CU Travels to WV State For First Road Game

Concord is coming off of a 17-14 loss against Charleston in what was both teams' conference-opener.

Since winning its first game of the season, West Virginia State has dropped its last two games by a combined score of 125-14. After three non-conference games, the Yellow Jackets will open up WVIAC play vs. CU.

MOUNTAIN LION FACTS
-Concord has won three straight games vs. West Virginia State and six of its last 10 against the Yellow Jackets.

-In its last three games vs. West Virginia State, Concord has averaged 35 points per contest while giving up just 13 points.

-Both of Concord's losses this year have been by eight points or less.

-Since 2002, Concord has started 0-2 in the WVIAC just three times (2002, 2007, 2008).

-Dating back to 1996, the Mountain Lions are 8-8 in their first conference road games of the season and 5-11 in their first overall road games of the year.

SCOUTING CONCORD
As a team, Concord averages 20.7 points per game while allowing 22.7 a contest. The Mountain Lions rank fourth in the WVIAC in total defense and fifth in total offense.

The CU offense averages 216 yards passing and 73.7 yards rushing per contest. CU cracked the 100-yard mark rushing for the first time this season against Charleston.

Defensively, Concord has given up 190.7 rushing yards per game and 140.7 passing yards per game.

The Concord defense is led by junior linebacker Jake Lilly, who ranks second in the conference with 37 total tackles and first with two interceptions. Senior defensive end Silas Agyemang is fifth in the conference with six tackles for a loss.

CU senior wide receivers Randall Hawkins and Ansel Ponder have produced solid numbers through three games. Hawkins has caught 18 balls for 163 yards while Ponder has made 16 receptions for 209 yards and two scores. Fellow wide receiver Ryan Stewart has caught nine passes for 77 yards and one touchdown.

A rash of injuries led to the first significant playing time of several new players last week against Charleston.

Freshman quarterback Albert Rose, who took over when senior starter Zack Grossi suffered season-ending injuries leading up to the Charleston game, went 16-for-27 for 137 yards with one rushing touchdown and nearly led Concord to a comeback win over the UC in his first-career start.

Freshman running back Calvinaugh Jones had a solid debut as well for Concord, rushing for 111 yards on 22 attempts for an average of five yards per carry. Jones already ranks second on the team in rushing, behind junior Chris Rodriguez, who has ran for 131 yards (5.5 ypc) on 24 attempts.

Freshman wide receiver Tiko Henderson, who made the first two receptions of his collegiate career and sophomore defensive back Mike Carey, who recovered a fumble in his first start.

Punter Brad Cox leads the conference in punting. Cox has punted 23 times and averages 44.0 yards per punt with nine punts over 50 yards and eight being downed inside the 20 yard line.

WEEK THREE RECAP
Concord withstood a rash of injuries and went toe-to-toe with Charleston for four quarters before ultimately losing to the Golden Bears, 17-14.

As a team, Concord held advantages over Charleston in first downs (18-11), time of possession (31:10 – 28:50) and third down conversions (7-3).

In his first career start, quarterback Albert Rose went 16-of-27 for 137 yards while also rushing for one touchdown. Also making his debut for Concord on Saturday was running back Calvinaugh Jones. The Glen Burnie, Md. native rushed for 111 yards on 22 attempts for an average of five yards per carry.

Six different CU players caught at least two passes with senior tight end Andrew Lindner leading the way after a three-catch, 19-yard performance.

The Concord defense held Jordan Roberts, Charleston's All-American running back, to just 48 yards rushing on 17 attempts. Linebacker Jake Lilly finished with a game-high 15 tackles, one shy of matching his career-high. Lilly also had 2.5 tackles for a loss. Howard Jordan and Davon Marion chipped in eight and seven tackles, respectively.

A RARE FEAT
If Concord wins six more games in 2012, it will be just the third time in CU history that it has won at least seven games in a season for three consecutive years. Concord has previously accomplished this task from 1976-78 and 1987-89.

