Concord Concludes September with Home Matchup Versus West Liberty

Concord Stats - West Liberty Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University football team closes the first month of the season with a Mountain East Conference game versus West Liberty at Callaghan Stadium 1:00 p.m. Saturday.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information Department will have live in-game statistics and live streaming video of the game. 

Live Stats
Live Video

SERIES HISTORY: West Liberty leads 35-32-2

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
October 8, 2022: Concord 45 - West Liberty 28 (West Liberty, W.Va.)
October 9, 2021: Concord 20 - West Liberty 16 (Athens, W.Va.)
October 12, 2019: West Liberty 47 - Concord 6 (West Liberty, W.Va.)
October 27, 2018: Concord 46 - West Liberty 33 (Athens, W.Va.)
October 28, 2017: West Liberty 44 - Concord 14 (West Liberty, W.Va.)

HAVING A RECORD DAY
In Concord's 44-27 loss at Wheeling, the Mountain Lions got a record-setting performance from senior quarterback Jack Mangel. The Athens, Georgia native became CU's all-time leading in passing touchdowns as he moved past Brian Novak (2013-16) and his 71 passing touchdowns. Mangel needed just 26 career games to break the record as he threw four touchdowns against Wheeling, a season high. It was Mangel's 13^th career game with at least three touchdowns. Of the 72 touchdowns, Mangel has thrown touchdowns to 12 different receivers in his time in the Maroon and Gray. Mangel is now fifth in all-time passing touchdowns in the MEC, and four more touchdowns will allow him to pass West Virginia State's Matt Kinnick (2014-17) for fourth.

DEEP THREATS
CU's explosive offense from a season ago had been held in check through the first three games of the season, but on Saturday the Mountain Lions popped off seven plays of 15 or more yards—all passes. Sixth-year wide receiver Kris Copeland caught touchdowns of 20 and 56 yards. One of the two touchdowns that senior wide receiver Alvin Howard hauled in was of 51 yards. Graduate wide receiver Roques Dowdy snagged a 37-yard reception while junior tight end Jordyn Bentley had a catch of 31 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Shawn Ratliff recorded a 26-yard catch. Through the first three games of the season, CU had just 11 plays that went for 15 or more yards.

EVERYONE INVOLVED
For the second time this season, the Mountain Lions had a plethora of receivers catch at least one pass at Wheeling. At Charleston, Mangel hit 10 different receivers, and on Saturday the Athens, Georgia native found eight different receivers over his 28 completions. While Copeland hauled in a game-best 10 receptions and his two touchdowns, Ratliff pulled in his first career catch in the Maroon and Gray. Junior tight end Ethan Johnson had two catches for a career-best 22 yards, and graduate wide receiver Kyle Cooke had his first career multi-catch game with two receptions for 15 yards. And finally, redshirt freshman tight end Eli Sutherland registered his first career reception as he caught a six-yard pass on a successful fake punt by senior quarterback Blayne Ferguson.

NO FLY ZONE
The Mountain Lions' secondary stood tall at Wheeling as it recorded 13 pass break-ups. Sophomore defensive backs Zach Hobson and Rodric Vaughn both tallied a career-best four PBUs to lead the way. The last time the Mountain Lions had a double-digit PBU game was in November 2014 against Notre Dame when they recorded 10. Despite all the PBUs against the Cardinals, Concord did not come up with an interception as CU's only turnover was a strip sack by junior linebacker Jamari Smith that was recovered by sophomore defensive lineman Lance Blankenship. Concord's lone interception on the season was by freshman linebacker Brodee Rice at Charleston. However, the Maroon and Gray defense is facing West Liberty quarterback Rudy Garcia who has thrown seven picks this fall.

AIR IT OUT
Saturday will be a battle of not only the top two passing quarterbacks in the MEC, but also in all of Division II. Across the field from Mangel and the CU offense will Garcia and the Hilltoppers' offense. Garcia's 118 completions this fall are third in Division II While Mangel is sixth with 99. Garcia is fourth nationally in passing yards (1,219) while Mangel sits 13^th (1,115). As an offense, West Liberty is averaging 56 pass attempts per game while Concord isn't far behind at 43.5 per contest. Last year's 45-28 Concord win at West Liberty featured 81 pass attempts with Mangel accounting for 50 of those while Rudy Garcia and Jamie Diven combined for 31 passes for WLU.

TOP TWO
With the gaudy passing numbers from Garcia and Mangel, Concord's Kris Copeland and West Liberty's Rashawn Harvey have ascended to the top of the MEC in receptions and receiving yards. Harvey has hauled in 36 receptions to Copeland's 34. Copeland leads the MEC in receiving yards with 431 while Harvey has amassed 414. And Harvey has scored six touchdowns with Copeland tallying five scores. Copeland is tied for fourth nationally in receiving yards with Harvey checking in ninth. Harvey is second in Division II in receptions and Copeland is third. At Wheeling, Copeland became the fifth player in program history to total 150 career receptions as he now sits at 154 for his career.

BUCKING THE TREND
For the first time since 2013, a road team won in the all-time series between Concord and West Liberty as the Mountain Lions captured the 17-point win last season at West Family Stadium—CU won at West Liberty 10 years ago, 21-3. Mangel finished the afternoon 36-for-50 for 444 yards and five touchdowns. Copeland was held in check with three catches for 42 yards. Senior running back Thurlow Wilkins averaged 5.7 yards per rush with 14 carries for 80 yards. Concord got one of its two defensive touchdowns on the season as all-conference safety John Merica ran a fumble back 42 yards for a score. Junior tight end Ethan Johnson found the end zone for his first career touchdown, an eight-yard reception.

HOLDING HOMEFIELD
As previously mentioned, home field has been important when Concord and West Liberty meet on the gridiron. CU has won five straight at home versus West Liberty, and seven of the last nine games played at Callaghan Stadium dating back to 2004. Two years ago, Concord erased a 10-0 first-half deficit to down the Hilltoppers 20-16 in a defensive struggle. Concord used a safety and a blocked extra point for a score as part of its point total. Copeland ran for 115 yards and a touchdown and added three catches for 37 yards. Current Concord defensive line coach Nathan Lease tallied 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
13- Tackles by Smith at Wheeling to vault him into seventh in the MEC in tackles with 30.

46- Yards needed by Mangel to reach 8,000 for his career.

129- Passing yards that Concord held WLU to in last year's win.

WEST LIBERTY AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 0-4
MEC Record: 0-3
Home Record: 0-2
Away Record: 0-2

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
West Liberty is searching for its first win after a 37-19 setback at home last week to UNC-Pembroke. Garcia finished last week's game by throwing for 269 yards and a touchdown, but also two interceptions. Garcia is listed as questionable on this week's depth chart. Robert Morris transfer Chris Charles complements Harvey at receiver as he has snagged 29 catches for 361 yards and two touchdowns. Last year's MEC Defensive Freshman of the Year Cam Rice, a former walk-on at WVU, has five tackles for loss and a sack. Nickel defensive back Trent Crawford leads WLU with 31 tackles. West Liberty's secondary is only surrendering 162 passing yards per game.