Box Score
WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – The Concord University football team forced three turnovers, including a pick-six from senior safety
Josh Clark, while sophomore running back
Calvinaugh Jones rushed for a career-long 45-yard touchdown to lead the Mountain Lions over West Liberty, 20-3, Saturday afternoon.
CU responded in fine fashion from last week's loss at Bowie State to stay perfect in Mountain East Conference competition. The victory improves Concord's record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the MEC. West Liberty falls to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Concord controlled nearly every facet of the game, posting advantages over the Hilltoppers in total yards (260-198), rushing yards (133-52), first downs (14-11) and forced turnovers (3-1).
The Mountain Lion defense has now held opponents to 10 points or less in five of their last seven games dating back to 2012. CU is yet to allow an opponent to throw for 200 yards this season and has only surrendered over 100 rushing yards twice.
Jones led the Concord offensive attack with 132 yards on 32 rushes (4.1 ypc) and one touchdown; a 45-yard strike in the second quarter. The 100-yard game was the fifth of Jones' career while his 32 attempts were a career-high.
Redshirt freshman quarterback
Brian Novak completed 12-of-18 passes for 127 yards and one interception. Sophomore
Ryan Stewart caught three passes for 44 yards while junior
Darrick Williams hauled in four receptions for 35 yards.
Concord's stout defense was paced by Clark's 32-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Mountain Lions generated two other turnovers off of an interception by fellow senior safety
Davon Marion and a fumble recovery from junior defensive lineman
Keith Ferguson, the ball was forced free thanks to Clark.
Other top performers on defense included senior linebacker
Jake Lilly, senior cornerback
Riyahd Richardson and sophomore defensive lineman
Anthony Pyle. Lilly made a team-high eight tackles, Richardson broke up three passes and Pyle picked up his second sack in as many weeks.
Sophomore kicker
Andy Ellington had one of the top performances of his collegiate career, connecting on two field goal attempts of 48 and 42 yards. Ellington's 48-yarder was the longest by a CU kicker since the Mountain Lions moved to NCAA Division II.
Concord set the tone for the game with a 13-play 45-yard opening drive which took over seven minutes of time off the clock and concluded with Ellington's school-record 48-yard field goal. Ellington then connected on his 42-yard field goal attempt later in the first quarter to put the Mountain Lions up 6-0.
The Hilltoppers scored their only points of the game with a Bryan Arbes field goal from 21-yards out early in the second quarter to make it a 6-3 game with 9:39 to play in the half.
However, the remainder of the contest belonged to Concord as CU added two more touchdowns in the second quarter to push its lead to 17 points at 20-3. First Jones broke free for his 45-yard touchdown run then on the ensuing West Liberty possession Clark scored the first touchdown of his career with a 32-yard INT return. The pick was his second of the season.
Concord's double-digit lead proved to be more than enough as West Liberty was shutout for the entire second half en route to CU's 20-3 victory.
The Mountain Lions will look to maintain its perfect MEC record at home against Fairmont State Oct. 5 at 1:00 p.m.
