Editor's Note: Over the next 10 days, cumountainlions.com will be taking a look back at the top-10 most outstanding moments and achievements by Concord University teams and athletes during 2013.
An ambitious non-conference schedule is nothing new for the Concord University football team. In the last four years the Mountain Lions have played traditional powers Winston-Salem State, Lenoir-Rhyne, Liberty and UNC-Pembroke. 2013 was no different as CU opened up its season by traveling to take on Lenoir-Rhyne, which started the season ranked 23rd in the nation.
Concord handed Lenoir-Rhyne their first loss at home since the 2010 season with an 18-10 triumph in Hickory, N.C. The victory helped propel Concord to an 8-3 record, its fifth consecutive winning season while LRU would rebound from the loss to advance all the way to NCAA Division II championship game.
The Mountain Lions forced six turnovers in the victory and held the nation's top running attack to a season-low 215 yards rushing.
Sophomore kicker
Andy Ellington hit a 34-yard field goal, sophomore fullback
Shaun Workinger caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman quarterback
Brian Novak and junior linebacker
Gary Saylor returned a fumble 28 yards for a defensive touchdown en route to the win.
In addition to Saylor's score, Concord's defense was led by
Jake Lilly (13 tackles, four forced fumbles), senior safety
Josh Clark (one interception, one fumble recovery), senior safety
Davon Marion (nine tackles) and freshman defensive lineman
Darryl Johnson (eight tackles, one fumble recovery).
Offensively, Novak threw for 145 yards and one touchdown while sophomore running back
Calvinaugh Jones rushed for a team-high 48 yards.
Original Recap
Box Score
Game Highlights