Box Score
CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Led by a defense that forced three turnovers and produced a gutty goal-line stand in overtime, the Concord University football team won its second consecutive game with a 9-3 victory over Charleston Saturday in Mountain East Conference competition.
Concord, which trailed 3-0 for over three quarters, forced overtime thanks to a 39-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter by sophomore kicker
Andy Ellington. After neither team was able to score to open overtime, sophomore running back
Calvinaugh Jones gave the Mountain Lions a 9-3 lead on their second series off of a 12-yard touchdown run.
CU missed the ensuing extra point and it appeared as if the Golden Eagles were going to march into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown on their next possession after moving the ball down to the three-yard line to set up a first and goal situation.
However, the Mountain Lions' defense had other plans as Concord regrouped and kept Charleston from crossing the goal line on three straight plays with UC's third-down try resulting in a fumble that backed the home team up to the Concord 11-yard line for fourth down. Charleston quarterback Maurice Leak's desperation pass fell incomplete after a break-up by junior linebacker
Gary Saylor, ensuring the Mountain Lion victory.
The win improves Concord's record to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the MEC. The Mountain Lions are now assured of finishing the year with a winning record for the fifth consecutive season. Saturday's victory was the first overtime game Concord has played in since 2009's 52-45 win over Lenoir-Rhyne.
Charleston drops to 4-4 overall and 4-2 in league play. With the Maroon and Gray's defeat of the Golden Eagles there are now just three teams remaining in the MEC with one loss or less in Concord, Shepherd (7-0, 6-0 MEC) and Urbana (6-2, 6-1 MEC).
For the game, Concord held advantages over Charleston in time of possession (31:38 – 28:22), rushing yards (189 – 173) and forced turnovers (3 – 0).
The Concord defense was led by junior cornerback
Shawn Billups Jr., who made what could potentially end up being a season-saving interception, when he picked off Leak as Charleston was driving into Concord territory with under a minute to play in regulation to help force overtime.
A trio of CU defenders all finished with at least 10 tackles. Senior linebacker
Jake Lilly led the way with 12 stops while sophomore defensive lineman
Ervin Moore and Saylor recorded 10 tackles each.
Senior cornerback
Riyahd Richardson recovered two fumbles and forced another. Junior cornerback
Mike Carey and sophomore defensive lineman
Tre Preston forced fumbles as well.
Senior safety
Josh Clark, junior defensive lineman
Keith Ferguson and freshman defensive lineman
Darryl Johnson all chipped in nine tackles.
As a team, Concord made 11 tackles for loss with Richardson, Johnson, Saylor and junior defensive lineman
Will Greathouse each coming away with two TFLs.
The Mountain Lions' offense was paced by Jones, who once again crossed the 100-yard threshold with 104 yards on 30 carries and the game-winning touchdown. Jones now has four 100-yard rushing games this year. Junior
Ben Nester, who took snaps at quarterback for CU, ran for 56 yards on 13 attempts.
On special teams, senior safety
Russell Bailey continued to standout with his second blocked punt in as many weeks. For the season, Bailey has blocked three kicks.
Leak was 13-of-26 for 115 yards passing while also rushing for 44 yards.
Concord will look to extend its winning streak to three games next week when it returns to Callaghan Stadium to host UVa.-Wise. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
