ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University football team lost 50-30 to Wheeling Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference game at Callaghan Stadium.
Down 22-0 through the first 23 minutes of the game, Concord (1-9, 1-7 MEC) rattled off 16 of the final 23 points of the second quarter to trim the margin to 29-16 at halftime.
The spark was keyed by sophomore linebacker
Brodee Rice blocking a punt that resulted in CU taking over at the Wheeling (5-5, 4-4 MEC) 20-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage after the punt block, sophomore quarterback
Kameron Howard found freshman wide receiver
Jeremiah Valdry for a touchdown.
Wheeling answered to go back up 29-7 with 1:18 remaining in the first half, however, the Mountain Lions finished the half with a flurry. On the ensuing CU drive, the Maroon and Gray stalled. But the punt was unable to fielded cleanly carrying the WU returner into the end zone where redshirt freshman wide receiver
Zion Odoms tracked down Nasir Rhem for a safety.
On the free kick return, freshman defensive back
Cartaveon Valentine raced into Cardinals' territory, setting up a highlight with three seconds remaining in the half. Howard flipped a seven-yard pass out to freshman wide receiver
Eric Hart who lateraled to senior running back
JQ Brown on a hook-and-ladder for the 47-yard score.
Out of the locker room, CU drove near midfield before stalling out. The next Wheeling drive consumed 80 yards and more than five minutes off the clock as the Cardinals went up 36-16 with 7:28 remaining. WU capitalized on two Concord turnovers on the next two possessions and lead 50-16 after three quarters.
Graduate quarterback
Blayne Ferguson completed two fourth-quarter touchdowns to Odoms and sophomore wide receiver
Jake Roberts.
Off the bench, Ferguson was 12-for-16 for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Howard also threw two touchdowns in the first half on 6-for-15 passing.
Sparked by a 59-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter, senior tight end
Jordyn Bentley finished with three catches for 76 yards. Brown grabbed three passes for 57 yards and a score. He also rushed 19 times for 64 yards.
Concord's defense forced three turnovers in the game—all fumbles. Sophomore defensive back
Kendall Bournes tallied 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore linebacker
Ryker Brown also had 11 tackles. Senior defensive back
Khwan Mickens finished with eight stops and his third fumble recovery of the year.
Junior defensive back
Rodric Vaughn fell on a muffed Wheeling punt return in the second half.
Concord welcomes UNC Pembroke to Callaghan Stadium for Senior Day 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 16.
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