Concord Welcomes Frostburg State for Homecoming Contest

Concord Stats - Frostburg State Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University football team welcomes Frostburg State for Homecoming 1:00 p.m. Saturday in a matchup of two Mountain East Conference teams at Callaghan Stadium.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information Department will provide live statistics and liver streaming video of the contest. 

Live Stats
Live Video

SERIES HISTORY: Frostburg State leads 2-1

ALL-TIME MEETINGS
September 24, 2022: Concord 23 - Frostburg State 22 (Frostburg, Md.)
September 25, 2021: Frostburg State 42 - Concord 23 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 14, 2019: Frostburg State 52 - Concord 14 (Athens, W.Va.)

PLAYING IN THE END ZONE
In Concord's loss at Fairmont State Thursday night, senior defensive lineman Haven Chapman recorded his first career sack, and did so in the Fairmont State end zone—the third consecutive season that CU has recorded a safety. However, Chapman's safety was the first by a player with a sack since 2015. Chapman became the fourth different player with a sack this season for the CU defense. At Fairmont State, sophomore defensive lineman Lance Blankenship recorded a half sack which brings his total to a team-best 2.5. After Thursday night, Blankenship, Chapman and junior defensive back Trevis Dampier are tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 4.5 while Blankenship's 2.5 sacks are tied for seventh in the MEC.

BACKFIELD RECEIVING
Among the 25 completions for senior quarterback Jack Mangel at Fairmont State, eight went to CU running backs. A week after hauling in four receptions for 37 yards, junior running back Kevon Young-Warren grabbed five passes for 45 yards against FSU—both career highs. Sophomore wide receiver turned running back Demarcus Griffin recorded his first reception since the 2021 season. And senior running back Thurlow Wilkins finished with two receptions for 20 yards. Coming into the season, Young-Warren had just three career catches—all last season. And his 13 catches this year ranks fifth among Concord pass catchers.

GROUNDING THE PASS GAME
Going back to the third game of the season versus West Virginia State, the Concord pass defense has been steadily improving and that culminated Thursday at Fairmont State as the Mountain Lions held FSU to 89 yards passing and six completions. Dating back to last season, it marked the second time in the last eight games that CU held a passing offense below 100 yards after limiting Alderson Broaddus to 53 last November. In last year's 23-22 win at Frostburg State, Concord's secondary held the Bobcats to 13 completions and just 161 passing yards. This season, FSU is only averaging 196 passing yards per game.

BREAKOUT GAME
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jake Roberts had his best game in the early part of his career at Fairmont State as he hauled in six receptions for 98 yards and a first-half touchdown. Roberts is the first receiver besides sixth-year pass catcher Kris Copeland or senior wide receiver Alvin Howard to lead the Mountain Lions in receiving. Copeland has led CU in receiving three times, going over 100 yards versus Emory & Henry, West Virginia State and Wheeling, while Howard caught passes for 83 yards versus Charleston and added 69 yards versus West Liberty. Prior to last week, Roberts only had 11 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown on the season.

NAIL BITER
The Mountain Lions picked up their first win in program history over Frostburg State last season in a 23-22 win. The contest wasn't decided until the final play when FSU had a botched snap on the extra-point try that would have tied the game. CU outgained Frostburg State 490-310 in the contest and clipped off 29 first downs which was the second-most in a single game last fall for the Maroon and Gray. Mangel finished the afternoon with 354 passing yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, Concord ran 81 plays in the game, and is coming off the Fairmont State game where it ran 79 plays, and outgained Fairmont State 331-320.

THIRD PHASE OF THE GAME
If Saturday's game comes down to special teams plays, then the advantage could point to Concord. Over his last three games, graduate wide receiver Kyle Cooke is averaging 29.2 yards on kickoffs, leading to him vaulting to the top of the MEC in kickoff return average at 27.2 yards. Overall, the Mountain Lions are tied for fifth in the MEC in kickoff return average (19.3). Frostburg State is 10^th in the MEC in kickoff return average (12.8). In the kicking game, graduate punter Josh Hutley had his second straight game of a 50-yard average at Fairmont State as he netted 50.7 yards per punt in three attempts. Hutley is now averaging 45.3 yards per punt, fourth best in Division II. Traditionally one of the best kickers in the MEC, Frostburg State's Dayne Koontz is just 4-of-10 on field goals tries this season. Punter James Hook is averaging 32.1 yards per punt, 10^th in the MEC.

BEWARE OF THE BACKEND
Frostburg State possesses one of the best pass defenses in the MEC as the Bobcats are tied for second in the league in interceptions this season with 10, and the 182.6 yards that FSU allows is second fewest in the conference. Meanwhile, the Mountain Lions have the second-best passing offense in the league, averaging 272.5 yards per contest. Mangel is completing just over 60 percent of his passes this season, however, the Frostburg State defense is holding opposing quarterbacks to a 42.3 percent completion rate. Only Notre Dame has passed for more than 250 yards on FSU this season.

MOVE THE CHAINS
Coming off a season-high 22 first downs at Fairmont State, the Maroon and Gray seeks to continue its success at moving the ball. Frostburg State is only allowing 18 first down per game to opponents which is tied for the third fewest in the MEC. But, the Bobcats are allowing the opposition to convert nearly 43 percent on third down, ninth in the MEC. The Mountain Lions are giving up 46.9 percent of third downs to opponents. At Frostburg State, CU was 10-of-16 on third downs while holding Frostburg State to 4-for-13. The Mountain Lions held the ball for more than 32 minutes in last year's win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2- Completions needed by Mangle to become Concord's all-time leader in pass completions. He enters Saturday with 690 for his career.

3- Sacks by Concord in last year's win at Frostburg State.

5- Points that the last two CU Homecoming games have been decided by, a 10-9 loss to Fairmont State last season, and a 20-16 win over West Liberty in 2021.

FROSTBURG STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 4-1
MEC Record: 3-1
Home Record: 2-1
Away Record: 2-0

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Frostburg State won its own Homecoming game, 31-21, over UNC-Pembroke last week as it overcame an early 10-3 deficit. The victory came on the heels of the first loss of the season, a 24-21 defeat by Notre Dame. Sean Aaron is one of the best red zone running backs in the MEC, having only rushed for 327 yards in five games, but scoring seven touchdowns—tied for second in the conference. Aaron ran for 101 yards on just 12 carries against CU last season. Long time starting quarterback Graham Walker missed last year's game against Concord as backup Isaiah Lester threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns. A very stout and experienced Frostburg State offensive line has only allowed nine sacksd this season, tied for third fewest in the MEC.