Football | 9/13/2019 10:25:00 AM

STORM LAKE - The Beaver faithful will get the chance to see their beloved football team in action inside of J. Leslie Rollins Stadium for the first time in 2019 when the Beavers play host to Concordia University of Nebraska under the lights on Saturday night with kick-off set for 6 p.m.

BVU made quick work of Hamline University last Thursday night up in St. Paul, as the Beavers rushed out of the gates with three touchdowns in the first eight minutes en route to a 51-7 season-opening victory.  The 51 points scored was the highest single-game point total for the program since it chalked up 55 in a win over Waldorf College in 2014.  BVU put up 552 yards in the victory while holding the Pipers to only 32.  It got 269 yards on the ground which was the most since it put up 238 against Luther in 2016.  A win Saturday against the Bulldogs would be the team's first 2-0 start to a season since it won its first two contests in 2003 (Gustavus Adolphus & Central).

GAME INFO
Concordia (0-1) at Buena Vista (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 14 | 6 p.m.
J. Leslie Rollins Stadium | Storm Lake, Iowa
TV Broadcast (Local): BVTV Channel 3
Live Video & Stats: bvuathletics.com
Radio: 97.5FM KBVU

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Team Statistics
*2019 national rank in parentheses (ranking for Concordia is among NAIA teams)

Concordia
Offensive PPG: 10.0 (82nd out of 87)
Defensive PPG: 17.0 (T-22nd)
Total Offense: 296.0 (59th)
Pass Offense: 271.0 (20th)
Rush Offense: 25.0 (85th)
Total Defense: 282.0 (22nd)
Pass Defense: 227.0 (55th)
Rush Defense: 55.0 (7th)
Turnover +/-: +1 (T-24th) 

Buena Vista
Offensive PPG: 51.0 (T-16th out of 204)
Defensive PPG: 7.0 (T-22nd)
Total Offense: 552.0 (14th)
Pass Offense: 283.0 (55th)
Rush Offense: 269.0 (21st)
Total Defense: 32.0 (3rd)
Pass Defense: 33.0 (6th)
Rush Defense: -1.0 (4th)
Turnover +/-: +1 (T-53rd) 

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Concordia
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow (9-12, 3rd season)
Passing: Jake Kemp – 24/35 (.686), 262 yards, 1 td, 0 int, 140.9 effic.
Rushing: Ryan Durdon – 15 rushes, 19 yards, 1.3 avg, 0 td; 3 catches, 13 yards
Receiving: Arthur Anderson – 9 catches, 100 yards, 11.1 avg, 0 td
Defense: Riley Bilstein – 13 tackles, 2.5 tfl's, 1 sack 

Buena Vista
Head Coach: Grant Mollring (5-16, 3rd season)
Passing: Reyes Lara III – 7/14 (.500), 161 yards, 2 td, 0 int, 193.7 effic.
Rushing: Stephen Grimm – 12 rushes, 81 yards, 6.8 avg, 2 td
Receiving: Eric Pacheco – 5 catches, 105 yards, 21.0 avg, 2 td
Defense: Tanner Frost – 4 tackles, 1.5 tfl's, 1.5 sacks

Pacheco Moves up the Charts
Junior wideout Eric Pacheco continues to move himself up the career touchdown reception list.  With two more TD grabs in the season opener, he now has 17 in his career which is one away from tying Gunner Gilland (18) for fourth on the career list.
 

Touchdowns
1. Jesse Schmidt	2002-05	33
2. Jalen Henningsen	2012-16	25
3. John Peterson		20
4. Gunner Gilland	2011-14	18
5. Eric Pacheco	2017-pres.	17

Strong Debuts under Center
Sophomore transfer quarterback Reyes Lara III had a solid debut under center for the Beavers againts the Pipers.  He completed  7-of-14 passes for 161 yards and a pair of TD's.  Junior Dylan Laughlin also saw playing time and threw for 94 yards on 10-of-15 and one score.  The duo is replacing the graduated, Cole Miller, who finished his career ranked second on the program's all-time charts for passing yards and touchdowns.

Running Wild
The Beavers had its best rushing performance since putting up 238 yards during a win over Luther in 2016.  The team had four players rush for at least 40 yards, led by freshman Stephen Grimm's 81 yards on 12 carries, including a pair of touchdown runs.  Bryland Menicucci added 66 yards on only six rushes.  Overall, BVU found the end zone four times with the run game.  It had just seven rushing touchdowns all of 2018.

Series vs. Concordia
Last season marked the first time in history that the two programs met on the gridiron.  BVU took a 20-13 lead into the fourth quarter but the Bulldogs rallied with a pair of touchdowns in the final frame, including the eventual game-winner with 33 seconds left.  Pacheco accounted for all three of the Beaver scores as he caught a pair of TD passes while also returning a punt 63 yards for a score.  He has two kick-off returns for scores in his career.

The return of the band
Saturday night will be a historic night inside of J. Leslie Rollins Stadium with the return of the BVU Marching Band.  It has been over 20 years since the band last existed and performed and it will lead the team onto the field while also displaying a fun halftime performance.