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An equally matched Concordia Cobbers team came to Klas Field last week with a record of 2-2 overall as well.

The Pipers started off strong, trying to set the tone with a forced fumble on Concordia’s opening drive, senior Brody Anderson, who led all Pipers with nine tackles, recovered the fumble for an eight-yard run after senior linebacker Russ Flaten forced the fumble from the Cobber offense. The Piper offense was unable to convert the defense’s recover into anything to put on the scoreboard.

With nine minutes left in the first quarter, Concordia capped off a five-minute drive with a touchdown on a nine-yard run. The extra point was good and Hamline found themselves on the bad end of a 7-0 score to start the second quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, Hamline received the Cobbers kickoff. The Piper offense got rolling thanks to the passing game. Sophomore quarterback James Leary, who ended the game with 154 yards passing with only one interception, hooked up with receivers Jeff Hanger, Brandon Johnson, and Brent Nelson to move the chains towards the red-zone. Three minutes later, the Pipers found themselves well within field-goal range and the leg of junior Piper kicker, Kyle Milburn sent the ball 30 yards through the uprights for Hamline’s lone score of the game. Hamline’s defense, which amassed 69 tackles on the afternoon without any sacks, held off the Cobber offense for the remainder of first half.

The game was without a doubt the most attended game of the year. The crowd of young and old, students and alum, who stuck around for the second half and the conclusion of the 10-3 bout, saw a drastically different game than that which transpired in the first half. The Cobbers came out with all guns blazing, scoring fast and often. On a rushing play, with 10:00 left in the third quarter, Concordia scored their second touchdown of the game and missed the extra point. The Piper offense couldn’t get anything rolling on their next possession and were only able to run off three plays before punting. Less than five minutes after their last touchdown, the Cobbers scored again on a 47-yard touchdown run. In an unusual play call, Concordia successfully completed a two-point conversion to make up for the missed extra point.

For the duration of the game, the Piper defense prevented the Cobbers from putting any more points on the board but the offense couldn’t muster the three touchdowns necessary to get Hamline a Homecoming victory. The final was Concordia 21, Hamline 3.

On Oct. 21 the Pipers travel to St. John’s to face the undefeated Johnnies. Head coach John Gagliardi’s is the most winning coach in NCAA history and his Johnnies are perennially at the very top of the MIAC standings. This year is no exception. The Pipers will have to run on all cylinders to make it a game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.