SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Concord University football team dropped its season opener to Notre Dame, 33-10, Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference game at Mueller Field.
The Mountain Lions (0-1) had the first lead of the game as they marched 11 plays and 56 yards to open the contest that ended with a successful 21-yard field goal from sophomore kicker
Luke Walls.
Two plays after the Walls' field goal, nationally-ranked Notre Dame (1-0), number four in the polls, found itself in the end zone with 9:25 left in the first quarter. It was the start of 20 straight points by the Falcons as they took a 20-3 lead into halftime.
After the CU defense forced a three-and-out to start the third quarter, the Maroon and Gray struck quickly as senior quarterback
Kyle Akin found junior wide receiver
Isaiah Bowman for a 69-yard touchdown to draw Concord back within 20-10 at the 12:31 mark of the third.
Concord forced another quick punt by NDC after the its score, but the Mountain Lions were unable to take advantage as a lost fumble stalled the ensuing drive right before the midfield stripe. The Falcons added field goals on their next two drives, and a late fourth-quarter touchdown for the final margin.
Akin tallied 212 passing yards to go with his touchdown toss to Bowman. The Raleigh, North Carolina native led the CU in receiving yards with 69 on three catches. Fellow junior wide receiver
Tywan Pearce hauled in six of Akin's 16 completions for a total of 56 yards.
Sophomore linebacker
Tylen Fowler and junior defensive back
Cameron Fannon tied for the team lead with eight tackles each while Fowler recovered one of two forced fumbles on the afternoon.
Senior defensive lineman
Ryan Gatrell notched seven tackles, a single-game career-best 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
The Mountain Lions have their home opener next Saturday, September 14 at 12:00 p.m. against Frostburg State at Callaghan Stadium.
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