Gary Haugo, ex-Cobber
After the Cobbers poor showing in 2006, they have something to prove in 2007. The Cobbers are off to a 2-1 start after defeating their arch-rival MSUM 34-32 in a thriller at the Jake and also defeating Dickinson State 41-7 at Dickinson. The only loss for the Cobbers coming at the hands of Bethel at Concordia in 3 overtimes. The first overtime game ever to be played at Concordia.
This game for The Concordia Cobbers is huge. To start the conference season 0-2 would be devastating. However if there is a year that there is a possibility of any team winning the conference with two losses I believe this is the year. With the emergence of St. Olaf as a solid team and no clear dominating force I look for Concordia, St. John’s, St. Olaf and Bethel to battle it out. The others have shown no life and only marginal ability to knock off a good team.
Jesse Nelson, Junior from Minnetonka, will lead the Cobber offense. He has shown an increased confidence and ability to make plays. Last year after completing only 1 touchdown pass on the year he has 4 this year and the Cobbers have 7 as a team. When you compare this to a total of 9 rushing touchdowns I believe the Cobbers are much closer to finding the balance in their offense they have been looking for. Others to watch for are Senior running back, Corey Nelson and Senior Fullback Adam Swingdorf. Swingdorf has 5 of the 7 cobber rushing touchdowns.
Defensively the Cobbers are looking to improve. After giving up 32 points versus the Dragons and 48 versus Bethel they need to find a way to stop teams from scoring. The real problem for the Cobbers has been giving up points late in the fourth quarter. The defense carried the team in the third and most of the fourth quarter last week versus Bethel. Bethel had four possessions in the third and fourth quarter that started in Cobber territory and the defense didn’t allow any points.
As always this will be the barometer by which both teams will measure themselves. It will be a great hard hitting game, well coached on both sides showcasing some of the best talent that MIAC football has to offer. Personally I will be taking my two year old son Peder to his first Cobber v. Johnnie game and hopefully showing him a Cobber victory.
Keys to Cobber Victory
- Win the special teams field position and field goal battle.
- Contain the Tight Ends for SJU, they always hurt Concordia. Don’t let them off the line.
- Find a way to move the ball on sustained drives against the strength of the Johnnies, their defense!
Gary Haugo is a former Concordia player and coach. As a senior in 1992 he was named to the MIAC all-conference team. Gary is employed at Concordia College as a gift officer and lives in Fargo where he resides with his wife and two children.
