Concord Returns Home to Play Fairmont State

Complete Game Notes


Last week, Concord fought hard in a valiant effort, but came up short in a 21-13 loss at Liberty University. The loss dropped Concord's record to 4-4 on the season.

FSU, which is on a two-game winning streak, will bring a 3-4 overall record and a 3-2 WVIAC mark with them into Athens. FSU downed Seton Hill 54-47 last week.

MOUNTAIN LION FACTS
- Concord has won its last three games against Fairmont State. Since 2002, Concord is 6-4 against Fairmont State and is 4-1 at home against the Fighting Falcons.
- The Mountain Lions enter the week ranked 32nd in Division II in total defense and points allowed per game. CU's pass defense is ranked 26th in the country.
- CU's defense has allowed just three teams to throw for more than 200 yards against them this season while allowing just three 100-yard rushers.
- Since 2009, Concord is 5-0 in home games that follow an away loss.

SCOUTING CONCORD
Surprisingly, Concord is 0-3 this season when scoring first and 4-1 when the opposition scores first.

Unsurprisingly, The Mountain Lions are 3-0 when they rush for more yards than their opponents and 3-1 when winning the time of possession battle.

Concord's defense toughens up when it matters most. CU has allowed 102 points in the first half this season, but just 58 points in the second half.

Concord gives up 328.4 yards of total offense per game (180.5 passing yards / 147.9 rushing yards) and an average of 20 points per contest.

The Mountain Lions' offensive attack averages 18.1 points and 298.4 yards of total offense per game (196.5 passing yards / 101.9 rushing yards).

The Concord defense is led by junior linebacker Jake Lilly. The reigning WVIAC Defensive Player of the Week leads the conference in total tackles (92) while having also produced 11 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 0.5 sacks and four pass break-ups. Lilly needs just 24 more tackles to set a personal career-high.

Sophomore safety Davon Marion and senior LB Howard Jordan have also eclipsed the 60-tackle mark this season with 65 and 62 stops, respectively. Marion has also picked off two passes and forced two fumbles.

Jordan, freshman linebacker Ervin Moore, and junior defensive lineman Silas Agyemang are tied for the team lead with two sacks apiece.

Four CU players have tallied at least two interceptions this season with senior safety Kevin Elliott leading the way at four followed by Lilly, Marion and junior CB Riyahd Richardson with two each.

Freshman running back Calvinaugh Jones ranks fourth in the WVIAC with 527 rushing yards.

Senior Evin Dusold and freshman Albert Rose have both seen time at QB over this year. In two games, Dusold has thrown for 355 yards and two touchdowns. Rose has three TD's and 710 passing yards in five contests.

Senior WR's Ansel Ponder and Randall Hawkins are a great duo. Ponder has 493 yards and three TD's on 39 grabs and Hawkins has 409 yards on 44 receptions.

FIVE TO WATCH ON DEFENSE
Jake Lilly had a career-high 18 tackles against Liberty. Lilly enters the FSU game ranked sixth in the nation in total tackles.

Ervin Moore continues to make big plays. He blocked his second kick of the year vs. Liberty while making a season-high eight tackles.

Kevin Elliott is making his senior year one to remember. He added his first sack and a career-high 11 tackles to his four interceptions after the Liberty game.

Riyahd Richardson had an INT, forced a fumble and came just one yard shy of scoring a touchdown at Liberty. He has five pass break-ups in his last four games. Richardson has also produced 1.5 tackles for loss in the last two games.

Howard Jordan had 12 tackles at Liberty, giving him three games this year with at least 10 tackles.

FIVE TO WATCH ON OFFENSE
Despite a slow week against Liberty, Calvinaugh Jones has still rushed for 527 yards and one touchdown on 118 attempts. Jones averages 4.5 yards per carry and 87.8 yards rushing a game. Jones has also caught six passes for 62 yards and one touchdown.

Ben Nester continues to thrive in his role as Concord's goal line back. Nester ran for another touchdown last week against Liberty, giving the sophomore five touchdowns on 31 rushing attempts this season.

Randall Hawkins is quickly closing in on 100 career receptions. In fact, Hawkins needs just four more receptions hit the triple-digit catch mark. He still ranks second in the WVIAC in catches per game (6.3) and ninth in yards per game (58.7).

While Hawkins has the edge in catches, Ansel Ponder has compiled a team-high 493 yards, the fifth most in the WVIAC. Ponder's three touchdowns are also a team-best. He is responsible for four of Concord's top-10 longest plays from scrimmage this year.

Jocorey Robins showed a flash of his big-play ability last week with a 56-yard catch and run against Liberty.

SCOUTING FAIRMONT STATE
Concord's rugged defense will be put to the test against Fairmont State, which has one of the top quarterback-running back combinations in the WVIAC in Bobby Vega and Daniel Monroe.

At 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the WVIAC, a victory over Concord would give FSU a .500 record as well as sole control of fourth place in the conference.

The Fighting Falcons have won three out of their last four games, with wins against West Liberty (25-20), West Virginia Wesleyan (49-32) and Seton Hill (54-47). FSU has taken losses vs. Clarion (7-0), Glevnille State (41-21), Bowie State (24-17 OT) and Charleston (30-10).

Fairmont State is coached by Mike Lopez, who is 26-29 in five seasons as the head coach of his alma mater.

Through seven games, Fairmont State has scored an average of 25.1 points per game while giving up 28.7. The FSU offensive attack averages 349.6 yards per game of total offense (233.6 passing / 116.0 rushing) and allows 285.9 yards per game (249.0 passing / 136.9 rushing).

Fairmont State has excellent return teams that rank second and third in the WVIAC in punt return (15.6) and kickoff return (23.9) averages.

Statistically speaking, Concord should be able to move the ball through the air against Fairmont State; FSU is ranked eighth in the WVIAC and 120th in the nation in pass defense.

FIVE TO WATCH ON DEFENSE
LB Garrett Davis is FSU top tackler on the year. He has 42 tackles and five quarterback hurries.

DE Jephte Leveille and LB Ryan Watts are tied for the team-lead with three sacks each. Watts also has a team-best eight tackles for loss.

DB Scott Davidson has intercepted three passes this season while also reregistering five pass break-ups.

DB Ryland Newman has also intercepted two passes this season.

FIVE TO WATCH ON OFFENSE
QB Bobby Vega threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns on 14 receptions in FSU's win against Seton Hill. Vega averages 233.6 yards passing per game, on the year he has thrown for 1,635 yards and 14 touchdowns.

With 569 yards on the ground, RB Daniel Monroe is the WVIAC's third-leading rusher. Monroe has scored four touchdowns this season. He is the current WVIAC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three times and rushing for 139 against Seton Hill.

Chris St. Hilaire is FSU''s top WR. Hilaire has hauled in 33 passes for 397 yards and three touchdowns.

Matt Wilmer and Charaun Goodwin are also dangerous WR targets. Wilmer has 403 yards and five touchdowns while Goodwin has 265 receiving yards and four TD's.