ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University football team locked up at least a share of the Mountain East Conference title by winning Saturday afternoon 51-14 against MEC foe Notre Dame College at Callaghan Stadium on Senior Day.
Concord keeps its record unblemished at 10-0 overall and 9-0 in conference action. Meanwhile, Notre Dame falls to 6-4 overall and 6-3 in league play.
The Mountain Lions exploded for 622 yards of total offense which is their second-largest output of the year.
After Concord was forced to punt on its opening drive, the Concord special teams made its impact on the game by blocking a field goal attempt by the Falcons. Senior defensive lineman
Will Greathouse blocked the try and redshirt freshman
Jeremiah Johnson scooped up the loose ball and returned it 70 yards for a score.
It was the second time this season Johnson has returned a blocked field goal for a score after doing it against Bowie State.
The next three CU scores were passing touchdowns by sophomore quarterback
Brian Novak. The first was a 14-yard reception by sophomore tight end
Dalton Brindo and the second two were long strikes of 52 and 59 yards to freshman wide receiver T.J. Smith.
For Brindo, it was his first career touchdown while for Smith it was eighth and ninth of the season.
After a Notre Dame touchdown that cut the lead to 27-7 with five minutes left in the first half, Novak found Smith again for a 17-yard touchdown to give CU a 34-7 advantage at halftime.
In the second half, senior running back
Ben Nester and junior running back
Calvinaugh Jones each added a rushing touchdown. Nester's touchdown was the 18
th career rushing score of his career, moving into a tie for fifth in school history with Bryan Hamm and Mike Lazo. Jones' 69-yard score was his 19
th career rushing touchdown.
Junior kicker
Andy Ellington converted his only field goal attempt of the day from 33 yards and Notre Dame added a late second half touchdown to give the Mountain Lions the final 51-14 advantage.
Novak finished the afternoon with 390 passing yards and four touchdowns which was his best total in both statistical categories since a 419-yard, four-touchdown against Bowie State. It was also the fourth time the College Park, Maryland native went over 300 passing yards this season.
Saturday was the seventh straight game the Maroon and Gray rushed for at least 200 yards as they finished with 217, led by Jones who had 188 yards on 16 carries. Jones also became the fourth player in CU history to rush for at 3,000 yards in his career.
Smith led all receivers with eight catches for 212 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Smith is now tied with junior wide receiver
Ryan Stewart for the team lead with 10 touchdown receptions.
Defensively, Concord held Notre Dame quarterback Ray Russ to 266 yards passing after Russ came into Saturday's game averaging more than 350 yards per game.
The Mountain Lions defense had three different players notch six tackles in Johnson, redshirt freshman defensive back
Chaudlier Shepherd and junior linebacker
Nick Ortiz. In all, seven CU defenders finished with at least five tackles.
Johnson tied his career high in pass breakups with three while senior defensive back
Mike Carey set a personal-best with three passes defended.
Saturday made the third time in five games the defense has held the opposition under 100 yards rushing as Notre Dame had just 46 yards on the ground.
The Concord senior class finishes their home career with a record of 18-4.
CU will finish the regular season at Shepherd next Saturday Nov. 15 with a 12:00 p.m. start. The Rams and the Mountain Lions will matchup as the top two teams in the league with SU sporting an 8-1 league record and Concord a perfect 9-0.
Concord can claim the outright conference championship with a win while a win by Shepherd would mean a split title between the teams.
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