ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University football team fell to West Liberty on the game's final play, 23-21, Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference game at Callaghan Stadium.
With CU (0-5, 0-4 MEC) clinging to a 21-17 lead, West Liberty (1-4, 1-3 MEC) drove the length of the field with 1:50 remaining in the game and completed a 10-yard pass for a touchdown as the final buzzer sounded to clip the Mountain Lions.
Concord had gone ahead on a 33-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back
Kevon Young-Warren with 1:57 remaining in the game to take its first lead of the afternoon. The go-ahead scoring drive was just two plays long after CU took over at the West Liberty 43-yard line following a defensive stand with 2:10 remaining in the game.
WLU ran out to a 14-0 lead on the Mountain Lions with 14:11 remaining in the second quarter.
CU responded with its first scoring drive of the afternoon as senior quarterback
Jack Mangel capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive that took just under four minutes off the second-quarter clock with Mangel scrambling into the end zone from eight-yard away.
West Liberty kicked a late first-half field goal to take a 17-7 lead into halftime.
The Mountain Lions came out firing on the first play from scrimmage of the second half as Mangel connected with senior wide receiver
Alvin Howard on a 69-yard touchdown to get CU within 17-14.
From there, the defenses took over as the Mountain Lions held the Hilltoppers to 65 yards of offense in the second half until the final drive of the game covered 74 yards for WLU.
Junior linebacker
Jamari Smith led a feisty defensive effort for Concord with 18 tackles—second most in a Division II game this season, and second most in a single game in CU program history. Junior defensive back
Trevis Dampier added a career-best 13 tackles while freshman linebacker
Brodee Rice chipped in a single-game best 11 tackles early in his career.
Junior defensive back
Mekhi Williams netted seven tackles and added a second-quarter interception.
Young-Warren rushed for 75 yards on 11 carries. Mangel finished the day 14-of-26 for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Howard's only reception was the 69-yard touchdown.
On special teams, graduate punter
Josh Hutley launched six punts for an average of 50.7 yards, including punts of 83 and 62 yards. The 83-yard boom is the second longest punt in a Division II game this season.
The Mountain Lions travel to Fairmont State on a short week as they face the Fighting Falcons 7:00 p.m. Thursday.
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