SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Senior running back
Calvinaugh Jones broke Concord's all-time career rushing record, but his 139 yards and rushing score weren't enough as the Concord University football team fell to Notre Dame 23-21 Saturday afternoon in Mountain East Conference play at Mueller Field.
A two-yard rush on his first carry of the second half gave Jones the all-time rushing record. Entering halftime, Jones had 68 yards rushing in the first half and needed one more yard to break the record held by former CU rusher Brian Kennedy.
Notre Dame (2-5, 2-4 MEC) jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first half.
However, Concord (4-3, 4-3 MEC) fought back in the second half as Jones found the end zone for the 11
th time this season to cap a seven play, 76-yard drive to begin the second half and cut the deficit to 17-7.
After the Mountain Lion defense forced a three-and-out by NDC, the offense went right back to work.
Senior fullback
Shaun Workinger rumbled in for a one-yard touchdown run to trim the Notre Dame lead even smaller, 17-14. Workinger's touchdown was set up by a 37-yard connection from junior quarterback
Brian Novak to sophomore wide receiver
TJ Smith.
The Falcons responded with a 28-yard field goal from Kyle Kaplan to open the lead back up to six points.
Unfazed by NDC, Workinger scored his second short yardage touchdown of the afternoon, another one yard plunge, to give Concord its first lead of the game 10:35 left in the contest. Though, once again, Notre Dame marched the field and Kaplan was successful on another short field goal of 20 yards.
CU appeared prime to take a late lead as the Mountain Lions took over after a punt with 3:16 left. Jones added 19 yards rushing on the drive and Novak found Smith for a 40-yard completion.
Senior kicker
Andy Ellington ran onto the field with 1:10 left in the game for a 39-yard field goal try that went wide right, allowing Notre Dame to hang on for a 23-21 win.
Novak finished the game 17-for-27 for 212 yards passing and one interception.
Smith had his first 100-yard receiving game of 2015 as he hauled in five passes for 110 yards.
Senior defensive end
Ervin Moore notched a career-high 12 tackles and also forced a career-best two fumbles on the day. Meanwhile, senior linebacker
Austin Dotson recorded 10 tackles, a season-best.
Senior linebacker
Cade Rogers blocked his first field goal against NDC. The block came at a big moment in the game as the Falcons were threatening to go up 23-14 at the end of the
third quarter, but Rogers was able to get a hand to 35-yard attempt by Kaplan.
Notre Dame quarterback Malik Grove paced the offense with 262 yards passing and one touchdown. Grove also added 52 yards rushing.
Concord returns home next Saturday to take on nationally-ranked Shepherd at 12:00 p.m.
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