Concord Carries 6-1 Mark on the Road to Face West Virginia State

Concord Stats - West Virginia State Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - Fresh off a 68-60 win over Charleston Saturday at home, the Concord University football team hits the road for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff Saturday against West Virginia State at Dickerson Stadium in a Mountain East Conference contest.

LIVE COVERAGE
The West Virginia State Sports Information Department will provide live statistics and live streaming video of the game. 

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SERIES HISTORY: Concord leads 29-19

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
October 23, 2021: West Virginia State 34 - Concord 32 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 28, 2019: West Virginia State 33 - Concord 23 (Athens, W.Va.)
October 13, 2018: West Virginia State 52 - Concord 24 (Institute, W.Va.)
October 14, 2017: West Virginia State 47 - Concord 29 (Athens, W.Va.)
November 5, 2016: West Virginia State 52 - Concord 45 (Institute, W.Va.)

RECORD DAY
Several school records were either set or tied in Saturday's game that featured 128 points. For starters, the Mountain Lions had 735 yards of total offense which eclipsed the previous record from 2014 that was set at 675 yards. CU ripped off 35 first downs in the game which were two more than the 2010 offense had against West Liberty. And the Concord offense was out on the field for 85 plays—the most in program history with the old record coming in 2013 at Bowie State. Reigning MEC Offensive Player of the Week Thurlow Wilkins tied the program record for touchdowns in a contest with four while adding 279 yards on the ground—the third most in program history, and the most by a player not named Brian Kennedy. Senior quarterback Jack Mangel tossed six touchdowns which established a new single-game program record.

ON THE RUN
Another school record that was shattered on Saturday was Concord's rushing efficiency. While Wilkins racked up nearly 300 yards on the ground, and in the process moved into second in the MEC in rushing (718 yards), Concord ripped off 9.1 yards per carry against Charleston which broke the previous record set at 7.9 yards per tote versus West Virginia State at the end of the 2016 season. Wilkins ripped of 10.3 yards per carry while sophomore running back Kevon Young-Warren added 5.0 yards per rush on seven attempts. Concord's 4.8 yards per rush leads the MEC. And though Concord's passing offense gets much attention, the Mountain Lions' 161.1 rushing yards per game is sixth in the MEC.

DUAL THREAT
On Saturday, Concord had two receivers top the century mark in yards. Junior wide receiver Jarod Bowie continued his steady play with 10 receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns while senior running back Kris Copeland caught seven passes for a career-high 131 yards and two touchdowns. The twin 100-yard receiving game marked the fifth time under head coach Dave Walker, an 18-game sample size—that Concord has had two players go over 100 yards receiving in the same game. Three of the instances have involved Bowie—Saturday and last year against Frostburg State and Glenville State. In the previous 10 seasons prior to Walker's arrival, along with offensive coordinator Brian Ferguson, Concord only had five games with two or more players reaching 100 yards receiving. 

5K CLUB
Mangel went over 5,000 career passing yards versus Charleston as he currently sits at 5,301 for his career, eighth in program history. Another 300-yard passing day, which Mangel has accomplished nine times in 18 starts at CU, would propel the Athens, Georgia native into the top five in program history in yards. With 308 yards, Mangel would jump CU Hall of Famers Jeff Boyles and Dave Renner along with Tyler Hull for passing yards in program history. Additionally, Mangel's next touchdown toss would tie Renner for fourth in program history. Mangel has 44 career touchdown passes. Last year, Mangel had 407 yards passing and three touchdowns in a 34-32 loss against West Virginia State.

HAVING A RECORD YEAR
The Concord offense is averaging 464.6 yards per game which if the season ended today would be the third-highest total in program history. As long as CU stays above 400 or more yards of offense per game, it would be the eighth time in program history that a Maroon and Gray offense has produced 400 yards per game, and the first since 2015. Wilkins is less than 300 yards away from becoming the first 1,000-yard rusher for Concord since All-American Calvinaugh Jones ran for 1,124 yards in 2015. And after throwing six touchdowns on Saturday, Mangel is just the fourth Concord signal caller with 20 or more touchdowns in a single season, and the first since Brian Novak's record-setting 33 touchdowns in 2014. Mangel is fifth in Division II with 21 touchdown tosses.

PUNCH THE BALL OUT
Concord forced a season-high three turnovers versus Charleston as all three came on fumble recoveries. Junior defensive back Donovan Lacey and graduate defensive lineman Sayrend Musgrove both forced first-half fumbles while junior defensive lineman Manny Azolin and sophomore linebacker Delando Morris both had crucial forced fumbles in the second half. Sophomore linebacker Jordyn Bentley jumped on Morris' fumble that help set up Concord's go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Azolin's strip sack forced UC to punt in the fourth as the Mountain Lions ended up scoring on the ensuing drive. The duo of Azolin and Lacey both had career-high tackles (seven) while Azolin notched his first two career sacks at CU.

HARD AT WORK
Concord's offensive line not only opened up running lanes for Wilkins and the Maroon and Gray rushing attack Saturday afternoon, but the group of junior Kelechi Okoro, fifth-year seniors Josh Ramos, Saul Robles, Davis Roberson and junior Bo Rowland did not allow a sack to the Charleston defense. It marked the fourth time this season that CU has not allowed a sack to the opponent. The Mountain Lions' seven sacks surrendered are the fewest in the MEC, and are tied for 15^th in Division II. The 336 rushing yards piled up by Concord were the most since October 2015 against UVa.-Wise.

IN THE TRENCHES
Saturday's matchup features two teams in the MEC that can get to the quarterback. West Virginia State's 22 sacks are second in the conference while Concord's 17 sacks rank fourth. One notable difference is that while Concord has been stout up front, WVSU is giving up the fourth most sacks in the MEC (16). Along with Azolin's two sacks Saturday, fifth-year senior defensive lineman Dajor Davenport had a crucial fourth-quarter sack on UC's final drive. The takedown moved the Clifton Forge, Virginia native into fourth place in program history with 11.5 sacks. Additionally, Davenport also had two sacks last season versus West Virginia State.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1- Combined turnovers last season between Concord and West Virginia State.

8- Concord secured its first winning season in eight years with Saturday's win over Charleston

128- Combined points between Concord and Charleston were the most points in a game involving the Mountain Lions in program history as well as an MEC record.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 4-3
MEC Record: 3-3
Home Record: 3-1
Away Record: 1-2

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
West Virginia State's offense is led by multi-year starter at quarterback, Donovan Riddick, who has thrown for 1,339 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His top target is tight end Keedrick Cunningham who has 30 receptions for 333 yards and two scores. Head coach John Pennington spent four seasons at Concord as the special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach (2011-14) before becoming the offensive coordinator at WVSU in 2015. Former CU head coach Paul Price is in his third season at West Virginia State as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. AJ Joyce leads the Yellow Jackets with four sacks this season, tied for fourth in the MEC.