ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University football team dropped a 27-20 decision to Wheeling Saturday afternoon in the season finale for both teams at Callaghan Stadium in Mountain East Conference play.
CU (1-10, 1-9 MEC) faced a 13-6 halftime deficit as sophomore kicker
Luke Walls banged through two first-half field goals with the final one coming from 36 yards as the halftime horn sounded.
Both teams controlled the game defensively in the third quarter as the period featured eight punts with just one first down gained—an 11-yard completion by senior quarterback
Kyle Akin on 2
nd-and-6 late in the third quarter.
To start the fourth quarter, Wheeling (1-10, 1-9 MEC) was able to take advantage of a CU muffed punt inside the 20-yard line to go up 20-6 with 13:35 left in the game. However, the Mountain Lions had two quick answers.
On the ensuing drive, Concord reached into the bag of tricks as junior wide receiver
Tywan Pearce threw a 30-yard touchdown to fellow junior wide receiver
Isaiah Bowman just 49 seconds after the WU score.
CU was unable to capitalize on a fumbled kick return on the ensuing kickoff by the Cardinals, but quickly got the ball back after a Wheeling three-and-out deep in its own territory. On the punt, sophomore defensive back
Kevin Moss set up Concord with a return of 47 yards to the WU five-yard line.
Two plays later, Akin found freshman wide receiver
Caeleb Bass in the end zone for a game-tying touchdown with 7:57 remaining in the game.
The CU defense once again stood strong as it was able to force another three-and-out. But on Concord's first play of the next drive, Wheeling came up with one of its four interceptions on the day inside the Concord 35-yard line.
With 3:24 remaining in the game, Wheeling went up 27-20, and stopped Concord on downs around midfield to foil the Mountain Lions' comeback attempt.
Prior to the game, 10 seniors were recognized by the program.
Pearce caught a game-high eight passes for 56 yards while also throwing a touchdown.
Defensively, junior linebacker
Dillon Howie racked up nine tackles. Sophomore defensive lineman
Nathan Lease added six tackles and a sack. Senior linebacker
Jalen Hairston matche Lease's tackle output to go with three pass break-ups.
Concord outgained Wheeling, 308-275, in the game.
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