Defense Wins Spring Game, 37-19

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University football team finished up its spring practice segment as the defense defeated the offense 37-19 Saturday afternoon at Callaghan Stadium in the annual Maroon-Gray game.

The offense received points for traditional scoring plus one point for each first picked up in the contest while the defense scored on turnovers (six points), sacks (two points), tackles for loss (one point) and stopping the offense on third or fourth down (one point).

The first half did not feature either scoring in the end zone or on turnovers by the defense, but freshman kicker Luke Walls punched through an 18-yard field goal at the end of the first half to give the Maroon a 14-13 lead at the break.

However, the defense outscored the offense in the second half 24-5 led by an interception from sophomore defensive back Jonathan Roebuck and a fumble recovery from junior defensive back Jakil Sarhim. The latter turnover came with the defense up 31-19 and after a completion of 34 yards from junior quarter Kyle Akin to sophomore wide receiver Tywan Pearce.

The pass had the offense set up inside the red zone before Sarhim came in from behind to punch the ball loose with less than one minute left in the fourth quarter.

The defense was able to hold the offense to 5-of-16 on third-down conversions and limited them to 331 yards of total offense.

On offense, redshirt freshman wide receiver Tanner Bailey had four catches for 60 yards while freshman running back Kris Copeland hauled in a game-high five catches for 46 yards.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Matt Shearer attempted 26 passes in the game as he threw for 156 yards. Akin tossed for 106 yards on 9-of-14 passing. Freshman running back Josh Maxwell had eight rushes for 50 yards.

Defensively, the Mountain Lions recorded four sacks in the game including one from freshman linebacker Tylen Fowler who was the game's leading tackler with six stops. Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Dillon Brasse, sophomore defensive back Devion Green and sophomore defensive lineman Tyler Jones also tallied a sack in the game.