ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University football team outscored West Virginia State 22-14 in the second half, but could not overcome a 33-7 halftime deficit as it fell 47-29 on Homecoming at Callaghan Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Yellow Jackets (4-3, 3-3 MEC) jumped out to a 14-0 lead with two touchdown scores in the first quarter. However, Concord (1-6, 1-6 MEC) drove nine plays and 64 yards at the end of the first quarter that was capped by a sweeping run by redshirt freshman offensive lineman
Nathan Toney from three yards out.
The next 19 points belonged to West Virginia State as it held the 26-point halftime advantage.
CU zipped down the field to open the third quarter as sophomore
Camari Murray ran under a throw from freshman quarterback
Adam Fulton and scored on a 39-yard pass. It was Murray's fourth straight week with a scoring reception. The 70-yard drive took less than 1:30 off the clock and needed just four plays.
Just over four minutes later, sophomore wide receiver
Brandon Plyler caught a fade route on fourth-and-goal from the four-yard line to trim the deficit to 33-21 with 6:02 left in the third quarter.
However, CU could not get a needed defensive stop as WVSU scored 14 unanswered to march its lead back up to 47-21 with 9:28 remaining in the contest.
Fulton tied his career-high in touchdown passes—that was set last week—with a short eight-yard toss to freshman wide receiver
Tywan Pearce in the fourth quarter.
Senior running back
Jamal Petty averaged 6.5 yards per carry on 13 rushes as he amassed 85 yards on the ground. Fulton finished 16-for-27 for 193 yards to go along with his three touchdowns.
Pearce hauled in a team-best five receptions for 44 yards and a score.
Junior linebacker
Zach Malone and senior defensive back
Dominic Wilson tied for the team lead in tackles with eight. Senior linebacker
Aszaun Whiley recorded a career-best six stops and a tackle for loss on the day.
The Mountain Lions stay at home next week to face non-conference foe UNC-Pembroke 12:00 p.m. Saturday.
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