FOOTBALL: GAME NOTES

CU BROADCASTER PREVIEWS CONCORD vs SHEPHERD

Concord Sports Information Director Kyle Cooper also doubles as CU's radio play-by-play announcer.  Now in his fourth season as the Voice of the Mountain Lions, Cooper shares his notes on Saturday's football game between Concord and #3 Shepherd at Callaghan Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

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If there's a WVIAC program that seems like it doesn't have to rebuild, it reloads, it's Shepherd.  The Rams have followed up on last year's run to the national semi-finals with a 4-0 start this season. 
 
They've posted some impressive numbers in the process.
 
Shepherd is at or near the top of nearly every significant statistical category in the WVIAC.  They lead the conference in scoring (55.2 ppg), rushing (274.5 ypg), total offense (549.8 ypg), pass efficiency (175.6), 3rd down conversions (54.2%), sacks allowed (4) and, perhaps most importantly, time of possession (36:00).
 
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The Rams are second in the conference is passing (275.2 ypg), first downs (24.8/gm) and field goals (5).
 
Under long-time head coach Monte Cater, the Rams have always placed a lot of emphasis on running the ball.  This year is certainly no exception.  Shepherd features two of the league's top five rushers in Tommy Addison (1st, 111.5 ypg) and Kenny Williams (5th, 81.2).
 
Complementing the running game is the play of quarterback Bobby Cooper, who's completed 70.5% of his pass attempts and is averaging 10.2 yards per attempt.  Cooper has thrown for eight touchdowns in four games, despite coming out early each week as the Rams have posted blowout victories.
 
Shepherd's defense has also excelled so far this year.  The Rams are second in points allowed (12.8/game), rushing (51.0 ypg), opponents' first downs (14.8) and total defense (228.8 ypg).
 
An interesting side note to the Rams' defense is that they have nobody in the WVIAC's top 35 in tackles, but have four of the top ten in tackles for loss. 
 
When it comes to special teams, Shepherd hasn't had to punt very often – just nine times in four games – but Troy McNeill is second in the league at an average of 34.4 yards per punt.  Veteran placekicker Eric Dobratz is 5-6 in his field goal attempts.


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Shepherd has a superb reputation, obviously, but don't look for Concord to be intimidated. 
 
The Mountain Lions began their season 0-2, but went against two outstanding teams.
CU's first game was against Lenoir-Rhyne, which has emerged as a championship contender in the rugged South Atlantic Conference. 
 
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Concord's second game was at Elon University, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (the old “I-AA”), whose only loss was at Vanderbilt in the season opener.  The Phoenix are 3-1 and at the top of the Southern Conference, arguably the best in the FCS.
Although Concord lost 42-10 at Elon, Mountain Lions head coach Garin Justice said the experience of going against a strong opponent gave his team confidence for the rest of the season.  It looks like he was right.
 
Since those first two games, Concord has rolled to consecutive conference victories.  Two weeks ago, the Mountain Lions scored 35 unanswered points to surge past the University of Charleston at UC Stadium, 38-15.  Last week, CU celebrated its Homecoming Week with a 38-7 dismantling of West Virginia State.
 
Concord's offense posted 482 total yards at UC and followed that with 570 yards last week against WVSU.
 
QB Zack Grossi earned the WVIAC Offensive Player of the Week award for his performance against Charleston, when he completed 27 of 35 passes for 364 yards and five touchdowns.
 
WR Ryan Stewart has developed into a big-play threat.  Over the last two games, the freshman has caught 12 passes for 294 yards and five touchdowns.  Among his trips to the end zone was a 79-yard TD in the final minute of the first half against WV State; his catch-and-run through traffic put CU up 24-0 going into the locker room and in command of the contest.
 
Like Shepherd, Concord is also in the WVIAC's top five in nearly every significant statistical category.  But there's bad news and good news inside those numbers.
 
The bad news is on rushing defense, where Concord ranks 7th in the league at 196.8 ypg.  The Mountain Lions have allowed 118.5 ypg in their last two games, but have to contend with a Shepherd rushing attack that's 5th in the nation.
The other bad news is in red zone defense, where Concord ranks 8th in the conference.  However, CU opponents have gotten inside the 20 only nine times, third-fewest in the league behind West Virginia Wesleyan (8) and, yes, Shepherd (4).
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The good news from Concord's defense comes from its ability to force turnovers.  CU has 12 takeaways in four games and leads the WVIAC in turnover ratio at +8.  The Mountain Lions grabbed three interceptions and recovered a fumble in last week's victory over West Virginia State.
 
Concord's defense features three of the WVIAC's top six tacklers.  Jake Lilly leads the league with 12.0 tackles per game, with Joe Greenway in second at 10.2.  All-WVIAC safety Aaron Martinez is 6th, with 8.8.
 
 
Matt Miller, Shepherd's radio voice, told me this week the Rams feel like they have yet to face a stern test this season and are treating their visit to Athens as a “big game.”  He may be right -- the combined record of Shepherd's four opponents this season so far is 2-14, while CU's foes have gone 5-9.
 
But big games are something Shepherd is used to.  Cater and his staff have worked together for years, and their results speak for themselves.  Other the other sideline, Justice and his assistants are in their first season together.
Seeing both sides implement their game plans, and watching what in-game and halftime adjustments they make, will be fascinating.

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Saturday's game will be broadcast on News/Talk 620 WWNR (620 AM/101.1 FM) in Beckley.  The live audio webcast can be found at www.theticket102.com.   Air-time is 12:30 pm.
 
Concord will provide live streaming video, including the radio call, at www.concord.edu/mltv.
 
Live Stats will also be available.  The link to CU's live stats page is HERE.
 

 

(photos by Jennifer Logan)


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