FOOTBALL: RISING TO THE TOP

MOUNTAIN LIONS DROP BOBCATS TO CLAIM FIRST WIVAC CHAMPIONSHIP IN 21 YEARS

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An overnight sensation, 21 years in the making.

The Concord football program capped an historic rise to the top of the WVIAC on Saturday afternoon, defeating 19th-ranked West Virginia Wesleyan 48-40 at Callaghan Stadium to claim its first conference championship since 1990.

Just three years ago, Concord finished 0-11.  This year, under first-year head coach Garin Justice, the Mountain Lions went 7-3, 7-1 in the conference, and won the league title outright.  CU now waits to see if it will be voted into the NCAA Division II Super Region One playoffs, which begin next week.

(NOTE:  The NCAA will reveal the playoff field during a live webcast at 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 13.  Click HERE for the NCAA's "Fall Championships Selections" page, which includes a link to the webcast.)

Saturday was Concord's second victory over a nationally-ranked opponent this season.  The Mountain Lions dispatched then-#3 Shepherd, 28-14, on October 1.

The WVIAC doesn't have an official championship game.  But the schedule presented one this year, matching up the teams with the best league records in the regular season finale.  The matchup drew a large and boisterous crowd to Athens and lived up to its pre-game billing.

The two teams combined for 88 points and 994 yards of offense in a thriller that wasn't decided until literally the final play.  When it ended, the Concord team stormed the field for an ecstatic celebration that included the presentation of the WVIAC Championship trophy.

Saturday was Senior Day for Concord, so it was appropriate that Mountain Lions' most experienced players led the way. 

Running back Brian Kennedy (left) enjoyed a strong effort from CU's offensive line – including center Brandon Link – to rush for a career-high 303 yards on 35 carries.

Linebacker Joe Greenway tied for team lead with nine tackles, including two for a loss, and added his sixth interception of the season. 
Fellow LB Zach Gibbins posted seven tackles, a sack, and an interception.

Safety Aaron Martinez registered six tackles, one for a loss, and also grabbed an interception.
Tight end Rashid Baker's touchdown catch capped CU's first possession of the game.

The underclassmen made their contributions as well.  Quarterback Zach Grossi threw five touchdown passes without an interception.  Wide receiver Ryan Stewart caught six Grossi passes for 62 yards and three touchdowns.  Running back Chris Rodriguez complemented Kennedy with 70 rushing yards on only six carries.  Linebacker Jake Lilly posted nine tackles, one for a loss.

Concord opened a 14-6 lead less than ten minutes into the game, but the Bobcats rallied to lead 27-21 at halftime.  Wesleyan stretched its advantage to 34-21 after Keith Dickens' two-yard touchdown run with 11:19 left in the third quarter, but the Mountain Lions came roaring back with 28 unanswered point.

CU marched 67 yards on ten plays, and scored when Grossi found Ryan Stewart for a ten-yard touchdown pass to pull within 34-28 with 7:10 to go in the quarter.

The Concord defense forced a three-and-out, setting up another scoring drive. The seven-play, 52-yard march ended with a six-yard TD pass from Grossi to Gary Roach that put CU ahead to stay at 35-34 with 2:51 remaining in the 3rd.

Martinez intercepted a wayward sidearm pass from Adam Neugebauer on Wesleyan's 26 on the Bobcats' next possession.  Five plays later, Grossi connected with Stewart (right) for an 11-yard touchdown pass, extending the CU lead to 42-34 with barely more than a minute left in the quarter.
That score held until the game's eventful final minutes.

The Mountain Lions took a seemingly-insurmountable 48-34 lead after a nine-play, 85-yard, 5:09 drive culminated by Kennedy's one-yard TD plunge with 4:24 left in regulation.

But the contest was far from over.

WVWC answered with an eight-play, 89-yard march that moved them within 48-40 after Neugebauer's ten-yard, 4th-down touchdown pass to Jon Meadows with 2:15 still left to play.

The ensuing onside kick attempt went out of bounds and Concord took over at the WVWC 42-yard line.  However, the Bobcats stopped CU on downs and took over with :37 left.  But Gibbins intercepted Neugebauer's desperation pass on the Concord 25 on the last play of the game, and the CU celebration began.

BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY

Concord's WVIAC title is the 11th in school history.  The Mountain Lions had won conference championships in 1962, 1966, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1987, 1989 and 1990.


^{(statistics provided by CU SID GA Becky Brouse)}

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