ST. PAUL, Minn. – In the first MIAC Skyline Division game of the season, the Macalester College football team battled Concordia College, ultimately losing, 34-27 Saturday afternoon at Macalester Stadium. The Scots fall to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the division, while the Cobbers improve to 2-3, 1-0 Skyline.

Concordia scored on its first drive of the game on a 4-yard pass from Tanner DuBois to Braydon Smith for a 7-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, DuBois was picked off by senior defensive back Pierce Lundt (Santa Barbara, Calif./Cate School), setting up a 56-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Michael Nadeau (Garden Grove, Calif./La Quinta) to senior receiver Rex Desso (Evergreen, Colo./Lakewood). The game remained tied until the Cobbers drove to the Macalester 15-yard line, where Damien Silus kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.

With just 40 seconds on the clock before halftime, the Scots moved the ball 59 yards to the Concordia 11-yard line. Nadeau hit senior receiver Ty Bruckner (Wichita, Kan./Wichita North) with a 29-yard pass on the drive. Senior kicker Jon Neve (Minnestrista, Minn./Mound Westonka) stepped up and hit a 28-yard field goal with no time on the clock following a running into the kicker penalty, and the teams headed into the locker rooms tied at 10-10.

Concordia took control of the game in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal on their first three possessions to take a commanding 27-10 lead. The second touchdown followed a fumble by Desso after a 44-yard reception. Macalester started the fourth quarter with a 65-yard touchdown drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown reception by sophomore tight end Nick Bice (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge). The Cobbers answered with a touchdown drive of their own, with DuBois running it in from three yards out for a 34-17 lead.

Neve's 33-yard field goal completed a 50-yard drive for the Scots, making the score 34-20. On Concordia's next possession, a fumble at the Macalester 12 gave the ball back to the Scots. Nadeau connected with senior tight end Peter Vitalis (Shafer, Minn./Chisago Lakes) on a 41-yard completion on fourth down and 15, and a pass interference call put the ball at the 2-yard line. Sophomore running back Logan Pampel (Johnson Creek, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran School) eventually ran it in from a yard out to make the score 34-27 Cobbers with 1:30 on the clock.

After a failed onside kick, Concordia was able to run out the clock and secure the win.

Nadeau was 18-of-33 for 350 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Desso, who set the school record with 14 catches last week against Carleton, caught eight passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, while Bice had three catches for 62 yards and a score. On defense, Lundt and sophomore Noah Bresson (Homosassa, Fla./Crystal River) each had 12 tackles. For Concordia, Peyton Mortensen ran or 172 yards, and DuBois threw for 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Next week the Scots continue MIAC Skyline Division play with a game at Augsburg. The game beings at 1:00 p.m. in Minneapolis, Minn.