HANCOCK — Avoiding mistakes is the top priority for the Finlandia University football team this week as it prepares to host Concordia-Chicago.

The Lions (0-2) made a bushel of errors in last week’s 45-12 loss to Ripon College.

Finlandia lost two fumbles for scores and also committed three unsportsmanlike penalties in a disastrous (31 points given up) second quarter against Ripon.

Ironically enough, Concordia (1-1) also imploded in the second quarter in its game against Olivet College. allowing 34 points in a 51-24 defeat.

Lions coach Travis Wiltzius said this week’s practice sessions were centered on “cleaning things up.”

“We have to get better on both sides of the football, Wiltzius said. “If you makes mistakes like that, your chances of winning go way down.”

Kickoff is 1 p.m. at McAfee Field.

It wasn’t that the Lions played all that badly against Ripon College, with several players standing out.

Freshman quarterback Darin Johnson rushed for 67 yards and a score. He also passed for 75 yards.

But Wiltzius said the Lions need to get more out of the passing game.

“Darin (Johnson) has shown he has great quickness in avoiding the pass rush, but we need to get him more time to find the receivers,” he commented.

Sophomore flanker Ken Kujawa had a nice game versus Ripon with four catches for 51 yards.

Freshman DJ Davis rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown.

The Finlandia defense was led by linebacker Christian Creten with 13 tackles. Marvin Anthony recorded 9 tackles from the secondary.

Concordia has an explosive running back in Lance Moise, who has rushed for 254 in two games yards, is a threat.

Moise, a senior, is less than 300 yards from setting the school record for rushing yards.

Concordia quarterback Arby Jaxon has a top target in receiver Samaj Jackson, who has 10 catches.