Concord Seeks to Remain Perfect at Home Versus Charleston

Concord Stats - Charleston Stats - Live Audio - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes - AFCA Poll - D2football.com Poll

ATHENS, W.Va. - After scoring 61 points for the second time this season, the Concord University football team aims to  move to 8-0 when they welcome Mountain East Conference rival Charleston to Callaghan Stadium.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information Department will provide live-in statistics as well as live streaming video throughout the game. Additionally, Jason "Moose" Reed and Steve Cox will have the game broadcast on "Willie" 97.3 FM. To access of the live coverage options, follow the links at the top of the page or click here.

MOUNTAIN LION NOTES
• The Mountain Lions moved up two spots in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll to number 19 after their 49-point win at West Virginia Wesleyan.

• Concord's win coupled with Shepherd's loss at Notre Dame Saturday makes Concord the only unbeaten team in the MEC at 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the MEC and also makes CU the highest ranked MEC team in the national poll.

• The complete AFCA poll and D2football.com polls can be found on page five of the game notes.

• Against West Virginia Wesleyan, four different Mountain Lions scored rushing touchdowns as senior running back Ben Nester and redshirt freshman running Jamal Petty found the endzone twice.

• Petty rushed for a career-high 112 yards and the second multi-rushing touchdown of his career in the Concord's win.

• Junior running back Calvinaugh Jones continued his steady play as he went over the 100-yard barrier for the seventh straight game this season with 120 yards on just 10 carries and one touchdown.

• On the year, Jones has 833 yards, which is second in the MEC  and 18th nationally along with seven touchdowns.

• Senior running back Ben Nester made an impact on the game as he scored two touchdowns against the Bobcats, his first multi-touchdown game of the season and his first time scoring two touchdowns since last season versus Notre Dame.

• All totaled, the Mountain Lions rushed for a season-best 348 yards against the Bobcats.

• In fact heading into play this week, Concord has the top-ranked rushing attack in the league and is also 17th nationally with 240.1 yards per game.

• CU's passing attack was also stellar against the Bobcats as sophomore quarterback Brian Novak threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

• The College Park, Maryland native found junior wide receiver Ryan Stewart for the 10th time this season and junior athlete Jermeil Douse also caught a touchdown pass for the second straight game.

• After his performance versus West Virginia Wesleyan, Novak now needs eight touchdown passes to tie Zack Grossi and Mike Lazo for most touchdown passes in a single season with 28.

• Much like the CU ground game, the Mountain Lions aerial attack is also near the top of the MEC as they rank second averaging 303.6 yards per game.

• As an offensive unit, Concord ranks first nationally in points per game (51.9), second in yards per play (7.45) and fourth in total offense (544.0).

• This past week, the Mountain Lions held West Virginia Wesleyan to just 149 yards of total offense, a season-low for the Mountain Lions as they also limited the Bobcats to just 10 first downs throughout the game.

• CU held W.Va. Wesleyan to just 98 yards passing, the first time they have held an opponent to less than 100 yards passing since they gave up less than the century mark to Lenoir-Rhyne to start last season.

• The Mountain Lions added two more interceptions to their credit last week as junior defensive back Derrick Johnson and junior linebacker Brandon Martinez each had an interception to their name.

• For the season, Concord has intercepted 15 passes, which is second best across Division II.

• Senior defensive back Mike Carey and Johnson lead the Mountain Lions with four interceptions a piece.

• With the big margin of victory for the Mountain Lions of 49 points, Concord now owns the third-largest margin of victory this season in the MEC.

• In fact, Concord has four of the top-10 largest margins of defeat including a 48-point win at West Virginia State (fifth), a 37-point victory versus West Liberty (sixth) and the 30-point homecoming win over Urbana (10th).

• In last year's 9-3 win at Charleston, the Mountain Lions had three different players finish with a career-high in tackles as senior linebacker Gary Saylor and junior defensive lineman Ervin Moore both had 10 tackles while sophomore defensive lineman Darryl Johnson had nine stops.

• Saylor's goal line pass break-up saved the game for Concord in overtime after Jones had scored a touchdown to put CU up six points.

• Another defensive standout for the Mountain Lions against UC last season was senior defensive back Shawn Billups Jr. who saved a potential go-ahead score by the Golden Eagles as he intercepted his first career pass at Concord that stalled a late UC drive in regulation.

• The Golden Eagles come to Athens with a record of 5-2 overall and 4-2 in the MEC as they beat West Virginia State 28-10 on October16.

• Charleston possesses the most dangerous kick and punt return man in the conference.

• Torie Wagner has two punt returns for a touchdown, a league-best along with the top return average in the MEC (19.3).

• UC can match its win total from a season ago with a Saturday against Concord.

• Last year, Charleston finished with a 6-5 overall record and 6-3 in the MEC.

• Charleston and Concord has split the last six meetings, however, the Mountain Lions have won three of the last four meetings with UC.

• Saturday will be a battle of two top defenses in the league as both teams rank in the top three of every major defensive category in the MEC.

A CONCORD WIN WOULD...
• A Concord win would match last season's win total of eight as well as equal the most wins head coach Garin Justice has tallied in a single season.

• A Concord win would give CU their fourth win in the last five tries vs. UC. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
45-  Number of rushing yards the Concord defense  has allowed in its last two contests.

11.6-  Average number of points Concord has allowed to Charleston in three previous meetings.

31.1- Average margin of victory for Concord this season

UP NEXT
Concord will travel to take on region rival UVa.-Wise Saturday, November 1.