ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University football team could not catch up to Charleston in the second half as the Golden Eagles built a three-touchdown lead on its way to a 42-21 win over Concord Thursday in Mountain East Conference action at Callaghan Stadium.
UC (2-0, 2-0 MEC) scored the first two touchdowns of the contest as they crossed the goal once each in the opening two quarters of the game.
After the Golden Eagles took a 14-0 lead with 10:47 left before halftime, CU (1-1, 1-1 MEC) drove 65 yards that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback
Kyle Akin to sophomore wide receiver
Tywan Pearce.
Neither team was able to sustain any drives over the remaining seven minutes of the first half as Concord trailed 14-7 at halftime.
Charleston returned the opening kickoff of the second half deep in Mountain Lion territory, and added to its lead with a touchdown just 69 seconds into the second half. Concord's defense firmed up for the remainder of the third quarter, but UC scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to lead 28-7.
Though, CU grabbed back some of the momentum as Pearce returned the ensuing kickoff back to the Charleston 39-yard line. Two plays later, Akin found Plyler in the back of the endzone for a 15-yard score to get within 28-14 of the Golden Eagles.
After the Concord defense forced UC to go backwards on its next drive, CU took over near midfield and immediately Pearce raced 44 yards on a run to set up the Mountain Lions at the UC 15-yard line. However, Concord watched the drive stall out at the 10-yard line after a failed fourth conversion. UC took the momentum and built a 35-14 lead with 5:42 left in the contest.
Each team would score in the final two minutes of the contest including Plyler hauling in his second touchdown of the day.
Akin finished with 177 yards through the air and three touchdowns while Plyler recorded seven receptions, which tied Pearce for the team best, for 63 yards and two scores. Â Pearce added seven catches for 69 yards.
Junior defensive back
Ke'Shawn Hall finished with a career-best 12 tackles and two tackles for loss. Senior linebacker
Zach Malone also finished in double figures with 10 tackles on the night.
The Mountain Lions travel to UVa.-Wise 1:00 p.m. September 15.
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