ATHENS, W.Va. – Behind a record-setting day from senior quarterback
Brian Novak, the Concord University football team held off West Liberty 32-25 in the season opener at Callaghan Stadium Saturday afternoon.
CU improves to 1-0 both overall and in Mountain East Conference play while the Hilltoppers fall to 0-1.
West Liberty marched down the field to open the game and took a 7-0 lead just 2:36 into the contest. However, Concord rattled off 11 unanswered points coming on a 30-yard field goal from junior kicker
Zack Keaton and a three-yard touchdown rush from junior running back
Nick Loftin. But the Hilltoppers scored once more in the first quarter to take a 13-11 advantage after 15 minutes of play.
In the midst of a drive to begin the second quarter, Concord capped the drive with a 13-yard swing pass from Novak to Loftin in which Loftin found the endzone putting CU ahead 18-13 with 12:53 remaining in the first half.
WLU appeared ready to respond to CU's score, but senior defensive back
Akil Bordelon put a jarring hit on West Liberty wide receiver Anton McCallum at the goal line and junior linebacker
Edwin Campbell picked off the errant pass stalling the Hilltoppers' momentum.
From there, Novak took the CU offense 66 yards down the field that was finished off with his 58
th career touchdown pass, a Concord career record, as he found redshirt freshman wide receiver
Brandon Plyler in the back of the endzone for the record-breaking score. The touchdown toss extended CU's lead to 25-13, an edge it would hold at intermission.
Both teams traded field position to start the third quarter before Concord's special teams broke through for a blocked punt with 5:22 left in the third. With WLU pinned deep into its own territory, redshirt freshman defensive lineman
Ty Walker barreled through the protection and blocked the punt at the eight-yard line, setting up a Novak touchdown pass to junior wide receiver
Paul Jones two plays later.
The Hilltoppers crept back into the game with a score at the end of the third and another touchdown with 2:37 left in the fourth. Concord was, however, able to convert first downs at the end of the game to run the clock out for a 32-25 win over West Liberty.
Novak finished the game 21-for-29 for 231 yards and three touchdowns. The CU signal caller now needs 93 yards to become the all-time leader in passing yards at Concord in addition to already being the school's all-time leader in touchdowns.
Loftin ran for 104 yards and one touchdown on 18 attempts in his first career game at Concord. Senior wide receiver
Jermeil Douse was the leading pass catcher for CU as he hauled in seven catches for 73 yards. Of Novak's 21 completions, eight different players caught a pass.
Senior defensive lineman
Darryl Johnson led CU with 10 tackles and a half of a sack. Bordelon added seven tackles and an interception for the second straight season against WLU.
Concord travels to Fairmont State next Saturday to face the 1-0 Fighting Falcons at Duvall-Rosier Field at 1:00 p.m.
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