Concord Prepares for Regional Final Against Bloomsburg

Live Audio - Live Stats - Complete Game Notes - NCAA Playoff Bracket - Live Video

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord Univeristy football team will play its most important game in program history to date when they host Bloomsburg for the Super Region One championship Saturday afternoon at Callaghan Stadium at 12:00 p.m.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information will provide live in-game statistics throughout Saturday's game. Jason "Moose" Reed and Steve Cox will have live radio play-by-play coverage on 97.3 "Willie" which can also be live streamed. Additionally, Saturday's game will also be carried on local television by WVVA-TV in Bluefield or online at ESPN3.com. For all live coverage options, please refer to the links at the top of the page or click here.

MOUNTAIN LION NOTES
• The Mountain Lions get the privilege of hosting the regional championship after outlasting West Chester last week at home, 51-36.

• CU went over the 600-yard mark offensively for the third time this season as they racked up 619 yards.

• Sophomore quarterback Brian Novak tossed for 388 yards and two touchdowns while junior running back Calvinaugh Jones spearheaded the rushing attack for the Mountain Lions with 178 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, including a career-long run of 87 yards in the third quarter.

• Even though Concord was outgained 691-619, the Concord defense held strong in the pressure situations as they picked off two passes, one each by senior defensive back Mishawn Cummings and junior defensive back Derrick Johnson.

• For the season, Concord has now picked off 21 passes, which is tied for seventh in the nation.

• Also on defense, the Maroon and Gray held West Chester to 33 percent on third down (5-for-15) and have now held their opponent to less than 40 percent on third down in seven straight games while not giving up more than five successful conversions in a game during that stretch.

• For the second straight game, the Concord special teams had a huge impact on the final outcome of the game.

• Sophomore defensive lineman Darryl Johnson blocked WCU's opening-quarter field goal try and senior defensive back Mike Carey ran 68 yards for CU's first score of the game.

• The Mountain Lions are now second in Division II in blocked kicks with 10 after Saturday's swat.

• Junior kicker Andy Ellington made all three field goals on the afternoon, converting from 33, 43 and 44 yards in the win for the Mountain Lions.

• Redshirt freshman punter Garrett Lee had his best game in the Maroon and Gray as he averaged 51.3 yards per kick, pinned the Golden Rams inside of the 20 twice and tied his career-long with a 63-yard boot.

• Coming into the matchup with Bloomsburg, the Mountain Lions have outscored its opponent by 300 points this season (548-248).

• The high-powered Mountain Lion attack is outscoring its opponent 169-40 in the first quarter and 326-105 in the first 30 minutes of play.

• And it has been the explosive plays that have led to the outstanding offensive number for CU.

• CU has averaged at least 10 yards per passes in all but three contests this season, including a season-high 19.3 yards per pass play against WCU.

• Furthermore, the Mountain Lion offense has had eight games this season in which they averaged at least six yards per play and managed a season-high 11.9 yards per play versus West Chester.

• For the season, Concord is averaging 7.4 yards per play while holding its opponent to 4.7 yards per play.

• Novak leads the nation in yards per pass (10.8) and in passer efficiency (179.8).

• Additionally, Novak is just one of 16 quarterbacks to throw at least 30 touchdowns this season.

• The College Park, Maryland native is in even more elite company as he is one of 11 quarterbacks to throw 30 or more touchdowns and pass for over 3,000 yards.
For the season, Novak has 3,326 yards and 32 touchdowns.

• Freshman wide receiver TJ Smith is among the national leaders in receiving yards with 1,104 and is 15th nationally in yards per game with at 100.4. Smith is also tied for seventh in the nation in touchdowns (13).

• Smith and junior wide receiver Ryan Stewart are just one of four sets of teammates in the nation to have 10 or more touchdown receptions. Stewart caught a 50-yard screen pass from Novak against West Chester giving him 11 this season.

• Concord will be seeking its second straight win over a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) school when CU matches up with Bloomsburg.

• The Mountain Lions had never beaten a PSAC school before Saturday since it joined NCAA Division II prior to the 1994 season.

• CU was the only No. 1 seed to win in the round of 16 in the Division II playoffs.

• Concord and Bloomsburg is the only game out of the four regional finals that pits the top two seeds clashing.

• By winning on Saturday, the Mountain Lions senior class would acheive 20 home wins over their four-year career. CU's senior class is 19-4 in games played at Callaghan Stadium.

• BU is 11-1 coming into the game with Concord. The Huskies won their first 11 games of the season before falling to Slippery Rock in the PSAC Championship in the final week of the regular season.

• Bloomsburg hangs its success on forcing turnovers and a stout running game.

• BU is first in the nation in turnover margin forced this season at +30.

• BU has intercepted 22 passes, fourth nationally, and has recovered 19 fumbles, first in Division II.

• Bloomsburg also possesses one of the top running backs in the region in Eddie Mateo, who has 1,170 yards on the ground and has found the endzone a region-best 23 times.

• This is the third time in five years that Bloomsburg has won at least one postseason game.

• The PSAC runners-up beat Virginia State 35-14 to advance to the super regional final.

A CONCORD WIN WOULD...
• A Concord win would give the Mountain Lions' senior class 20 home wins in their career.

•  A Concord win would send CU into the national semifinals of the playoffs.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
7.0- Yards per carry for Calvinaugh Jones, best in the Atlantic Region for any running back.

80-  Ellington's field goal percentage on attempts from 40 yards or more (8-for-10). He was 2-for-2 versus WCU.

3-  Number of CU defenders that racked up 10 or more tackles versus WCU, first time since last year vs. UC.De. Johnson had 14, while junior linebacker Nick Ortiz (13) and senior defensive back Mike Carey (12) also finished with at least 10 stops.