generated 287 yards of total offense, including 153 on the ground and 134 in the air. Quarterback Dedmond ran for 85 yards on nine carries to lead the Saints' ground assault while running back Dwayne Milton (SR/Machesney Park, Ill.) rushed for 42 yards on a dozen attempts. Backup signal-caller Jamal Salaam was USF's top passer with 134 yards on nine-of-16 completions. Jameel Salaam made a squad-high four catches for 70 yards, which included the 10-yard TD reception. Wide receiver Justin Bruns (SO/Bellwood, Ill.) and Roberts each had two receptions for 31 and 26 yards, respectively.


Meanwhile, Concordia amassed 367 yards of total offense, which featured 241 yards in passing and 126 rushing yards. The CU defense forced two pass interceptions for 34 yrds. Peter Morrison finished a productive day by making good on 22-of-28 passes for 241 yards. Roderick Dailey was his favorite target with a game-high 87 receiving yards on seven catches as nine different Cardinal receivers caught at least one pass.


Linebackers Blake Evans (JR/Manhattan, Ill.) and Chris Johnson (SO/Hillside, Ill.) were tops in tackles for USF as the two combined for 22 total stops. Evans' 12 tackles (six solos) marked a game high while Johnson had 10 stops (eight assists), which included a sack for minus three yards. Concordia linebacker Hunter Maynard's eight tackles (three solos) was tops for the home team.
 

The Saints will now look to close out the month of September on a winning note as USF ventures to Southfield, Mich., next Saturday, Sept. 28, for an 11 a.m. (CT) MSFA Crossover game against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils at LTU's Blue Devils Stadium.