PEMBROKE, N.C. – A field goal by UNC-Pembroke with 11:16 left in the game was the deciding difference as the Concord University football team fell in its regular-season finale, 19-18, Saturday afternoon.
The contest was a defensive slugfest as only three touchdowns were scored with two being non-offensive.
UNC-Pembroke (9-1) got on the board first with a Matt Davis 28-yard field goal five minutes into the game. After a CU (2-9) possession stalled, the Braves took over.
UNC-Pembroke's Patrick O'Brien had his first pass attempt picked off by junior defensive back
Chaudlier Shepherd, and the Upper Marlboro, Maryland native raced 29 yards to give the Mountain Lions a 6-3 lead with 8:00 left in the first quarter.
However, the Braves responded with a 98-yard kickoff return to regain the lead right back, 10-6.
Concord was able to draw to within one after junior kicker
Zack Keaton connected on a 27-yard field goal with 3:40 remaining in the first period.
The only offensive touchdown of the game came on a trick when senior wide receiver
Jermeil Douse found senior fullback
Eric De Lucchi in the end zone from four yards away as CU took a 16-10 advantage. It was the first score of De Lucchi's career.
Two field goals by the Braves left the game tied at halftime 16-16.
The Mountain Lions held the Braves to 72 yards of total offense in the first half, marking the second time in three weeks CU held an opponent under 100 yards in a half.
Both defenses dug in, in the third quarter as the score was deadlocked, 16-16, heading to the fourth quarter.
As the fourth quarter began, Concord was forced to punt. Senior quarterback Brian Novk quick kicked the ball to the UNCP four-yard line. On the ensuing play, senior defensive lineman
Kevin Pierre wrapped up Cliff Jones in the end zone for a safety as the Mountain Lions grabbed an 18-16 advantage.
After CU had a drive stall out at midfield, the Braves got good field position on a bad snap on a punt attempt. UNC-Pembroke managed another Matt Davis field goal attempt from 37-yards away to take back the lead, 19-18.
The Mountain Lions marched the ball inside UNC-Pembroke's 30-yard line, but a couple of penalties halted the potential game-winning drive.
From there, the Braves were able to run out the clock and hang on for a 19-18 win.
Douse led the offense with six catches for 120 yards while Novak finished 14-for-22 with 179 yards through the air.
As for the defense, the Mountain Lions held a powerful UNCP offense that was averaging nearly 430 yards per game to 144 yards of total offense on the afternoon.
Sophomore linebacker
Zach Malone notched a team-high eight tackles to finish with 108 on the season.
Pierre tallied seven tackles and a career-high 4.5 tackles for loss.
CU intercepted O'Brien twice as senior defensive back
Akil Bordelon picked off a pass to go along with Shepherd's pick six. Bordelon finished the regular season tied for the MEC lead in
interceptions with West Virgina Wesleyan's Jabari Weems with six.
Saturday marked the final game in the Maroon and Gray for 18 Concord seniors. The group includes the most decorated quarterback in school history, Novak, one of the best offensive linemen in recent memory,
Coleman Osborne, one of the most versatile playmaker, Douse, one of the best defensive linemen in the MEC this season,
Darryl Johnson and one of the best ball hawks in the league in 2016, Bordelon.
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