ATHENS, W.Va. – A fourth-quarter comeback stalled out for the Concord University football team as it fell 36-23 to the University of Charleston Saturday afternoon in Mountain East Conference play at Callaghan Stadium.
Down 20-6 at halftime, junior defensive back
Jeremiah Johnson intercepted his second pass of the day to set up Concord (2-3, 2-3 MEC) at the Charleston (2-3, 2-3 MEC) 26-yard line, but two plays later the Mountain Lions committed a turnover of their own to give the ball right back to UC.
The Golden Eagles drained nearly 10 minutes off the third-quarter clock that ended with a Brett Benes field goal to put Charleston up 23-6 after three quarters.
However, CU made a late charge in the fourth quarter.
The first play of the final period was an eight-yard rush by senior wide receiver
Davon McGill for a touchdown, his first of the season to trim the deficit to 23-13.
The Mountain Lions' defense got an immediate three-and-out to give the ball right back to the Concord offense.
Senior quarterback
Brian Novak calmly drove the Maroon and Gray 71 yards that ended with a touchdown toss to junior wide receiver
Paul Jones to make it a 23-20 contest with 8:31 left in the game.
Charleston answered right back with a five-play, 75 yard drive that ended in a touchdown, but the Mountain Lions weren't done either. Once again, Novak took CU inside the UC red zone, but the Mountain Lions had to settle for a 37-yard successful field goal from junior kicker
Zack Keaton.
With 2:35 left, the Mountain Lions trailed 30-23.
But the Golden Eagles were able to recover the ensuing onside kick and score once more for a 36-23 final score.
Junior running back
Nick Loftin scored the Mountain Lions' lone touchdown of the first half, a one-yard plunge set up by a 24-yard completion from Novak to senior wide receiver
Jermeil Douse.
Johnson also picked up a first-half interception. For the Baltimore, Maryland native, the two-interception contest was the first multi-interception game of his career and he now has seven picks during his time in a Concord uniform.
Saturday was also a career day for sophomore linebacker
Zach Malone as he racked up a personal-high 17 tackles for the Maroon and Gray. It was the most tackles for a CU player since 2012 when Jake Lilly compiled 18 stops at Liberty. It's the second-most tackles in the MEC this year behind UC's Rhakeem Stallings who had 18 tackles against Glenville State.
Concord blocked two extra points on the day, one by junior linebacker
De'Aundray Gooden and the other by redshirt freshman linebacker
Ty Walker.
Offensively for the Mountain Lions, Novak finished the afternoon 19-for-34 for 256 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Douse went over 100 yards receiving for the second time this season as he hauled in nine catches for 102 yards.
Freshman running back
JaVaughan Burrus, playing in his second career game, rushed 15 times for 81 yards.
Charleston was led by the running back tandem of Tevion Cappe and Marvin Elam who combined for 269 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Concord has a short week as it travels to UVa.-Wise 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Admission for all fans will be free.
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