Mountain Lions Clip Falcon Offense

The Concord University Mountain Lions rolled to a 27-10 win over Fairmont State University on Saturday, September 12, at Callaghan Stadium.

The Mountain Lions started the game with an eight play, 62 yard drive that resulted in a two-yard touchdown run for Preseason All-American Senior running back Calvinaugh Jones. Senior kicker Andy Ellington missed the point after attempt, which kept the score 6-0.

Neither team would score again until the Mountain Lion offense hoisted an eleven play, eighty yard drive that resulted in a touchdown from senior fullback Shaun Workinger. Concord would hold a 13-0 lead until the last seconds of the first half when Fairmont State successfully kicked a field goal to make it a 13-3 game at intermission.

The Mountain Lion defense would be stout throughout the entire game, as they forced a Fairmont State punt to open the half. On the ensuing drive, Junior quarterback Brian Novak hit Sophomore wideout Jermeil Douse for a 49 yard pass, which put sophomore halfback Jamal Petty in prime position to score and he capitalized, giving Concord a 20-3 lead after a successful point after attempt.

With a smothering defensive effort, the Mountain Lions were once again able force a Fairmont punt and put up their final point of the day on the ensuing drive that consisted of eleven plays and ended in Jones rushing a touchdown.

After taking a 27-3 lead, the Mountain Lions rested their starters and that still wasn’t enough for the rival Falcons, as Fairmont State was only able to score their lone touchdown in the closing seconds to make the final score 27-10.

The Concord defense was the story of this game as they allowed their fewest yards since October 2013, when they played West Virginia Wesleyan in the first year of Mountain East Conference play. Linebacker Austin Dotson led the team in tackles with nine, while senior defensive lineman Ervin Moore, who led the team in sacks in 2013, recorded one in this game, becoming only the fourth player in Mountain Lion history to have 40 tackles for a loss in his career. Novak finished 10-of-13 for 161 yards passing with no touchdowns, but also no turnovers.

With the win Concord gets their first win on the year, improving to 1-1 on the year and in conference play. The win is a breath of fresh air after a heartbreaking loss to open the year last week against West Liberty where turnovers doomed the Mountain Lions. Concord will be on the road this weekend, September 19, as they face Urbana in Ohio. Last year the Lions beat Urbana pretty handily at home by a score of 50-20. Following an away game at Urbana, the Mountain Lions will return to Callaghan Stadium to face West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday, September 26.