Concordia football looking to improve from 2022 season

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Concordia football looks to change its fate in 2023 after a tough 4-6 finish last season.

The Bulldogs enter the new year with optimism and experience.

“We have a lot of guys who have been playing together for a long time,” head coach Patrick Daberkow said at media day. “We have some offensive linemen who are in their fifth year who I’m trying to talk into playing six years. You know, we have a good group of upperclassmen that have really bought into our program and what we’re about.”

Despite their finish last season, Concordia suffered many losses by just a few points, something Daberkow would like to see less of.

“We were very close in a lot of games, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,” he said. “So, we don’t want to make the same mistakes twice. We definitely feel like we’ve shored up a lot of the things that we were short on last year, and we’re excited to put that into action this fall.”

One big returning piece for Concordia is starting sophomore quarterback DJ McGarvie.

He stepped in as the starter in game three of the season and went on to have quite a successful season.

The Bulldog QB completed 59% of passes for 2,553 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

He also rushed for two touchdowns and broke the program’s single-season record for completions, pass attempts, and passing yards, along with ranking fifth nationally with an average of 283.7 passing yards per game.

McGarvie is “very excited” to get the team together again.

“The competitive factors are there, and everyone’s blood’s flowing already,” he said. “So we’re just ready to get back.”

The Bulldogs begin the 2023 season at home against Northwestern College on Sept. 2.

More information about the program can be found here.