Coe dominates Concordia for first postseason football victory since 2016

MEQUON, Wis. – For the first time since 2016, Coe has reached the second round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs.

The Kohawks opened the postseason with dominance.

Coe quarterback Brady Kelly passed for two touchdowns and Tre’Sean rushed for two more in a 44-7 victory over host Concordia University of Wisconsin on Saturday. The Kohawks advance to face No. 3 Bethel University (10-0) next week in Arden Hills, Minn.

“We have really kind of hit our stride toward the end of the season,” Coe Coach Tyler Staker said in the postgame news conference. “Really proud of our performance today, being on the road, first-round of the playoffs. It’s a tough environment, adverse environment. I thought our guys came out and played some really good football today.”

Kelly connected on a 12-yard TD pass to put Coe up 7-0 with 4:21 to go in the first quarter. Less than six minutes later, Quincy Drummer doubled the Kohawks’ lead with a 2-yard TD run.

Coe (9-2) added Jake Collett’s 32-yard field goal as the first half expired for a 17-7 lead at the break.

On the first drive of the second half, Kelly hit Jeron Senters for a 23-yard score on fourth-and-8, making it 23-7 with 9:08 left in the third.

The run game took control. Tre’Sean Cunningham added TD runs of 2 and 35 yards for a 37-7 lead with 12:02 to play.

“Offensively, we were able to mix in the run and the pass,” Staker said. “In the second half, we were able to lean in on that quite a bit.”

Kelly passed for 267 yards, completing 22 of 25 attempts. Coe rushed for 157 yards, including 84 yards from Cunningham and Drummer with 70.

Kelly, the American Rivers Conference Offensive Player of the Year, continues his record-setting season. His two TD passes improved his single-season record total to 30 this fall. Kelly moved into second in program history with 2,867 yards this season. He enters the second-round game just 105 yards shy of Brad Boyle’s record set in 2010.

“I think we had a great game plan, going into it,” Kelly said. “When I have four receivers, who could each put up 100 yards any day, it makes my job pretty easy.”

Coe’s defense made an impact, forcing two turnovers including Stone Cummins’ fumble recovery in the end zone to cap the scoring with four minutes remaining. Leighton Charters had an interception in the end zone to thwart Concordia’s first drive of the game.

“Our defense came out in the second half and really played lights out,” Staker said. “They played really well. They were challenged a little bit at halftime by our defensive coordinator Coach (Cody) Baethke and I thought they rose to the challenge.”

The Falcons closed the season at 9-2.

The victory sets up a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff game. Bethel ended Coe’s season a year ago, winning 31-26 at home.

Four-time defending A-R-C champion and fifth-ranked Wartburg (10-0) received a first-round bye. The Knights host No. 20 Wheaton (Ill.) College in the second round at Walston-Hoover Stadium next Saturday, beginning at noon. Wheaton improved to 9-2 with a 76-14 first-round victory over Crown (Minn.) College.

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