Concord Looks to Rebound With Win at West Liberty

Complete Game Notes – Concord Stats – West Liberty Stats – Live Video – Live Stats


LIVE COVERAGE
The West Liberty Sports Information Department will provide live stats for the game while the West Liberty University television station, WLTV-14, will provide a live broadcast. Links to both options can be found at the top of the page.

MOUNTAIN LION NOTES
• The Mountain Lions enter Saturday's game with an overall record of 2-1 and an MEC mark of 1-0. West Liberty is also 2-1 with a conference record of 2-0.

• Saturday's game will feature two of the top defensive teams in not only the MEC, but also the nation. The Mountain Lions' stellar defense currently ranks third in the nation in opponents third down conversion percentage, fifth in total defense and fifth in points allowed. Conversely, West Liberty checks in at second in the country in points allowed, third in red zone defense and 18th in total defense.

• West Liberty owns a slight 36-32-3 advantage over Concord in the all-time series, but the Mountain Lions have won the past two contests including last season's 21-3 victory at Callaghan Stadium. CU senior safety Davon Marion, senior cornerback Riyahd Richardson, junior cornerback Mike Carey and the now graduated Mike Hodeib, who is now a CU assistant coach, all had interceptions in the win while senior linebacker Jake Lilly mad a game-high 11 tackles and forced one fumble.

• The Concord defense has now gone 12 games without allowing an opponent to score more than 26 points in a game. CU has held the opposition to 16 or less points in nine of the contests.

• Junior defensive lineman Keith Ferguson has been a force for the CU defense over the last two weeks. After a four-tackle effort in week one, Ferguson has exploded for back-to-back nine and 10 tackle games. In addition to his career-high 10 stops at Bowie, Ferguson also had one sack.

• Fellow defensive lineman sophomore Anthony Pyle picked up his first career sack last week against Bowie State on what was a six-tackle day for the transfer from Air Force.

• Richardson recorded his 12th career interception in Concord's loss last week. The pick was his second in as many weeks for Richardson, who ranks third in Mountain Lion history in career interceptions. Also of note, of Richardson's seven tackles three have been tackles for loss.

• Lilly, who still leads the nation with four forced fumbles, has made a team-best 33 tackles for Concord. The total ranks third in the MEC. He now needs 95 tackles (11.9 tackles per game) to leave Concord as the school's career leader in tackles.

• Junior linebacker Gary Saylor and sophomore linebacker Austin Dotson are well on their way to career-years.

• Saylor is fourth on the team in tackles (20) to go with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown. Dotson ranks third in tackles (21) and has one blocked kick.

• The Mountain Lions' special teams is also off to a solid start in 2013. CU has blocked three kicks over the last two weeks thanks to Dotson, redshirt freshman defensive back Shamel White and senior defensive back Russell Bailey.

• Sophomore punter Andrew Huska's net punting average of 41.4 yards is the third highest in the conference while his five touchbacks are tied for the second among all MEC kickers.

• The Mountain Lions' kick return team averages 24 yards per return which is second best in the league behind Notre Dame College's 25.7 average.

• Offensively, Concord was led by junior wide receiver Darrick Williams against Bowie State. Williams collected career-highs of eight receptions and 67 yards.

• On the season, Williams and sophomore wide receiver Tiko Henderson are tied for the team lead with 15 receptions each. Henderson has also totaled 249 yards this season for an average of 16.6 yards per reception.

• Redshirt freshman tight end Tony Miller caught the first pass of his career, a nine-yard reception, at Bowie State.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Brian Novak continues to gain valuable experience for Concord. In the first three collegiate games of his career, Novak has thrown for 601 yards and two touchdowns. He has completed at least 20 passes in two out of three games. Novak has also run for 63 yards and one touchdown.

• Running backs Calvinaugh Jones and Sam Wright have evenly split carries for CU this year. Jones has gained 99 yards on 40 attempts while Wright has 78 yards on 35 rushes.

• West Liberty is one of four MEC schools that head coach Garin Justice is undefeated against. Justice is 2-0 vs. West Liberty, Fairmont State and West Virginia Wesleyan and 3-0 against West Virginia State.

A CONCORD WIN WOULD...
• A win over West Liberty would give Concord its first 2-0 start in conference play since its conference championship season in 2011.

• A win over West Liberty would give Concord a record of 8-1 against NCAA Division II teams in its last nine contests.

• A win over West Liberty would give Concord three straight wins over the Hilltoppers for the first time since the 2004-06 seasons.

SCOUTING WEST LIBERTY
• After losing its season opener to Catawba, West Liberty has regrouped to defeat MEC foes Glenville State and West Virginia State in back-to-back weeks.

• The Hilltoppers have won their last two games despite an offense that has scored just one offensive touchdown this season.

• However, West Liberty's stout defense combined with kicker Bryan Arbes, who has been nearly automatic in field goal attempts (7-for-8), has helped power WLU.

• Rod White has three interceptions to lead the Hilltoppers defense.

• Quarterback Dylan LaGarde is 51-for-103 for 484 yards one touchdown and three interceptions.

• Kenjay Trueblood has gained 170 yards on 44 attempts for an average of 3.9 yards per rush.