Concord Looks to Extend Winning Streak Against West Virginia State

Concord Stats - West Virginia State Stats - Live Stats - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS,W.Va. - The Concord University football team has won five straight games over West Virginia State including a 36-3 decision in last season's home opener at Callaghan Stadium.

LIVE COVERAGE
The West Virginia State Sports Information Department will provide live in-game statistics throughout the contest between Concord and WVSU. The link can be found at the top of the page or by clicking here.

MOUNTAIN LION NOTES
• The Mountain Lions had an impressive 2014 season debut against Glenville State, winning 54-27.

• The Mountain Lions posted 50 or more points for the first time since a season-opening 72-21 win over Southern Virginia to begin the 2010 season.

• Sophomore quarterback Brian Novak became the first Concord signal caller to throw for more than 300 yards since junior wide receiver Albert Rose tossed for 376 against Shepherd during the 2012 season.

• Novak threw for 304 yards and one touchdown, a 19-yard screen pass to freshman wide receiver T.J. Smith.

• The College Park, Maryland native guided the Concord offense to its fourth straight game of scoring 30 or more points, dating back to last season.

• Junior running back Angus Harper, an Old Dominion transfer, provided the Maroon and Gray with punch in goal line situations.

• Despite only gaining 21 yards on the ground, Harper plowed his way into the  endzone four times from inside the 10-yard line to give CU a goal line presence against GSC.

• Junior running back Calvinaugh Jones received the heaviest workload for Concord against Glenville State as he ran for 97 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown.

• By gaining 123 more yards, Jones would become the 10th Concord runner to eclipse 2,000 yards during his career.

• Junior Andy Ellington provided more than just a stellar kicking game for CU. On the day, Ellington was 2-for-2 on field goal tries with attempts from 31 and 25 yards.

• However, the biggest play from Ellington was a 27-yard passing touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Davon McGill on a successful fake field goal attempt.

• After missing the second half of the 2013 season with an injury sophomore linebacker Denis Ikic led the Mountain Lion defense, recording eight tackles, a career high.

• Redshirt freshman cornerback Jeremiah Johnson and junior linebacker Nick Ortiz both had impressive CU debut as Johnson totaled four tackles and swatted away three passes that came his way.

•Ortiz, a transfer from Foothill Community College, was Concord's second-leading tackler with six.

• Senior defensive lineman Anthony Pyle came away with a personal-best two sacks against the Pioneers.

• In Concord's 36-3 win in Athens last season vs. West Virginia State, Novak tossed for a then-career high 281 yards in just his second collegiate start.

• Novak's top target that day was junior wide receiver Tiko Henderson who hauled in five receptions for 143 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown.

• As they did against Glenville State, the Mountain Lions pulled off some tricks in last season's matchup with the Yellow Jackets.

• Right before halftime, sophomore tight end Dalton Brindo threw a touchdown pass to junior wide receiver D.J. Holmes.

• Against W.Va. State a season ago, senior defensive linemen Keith Ferguson and Will Greathouse combined for 19 tackles.

•Matter-of-factly, over his last two games against WVSU, Greathouse has tallied 5.5 tackles for loss, totaling a loss of 20 yards.

• In addition to Ferguson and Greathouse's dominant play along the defensive line a season ago, junior Ervin Moore recorded both Mountain Lion sacks against W.Va. State last season.

• In holding Glenville State quarterback to Sean Steele to 159 passing yards, Saturday marked the fifth time in six games the Concord defense has allowed less than 200 yards passing to an opposing quarterback, going back to last season.

• Debuting offensively for CU a week ago was Smith, who tied for the team lead in receptions with five for a game-high 99 yards and the touchdown reception from Novak.

• Redshirt freshman running back Jamal Petty relieved Jones to carry the ball 12 times for 47 yards and also catching a pass for 23 yards.

• The 331 passing yards that Novak and Ellington combined for was third best in the MEC during week one of play.

• The seasoned offensive line kept Novak off the ground as they didn't allow a sack from the Glenville State defense.

A season ago, the group allowed just 12 sacks, the best in the Mountain East Conference.

• Head coach Garin Justice has never lost to West Virginia State as he is a perfect 3-0 against the Yellow Jackets.

• As a program, Concord has won five straight over the WVSU, the best current winning streak against any MEC foe.

• Historically, the Mountain Lions have had great success against WVSU as they lead the series 27-15.

• Since 1993, Concord has only lost seven times to West Virginia State.

• Last week, WVSU defeated Lock Haven 19-14 in what was the program's first win since September 2012 breaking a losing streak of 17 games.

• West Virginia State racked up 451 yards of offense including 221 on the ground while passing for 230 yards.

• The Yellow Jackets leading leading rusher was Tevin Brown who only needed 10 carries to rush for 129 yards.

• After one week of play, the Yellow Jackets have the fourth-best rushing offense in the Mountain East.

A CONCORD WIN WOULD…
• A Concord win would extend Concord's winning streak against West Virginia to six.

• A Concord win would mark the second straight year CU has started 2-0

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
5- Current winning streak against West Virginia State, longest active streak against an MEC opponent.

5.5-  Will Greathouse's total tackles for loss against West Virginia State the last two seasons.

504- Yards of total offense by Concord against Glenville State. The first time CU has surpassed 500 yards of offense since the 2011 regular season final against West Virginia Wesleyan.