FIVE TO WATCH ON DEFENSE
Jake Lilly is the conference's second-leading tackler. He also leads the WVIAC in interceptions. Lilly has had at least nine tackles in a game in 12 of his last 13 games.

Silas Agyemang continues to impose his will on the defensive line. Agyemang has had at least five tackles in all three games this year, including one sack and six tackles for a loss.

Davon Marion continues to be reliable from his safety position. Against Charleston, Marion had seven tackles and two pass break-ups.

After his eight tackle, one sack game against Charleston, Howard Jordan now has 17 stops on the year, the fourth most on the team.

Freshman linebacker Austin Dotson, who began the summer as a fullback, is settling in nicely on D and made a season-high five tackles last week.

FIVE TO WATCH ON OFFENSE
With any first-game jitters now out of the way, quarterback Albert Rose will have the chance to do damage against a WV State team that gives up 237.7 pass yards per game.

In his first collegiate game, Calvinaugh Jones busted on the scene by being the first CU running back to run for over 100 yards in a game this season last week.

Along with Jones, Chris Rodriguez, who still leads the team in rushing yards, will be facing a defense that has allowed 238.7 yards rushing per game.

Ansel Ponder has quickly established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Ponder ranks fourth in receiving yards (209), fifth in receptions (16) and fifth in scoring (two touchdowns).

Randall Hawkins will look to rebound from his two-catch game against West Virginia State. Hawkins heads into week four ranking fourth in the WVIAC in receptions (18) and eighth in receiving yards (163).

SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA STAATE
West Virginia State enters this week with a 1-2 overall record. Since knocking off Johnson C. Smith at home, 34-31, to start the season, The Yellow Jackets have lost road games at North Carolina A&T (77-0) and Elon (48-14).

Defensively, West Virginia State has given up an average of 476.4 yards per game (238.7 rushing and 237.7 passing). Teams are scoring 52 points per game against WVST.

Offensively, the Yellow Jackets have scored an average of 16 points per game. West Virginia State gains 67 rushing yards per game and 141.7 yards passing per game for a total of 208.7 yards per contest.

West Virginia State is coached by Earl Monroe who is in his seventh season in charge of the Yellow Jacket program. In his time at West Virginia State, Monroe has compiled an overall record of 24-40.

FIVE TO WATCH ON DEFENSE
Dominique Matthews is the 10th leading tackler in the WVIAC through three games. Matthews has made 23 tackles this season.

Wenly Beliard had a team-high seven tackles for West Virginia State against Elon. He leads the Yellow Jackets with 2.5 tackles for a loss and is tied for third on the team with 17
tackles on the season.

Durelle Evans has West Virginia State's only interception this season and is tied with Beliard for third place on WVST with 17 tackles.

Kenneth Starr registered a team-high two sacks this season in addition to making eight tackles.

Tyler Long is West Virginia State's second-leading tackler. Long has made 22 stops on the season

FIVE TO WATCH ON OFFENSE
Running back Aubura Taylor is the conference's fifth-leading rusher with 151 yards on 50 attempts (3.0 ypc). Taylor is currently in a three-way tie for the team-lead in scoring with
two touchdowns.

Quarterback Ricky Phillips threw for 167 yards and one touchdown last week against Elon. For the season, Phillips has completed 30-of-70 passes for 415 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.

Wider receiver Ervin Kent hauled in a 73-yard touchdown pass from Phillips last week, for the team's biggest play of the season. So far this year, Kent has caught nine passes for 165
yards and two touchdowns.

Wider receiver Josh Johnson has caught a team-high 10 passes this season for 132 yards. Johnson's long reception for the year has gone for 25 yards.

LeFloyd Phillps is West Virginia State's third player this season to score two touchdowns. For the season, Phillips has run for 98 yards on 16 attempts (6.1 ypc). 70 of those yards came off of one rush against Elon.