Football Upends CUNE 21-13
SEWARD, NE- The Hastings College football team found themselves trailing the Concordia Bulldogs twice on Saturday, but when it was all said and done, it was the Broncos with the one lead that mattered; a 21-13 victory at Bulldog Stadium.
The Broncos (4-4, 2-4 GPAC) looked poised to take a lead over the Bulldogs on the opening drive, but a missed field goal kept it a scoreless game.
Concordia used the momentum from the missed field goal on their first drive of the game, taking the ball 80 yards, capped by a 42-yard rushing touchdown for the Bulldogs' Ryan Durdon, and getting ahead of the Broncos 6-0 with 7:57 left in the first quarter.
Hastings was able to turn the tide against Concordia on the Bulldogs' first drive of the second quarter, with Wesley Jardim (SR/Beaver Crossing, NE) forcing a fumble that was recovered by Darren Scott (SR/Waterloo, IA) at the Concordia 39-yard line. A pair of one-yard rushes by Tahj Willingham (SR/Denver, CO) and a 36-yard pass from Isaiah Jackson (JR/Compton, CA) to Terrance McIntyre (FR/San Diego, CA) set up a one-yard rushing touchdown for Willingham. The ensuing PAT by Alex Stogdill (SR/Lincoln, NE) gave Hastings a 7-6 lead with 7:34 left in the first half.
The Bulldogs were able to answer back on the next drive, scoring on a 15-yard rushing touchdown to take a 13-7 lead into halftime.
Despite trailing, it was the Broncos with the upperhand in the third quarter, with Tyler Kennedy (JR/Chandler, AZ) forcing another Bulldog fumble in the red zone on the first drive of the half that was recovered by Tyler Parthemer (SR/Beatrice, NE). Hastings went downfield after the turnover, getting to the red zone before the Bulldog defense anchored down and forced a turnover on downs.
The following drive for the Bulldogs proved to be a turning point for the game, with Concordia's Andrew Perea throwing a 20-yard pick-six to Anthony Murray (SR/Aurora, CO). A missed PAT kept it a 13-13 tie with 4:09 left in the third quarter.
With the game still tied 13-13, the Broncos got the ball rolling in their first drive of the fourth quarter, with Willingham eating up 55 yards in the first two plays of the drive. A four-yard rush by Tyree Nesmith (SO/Baltimore, MD) set the Broncos up at the Concordia 30-yard line, with all 30 yards being covered by Nesmith for a rushing touchdown. The Broncos attempted a two-point conversion, which Tyler Miller (FR/Baytown, TX) converted to put Hastings ahead 21-13.
The Broncos were outgained 371-370, but the heavy run-game proved the difference, with Hastings outgaining the Bulldogs 221-182 on the ground.
Leading the Broncos were Willingham, Nesmith, and Jackson. Jackson went 11-for-23, totaling 149 passing yards, while connecting with Anthony Martinez (JR/Oceanside, CA), McIntyre, and Cole Fisher (SR/Omaha, NE) for 10 or more yards. Jackson also had nine rushing yards. Willingham finished the day with 152 total yards (143 rushing and nine receiving). Nesmith tallied 69 rushing yards and a five-yard reception.
The Broncos will look to pull off a major upset next Saturday when the No. 3 ranked Northwestern Red Raiders come to Lloyd Wilson Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CST.
