ODIM, BULLDOGS RUSH PAST GOLDEN BEARS

In the 2009 season opener, the visiting Concordia University football team had no answer for the #3 Minnesota Duluth running game as the Bulldogs rushed for 461 yards in a 56-0 victory for the defending champs at Malosky Stadium on Saturday evening in front of 3,025 fans. UMD scored two touchdowns in each quarter while the Golden Bears were shutout for the second straight season by the Bulldogs. UMD extends their Division II-leading winning streak to 17 games with the victory.

BOX SCORE

The bright spots for the Golden Bears were not committing a turnover, something they did only once last year in the final game of the season, giving them a turnover free streak of eight quarters.

Additionally, junior specialist T.G. Schoenberg (right, Woodbury, Minn.) started off the season hot by punting a career-high nine times for a 43.9 yard average. He forced seven fair catches, placing four inside the 20 with two punts over 50 yards including a long of 60. His net average of 41.7 indicates the punt coverage was stout while he provided excellent hang time with his kicks. UMD did not have an opportunity to return a punt against him.

But CU didn't have an answer for the Northern Sun's Preseason North Division Offensive Player of the Year, running back Isaac Odim, who started off as the undisputed best back in the league by rushing for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries while taking three receptions for 75 yards and two more scores. He scored the first five touchdowns of the game with the fifth being a 92 yard kickoff return score to open the second half.

He scored from 42 and 86 yards on runs in the first quarter before seven and 60 yard TD receptions in the second.

Brian Hanson, his second half replacement, scored on rushes of one and four yards out in the third and fourth quarters and finished with 144 yards on 13 attempts.

The scoring was completed with a two yard plunge by Nate Bauer with just under eight minutes to play.

The Golden Bears managed eight first downs and converted just one of 15 on third down. They did produce first downs on both of their fourth down conversions but were unable to get in the red zone in the contest while UMD was 4-4 inside the 20.

Their top two scoring chances both resulted in missed field goals. With under a minute to go in the first half, CU took over on their own 32 yard line and drove to the UMD 26, a six play, 42 yard drive that resulted in a missed 43 yard field goal with 15 seconds to play in the half.

In the third quarter, CU went on their longest drive of the game, taking it 50 yards in 15 plays in just under a six minute span. The drive started on their own 27 and they got to the UMD 23 before failing to convert a 40 yard field goal.

In the end, UMD out gained CU 634 to 135, a near 500 yard deficit in total offense.

Sophomore Sam Campbell (left, Cary, Ill.) led CU in yardage with five receptions for 30 yards and six rushes for 14 yards. Sophomore Jerry Shaw (Oak Creek, Wis.) led CU in rushing with 23 yard on eight carries.

Receiving duo Calvin Simon (Jr., Shakopee, Minn.) and Jordan Schultenover (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) were not held silent, but were contained. Simon had three catches for 20 yards and keeps his streak of a reception in every collegiate game in tact at 22 games. Schultenover had a 33 yard reception, CU's longest play from scrimmage, and finished with two catches for 41 yards to lead CU in receiving yardage.

Sophomore quarterback Spencer Ohm (Blooming Prairie, Minn.), who made his colleagiate debut a year ago against the Bulldogs, got the start under center and completed 12-34 for 93 yards.

Concordia's secondary held UMD to just 10 completions through the air for 173 yards and forced nine incompletions.

Senior defensive back Christian Even (Pierz, Minn.) led the defense with seven tackles while sophomore linebacker Al Quaye (Champlin, Minn.) pulled down six UMD ball carriers with seniors Travis Meyer (DB, Champlin, Minn.) and Will Brown (right, DL, Shoreview, Minn.) making five tackles along with newcomer Trevor Glomski (Jr., LB, Wabasha, Minn.).


Brown had CU's only tackle for loss while junior defensive lineman John Borchert (Champlin, Minn.) and senior defensive back Joe Butler (Kansas City, Minn.) each had pass breakups in aiding the defense limiting the Bulldogs through the air.

Last year, UMD ended Concordia's streak at 90 games without being shutout and have now held CU scoreless two straight games, both in season openers. It's the third time in the last 12 games Concordia has been shutout since the streak ended.

The Golden Bears will look to turn things around on the road next week at NAIA foe Minot State for a 1:00 p.m. contest in Minot, N.D. The Beavers are 0-1 after losing to Bemidji State on Thursday and are provisional NCAA Division II members. The game will feature a CU audio broadcast with Dan Flanagan calling the play-by-play via Minnesota Sports Broadcast Network (MSBN) online at www.mnsportsnetwork.com along with road live stats provided by Concordia.