CHAPMAN — After a grind-out 7-0 victory last week versus Marysville that concluded a three-game home stand, the Concordia football team got their first win on the road this season with a 40-20 win over Chapman.
With a back-and-forth battle early in the first quarter, it wouldn’t be until under 2 minutes remaining in the quarter to see someone score, with the Panthers scoring first with a Drake Blochlinger pass to Liam McNutt for 22 yards to make it 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Irish would respond with a touchdown on the following drive and just two plays into the second quarter with a 17-yard run, with a two-point conversion giving Chapman an 8-6 lead. After a fake punt put the Panthers at the Irish 22-yard line, the Panthers scored on a QB keeper from 5 yards out to take a 13-7 lead. After penalties pushed the Irish back within their own 10-yard line, a botched pitch recovered by the Panthers went for another touchdown to go up 20-8.
Chapman bounced back on the following drive, marching down the field and scoring on a 1-yard run to make it a 20-14 game with 33 seconds remaining.
After a short kick and a good return by Parker Jackson put the Panthers at their own 45-yard line, one play in and Chapman intercepted a Blochlinger pass. Chapman, with 15 seconds on the clock, scored in two plays to tie the game 20-20.
The third quarter would be a defensive battle, with both offenses slowing down and forced into multiple punts. Chapman would get down into the Panther 14-yard line before Braytin Hake forced a fumble, which the Panthers recovered. After a time-consuming Panther drive extended into the fourth quarter, Blochlinger reached the end zone once more with 11:15 remaining to make it a 27-20 game.
The fourth quarter would be all Concordia. After shutting down the Irish offense, Blochlinger scored once again with 4:57 remaining to make it a 34-20 game, and with 2:26 remaining with yet another Blochlinger score to make it 40-20.
Blochlinger went 3-10 passing for 71 yards and a touchdown, with 147 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
McNutt had 29 yards on two receptions and a touchdown, Jackson had 23 yards on one reception.
Hake had 15 tackles including three for loss. Ayden Krier had nine and Jackson had eight.
