Concord Looks for 3-0 Start at West Virginia Wesleyan

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ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University football team seeks a 3-0 start to the season for the first time in eight years when it travels to West Virginia Wesleyan 2:00 p.m. Saturday in a Mountain East Conference matchup at Cebe Ross Field.

LIVE COVERAGE
The West Virginia Wesleyan Sports Information Department will have live statistics and live streaming video of Saturday's contest. 

Live Stats
Live Video

SERIES HISTORY: Concord leads 24-14-1

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
September 18, 2021: Concord 28 - West Virginia Wesleyan 25 (Athens, W.Va.)
March 27, 2021: Concord 52 - West Virginia Wesleyan 14 (Buckhannon, W.Va.)
November 2, 2019: Concord 28 - West Virginia Wesleyan 24 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 2, 2018: Concord 34 - West Virginia Wesleyan 31 (Buckhannon, W.Va.)
August 31, 2017: West Virginia Wesleyan 23 - Concord 18 (Athens, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 2-0
MEC Record: 1-0
Home Record: 1-0
Away Record: 1-0

QUADRUPLE OPTION
The Mountain Lions grinded out 169 rushing yards in Saturday's win over Glenville State as it marked the highest rushing total for Concord in the 13 games that head coach Dave Walker has been in charge of the program. The last time CU rushed for more yards was the final game of the 2018 season versus Urbana when it ran for 207 yards—a span of 24 games. CU had four different players tote the ball versus GSU including sophomore running back Kevon Young-Warren rushing for a career-best 71 yards on 10 carries—all after halftime. Junior running back Thurlow Wilkins had a team-high 18 carries while senior running backs Kris Copeland and Gerard Hearst combined for eight carries.

FEATURE GUY
While Concord did have four rushers last week, the Mountain Lions leaned on Wilkins as the Avon Park, Florida native collected his first career 100-yard rushing game with 102 yards and two touchdowns. It marked the second time in the last four games that a CU rusher had multiple touchdowns after Young-Warren accomplished the feat in last year's win at Alderson-Broaddus. With his two scores versus GSU, Wilkins is one of three running backs in the MEC with two or more touchdowns through the first two weeks of play, joining the duo of UNC-Pembroke's JaQuan Kelly and Notre Dame's Idris Lawrence.

IN THE TRENCHES
Not only did Concord churn out 169 rushing yards last week behind the offensive line,  the group of junior Kelechi Okoro, fifth-year senior Josh Ramos, fifth-year senior Davis Roberson, fifth-year senior Saul Robles and junior Bo Rowland played nearly every snap together on Saturday and did not allow senior quarterback Jack Mangel to get sacked. CU is the only team in the MEC to have not allowed a sack this season. Sophomore offensive lineman Devin Luckett saw action late Saturday at right guard as Roberson moved to center after an injury.

WRECKING CREW
Concord's defense was stingy on Saturday, allowing seven points to a Glenville State team that had scored 44 points in the first week of the season. Senior defensive back Marcellus Saint tallied a career-best 11 tackles to go with his third career interception. Graduate linebacker Ty Maust secured eight tackles and his second career fumble recovery—both coming against Glenville State. Fifth-year senior defensive lineman Dajor Davenport had 1.5 sacks versus the Pioneers as he moved into a tie for fifth in Concord history with 10.5 sacks. Also along the defensive line, Concord got five tackles apiece from fifth-year senior Nathan Lease, and his second career forced fumbled, and junior Tyree Martin notched five tackles along the defensive line.

ROLLING ALONG
Dating back to last season, the Mountain Lions have won four straight games which is the longest winning streak for CU since it won the first 13 games of the 2014 season before falling in the Division II National Semifinals. One of the common themes for Concord is the defensive effort the Maroon and Gray has turned in. In three of the four wins, Concord has allowed 20 points or fewer. The last time a CU defense went five games allowing 20 points or less in four or more games was in 2014 when it went six consecutive games holding the opponent under 20.

TOP TARGET
Sophomore Jarod Bowie hauled in a fourth-quarter touchdown versus Glenville State. Only Bowie and Fairmont State's Donte Cloude have caught multiple touchdowns this season in the MEC. The Martinsburg, West Virginia native is tied for second in the league in receptions with 10 through two weeks. Bowie's only career multi-touchdown game came at West Virginia Wesleyan in March 2021 when he went for seven receptions and 57 yards to go with the two scores. Mangel tossed for 310 yards and a career-best 310 yards at WVWC 18 months ago in a 52-14 CU win.

FAVORABLE MATCHUP
In two career games versus the Bobcats, Mangel has thrown for nine touchdowns and just one interception. Copeland has also had his way with Wesleyan. In two contests, Copeland has touched the ball 33 times (27 rushes, six receptions). He is averaging nearly 11 yards per touch as he has 211 career rushing yards versus WVWC and 146 receiving yards. He has also scored four career touchdowns. In 2021, Copeland carried the ball six times for 70 yards and hauled in four receptions for 58 yards and a score.

RIGHT AT HOME
On Saturday, Concord will go for its sixth straight over West Virginia Wesleyan on the Bobcats' home turf. The last time CU lost at Cebe Ross Field was 2010. Two of the previous four Mountain Lion wins have been decided by three points. A 34-31 win in 2018 was highlighted by a 40-yard field goal on the game's final play. In 2016, the Maroon and Gray scored with under five minutes left to take a 20-17 edge—the same winning margin. The last time CU defeated a team six consecutive times on the road was West Virginia State (1974-1984). Former WVWC defensive backs John Merica and Michael Sawyer Jr. will suit up on Saturday for CU.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1- Saint's first career interception came at Wesleyan in the 2021 spring matchup.

12- Career high tackles for graduate linebacker Tylen Fowler in a 2019 win over WVWC.

17- CU is one of 17 teams in Division II to have not allowed a sack through two games.

WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 0-2
MEC Record: 0-1
Home Record: 0-0
Road Record: 0-2

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
After a shutout loss to nationally-ranked Saginaw Valley State to open the season, WVWC began MEC play with a 50-26 loss at UNC-Pembroke this past week. Quarterback Nathan Payne threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns. The Bobcats are allowing 379 yards per game on the ground. Devin Washington reeled in 102 yards receiving and a touchdown at UNCP. Ely Ghameshlougy is tied fourth in the MEC in tackles while Deontre Logan is tied for 11^th with 17 stops.