HAPPY, HAPPY HOMECOMING

CU OPENS BIG, ROUTS GLENVILLE STATE

“If we take care of us, we'll be alright.”

That was Mike Kellar's prediction going into Saturday's Homecoming game against Glenville State.

Crowd Shot vs GSC 314 x 209

What the Concord Football head coach meant was that if the Mountain Lions did what they needed to do, they'd take care of the bad feelings from last week's loss at Shepherd, take care of a large and boisterous Homecoming crowd, and take care of a nine-game losing streak to the Pioneers, including last year's crushing loss in Glenville.

Consider it taken care of. All of it.

Concord bolted out to a 28-0 lead after the 1st quarter and 46-0 advantage at halftime in a not-as-close-as-it-looks 49-14 victory at Callaghan Stadium.

The victory was Concord's first over Glenville State since October 14, 2000, and it improved CU to 5-2, 3-2 in the WVIAC. GSC left Athens at 3-4, 2-2.

Rashid Baker TD Catch 235 x 241
The Mountain Lions took the game's opening kickoff and promptly embarked on a nine-play, 72-yard, 3:26 scoring drive that ended with Zack Grossi's three-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Baker (left). A two-point conversion pass failed, but Concord led 6-0.

CU's defense forced a three-and-out on Glenville State's first possession. The Mountain Lions offense then put together an eight-play, 75-yard, 2:37 drive ending on a one-yard TD run by Brian Kennedy. Brandon Strupp's extra point kick made the score 13-0.


Thomas Mayo TD catch 252 x 235



On GSC's next possession, the RB DeAndre Johnson fumbled on the Pioneers' 16, and Joe Greenway recovered for Concord. After a five-yard penalty, Grossi connected with Mayo for a 21-yard TD pass (right) and a 21-0 lead with 6:36 left in the 1st quarter.





Brian Kennedy TD run 248 x 235


On GSC's fourth possession, Aaron Martinez intercepted a Darold Hughes at the CU 47. Concord drove for another TD – a 30-yard run by Kennedy (left) – and after Todd Terry ran in the two-point conversion the Mountain Lions had a 28-0 advantage barely 11 minutes into the game.



Another Pioneer mistake set up CU for its fifth TD early in the 2nd quarter. Jakhari Murphy muffed a Brad Cox punt and Delque Chalk recovered the loose ball at the GSC 35. Five plays later, Kennedy plunged in from two yards out for his third TD of the day. Evin Dusold rushed for the two-point conversion and a 36-0 lead with 11:01 to go before halftime.

Glenville State moved the chains on its next drive, but lost the ball on downs at the Concord 30. The Mountain Lions drove 44 yards, setting up Strupp for a season-long 43-yard field goal and a 39-0 lead with 4:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

The Concord defense then delivered the coup de grace. Glenville State had driven into the CU red zone, but as Hughes looked to pass Andrew Halafihi sacked him and jarred the ball loose. Ivan McDowell scooped up the fumble and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown as the halftime clock expired. Concord led 46-0 at the break.

Defense vs GSC 235 x 237
“We were up 27-0 a year ago against Glenville last year and lost, and, honestly, I didn't feel comfortable until Ivan McDowell's TD right before halftime,” Kellar said. “Our kids came out and played well early. I can't say enough about our defense creating seven turnovers on the day and our offense scoring on the first four drives.”

The second half started much like the first. Glenville State fumbled away the opening kickoff, setting the stage for a 27-yard field goal by Strupp to make the score 49-0 just 2:21 into the 3rd quarter.

The Pioneers scored a pair of TDs late in the 4th quarter, but those only changed the score, not the outcome.

Concord forced the Pioneers to lose five fumbles and intercepted Hughes twice. The Mountain Lions turned over the ball just once.

Grossi was 13-22 for 235 yards, with two TDs and no interceptions, in little more than two quarters of play. Horace Daughtry caught five Grossi passes for 130 yards.
CU scored 49 points on relatively quiet days from Kennedy (13 carries, 71 yards, 3 TDs) and Mayo (3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD).

Concord's defense totaled four sacks for 27 yards and 12 tackles for loss for 54 yards. Four CU defenders had at least six tackles – Riyahd Richardson, Greenway, Zach Gibbins and Nate Pollard.

BOXSCORE/STATISTICS/PLAY-BY-PLAY

Up next for CU is a visit to Greensburg, PA for a WVIAC matchup against Seton Hill on Saturday, October 23. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket (WMTD, Hinton/Princeton/Beckley) and webcast on www.theticket102.com, starting with the “Mountain Lion Preview Show” at 2:30.



(Photos by Jennifer Logan)



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