BITTER START, TASTY FINISH

CU DROPS CHARLESTON, SNAPS 5-GAME SKID VS GOLDEN EAGLES

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Concord's Football team started Saturday's WVIAC clash with the University of Charleston with a bad taste.

The Mountain Lions were coming off a disappointing loss at West Virginia Wesleyan the week before. Moreover, they had to go without all-conference running back Brian Kennedy, sidelined by injury.

Then, after giving Charleston a short field for their first possession, Concord trailed 7-0 barely five minutes into the game.

But while CU's starting point was sour, the ultimate destination was sweet.

The Mountain Lions recovered to defeat the Golden Eagles 37-28 at Callaghan Stadium, snapping a five-game losing streak to UC and improving Concord's record to 3-1, 1-1 in the WVIAC.

The contest did not begin well. Concord went three-and-out in the first possession of the game, and a short punt gave Charleston the ball on the CU 42. The Golden Eagles exploited the short field, going on an 8-play, 3:56 drive that ended with Julian Johnson's 2-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 edge with only 5:12 off the clock.

The Mountain Lions stumbled again on their second possession. Zack Grossi's pass to Thomas Mayo was tipped and intercepted by UC's Aaron Dunlap, who returned it to the CU 35.
But this time, the Golden Eagles didn't benefit from the short field. Wes Sherrill missed a 37-yard field goal try, with the wind at his back.

Concord then drove into the UC red zone, but Brandon Strupp missed a 30-yard field goal attempt.

Strupp redeemed himself on CU's next drive, hitting a 30-yarder to get the Lions within 7-3 with 10:02 left in the second quarter.

The Concord defense then added to the Mountain Lions' momentum.

Devon Marion intercepted a Blaine Wilson pass at the CU 34, setting the stage for a 6-play, 66-yard drive that ended on a 16-yard TD pass from Grossi to Mayo and a 10-7 Concord lead with 7:13 left in the half.

Charleston brought in Maurice Leak at QB on their next possession, but with a similar result. CU's Aaron Martinez intercepted Leak's first pass, returning it 45 yards for a touchdown and a 17-7 lead with 6:23 to go before the break.

Concord stretched its lead to 24-7 on Tae Gilbert's 4-yard touchdown run with 7:40 left in the 3rd quarter. It capped a 12-play, 79-yard, 5:08 drive.

The CU defense held Charleston to a three-and-out. But Horace Daughtry muffed the punt return, Dunlap recovered at the CU 13, and four plays later Wilson scored on a one-yard plunge to make it 24-14.

Concord restored its lead to 17 on its next offensive play. Gilbert turned a simple run to the right into an electrifying 80-yard TD sprint, and CU led 31-14 with 4:19 to go in the 3rd quarter.

Charleston answered with a 7-play, 69-yard drive that finished with a 9-yard TD pass from leak to Justin Nelson and pulled the Golden Eagles within 31-21.

Concord drove to the UC 40, but was stopped on 4th & 1. Thus inspired, the Golden Eagles embarked on a lightning-quick 3-play, 59-yard, :53 drive capped by Lamonte Lattimore's 10-yard TD run. Suddenly, with lots of time (8:20) left in the 4th quarter, UC was within 31-28 and had brought apprehension to the Callaghan Stadium faithful.

That apprehension rose when Concord went three-and-out on its next possession. But the CU defense forced Charleston into a three-and-out, and the Grossi-Mayo combination clicked again – this time for an 86-yard TD strike that exhilarated the crowd and gave Concord some breathing room.

Charleston drove to the Concord 18, but lost the ball on downs with :43 left.

Concord outgained Charleston 557-302, including a 255-202 in rushing yardage. Gilbert led the Mountain Lions with 160 yards on 16 carries (and two touchdowns); fellow freshman Chris Rodriguez added 89 yards on 10 carries.

Grossi recovered from his early interception to finish 19-32 for 302 yards and the two touchdowns to Mayo, who finished with 9 receptions for 186 yards.

Concord visits West Virginia State on Saturday, October 2. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm in Institute, WV.


SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
9:48 UC – Julian Johnson, 2-yard run (Wes Sherrill kick)
2nd Quarter
10:02 CU – Brandon Strupp, 30-yard field goal
7:13 CU – Thomas Mayo, 16-yard pass from Zack Grossi (Strupp kick)
6:23 CU – Aaron Martinez, 45-yard interception return (Strupp kick)
3rd Quarter
7:40 CU – Tae Gilbert, 4-yard run (Strupp kick)
4:31 UC – Blaine Wilson, 1-yard run (Sherrill kick)
4:19 CU – Gilbert, 80-yard run (Strupp kick)
4th Quarter
12:28 UC – Justin Nelson, 9-yard pass from Maurice Leak (Sherrill kick)
8:20 UC – Lamonte Lattimore, 10-yard run (Sherrill kick)
5:23 CU – Mayo, 86-yard pass from Grossi (Strupp kick failed)


BOXSCORE:  www.wviac.org/custompages/football/10fbHTML/cu925.htm

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