Motivation is a basic element in sports. Athletes perform better when there’s a clear goal to reach.
The Concord football team ran into a West Liberty State squad that carried a copious amount of motivation into their matchup in the Northern Panhandle on Saturday.
The Hilltoppers had already ridden their prolific offense to an outright WVIAC championship (their first since 1971) and an NCAA Division II playoff berth. But a win over Concord would most likely secure them the top seed in Super Region One, and the home-field advantage and first-round bye that comes with it.
Thus inspired, the West Liberty State out-pointed Concord 64-42 at Russek Field. The teams combined for 1192 yards in the second-highest scoring game in WVIAC history.
West Liberty struck quickly – very quickly – getting the game’s first score on the game’s first offensive snap. QB Zach Amedro threw a backwards pass to Ryan Travis on the right flat behind the line of scrimmage, and Travis flung the ball downfield to Kashif Walls for a 71-yard touchdown only 16 seconds into the game.
Concord answered on its first drive, a 14-play, 48-yard march that took 5:05 off the clock and ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Brian Kennedy.
West Liberty came back with an eight-play drive, finished by a seven-yard touchdown run by RB/WR Eddie Hills out of a single-wing formation. The Mountain Lions blocked the PAT kick and the ‘Toppers led 13-7.
The Hilltoppers extended the lead to 20-7 on the first play of the 2nd quarter, with Amedro connecting with Travis for a 22-yard touchdown.
CU would reply with another Kennedy touchdown, a 15-yard pass from Steven Hearons, to get within 20-14. Kennedy caught the pass on the left flat at the 11, deked a ‘Topper defender, then burst toward the middle and sprinted across the goal line with 8:24 left in the first half.
Momentum would swing back-and-forth before halftime.
West Liberty pushed the lead to 27-14 on a 32-yard TD pass from Amedro to Walls with 3:09 left. Concord came back with a nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive that ended with a 10-yard TD pass from Hearons to Harlon Hill Award finalist Thomas Mayo with only :42 left in the half.
But that was enough time for Amedro & Co. After a short CU kickoff that WLSU returned to their 44, the ‘Toppers moved the ball to the Concord 39 with only :01. Mike Blewett, with a strong southwest at his back, boomed a 46-yard field goal that gave WLSU a 30-21 advantage at the break.
Concord took the opening kickoff of the second half but had to punt -- into the teeth of the wind. The strong breeze knocked down Alex Cox’s kick at the CU 36, and five plays later, Amedro again connected with Travis. The 15-yard pass put the Hilltoppers up 36-21, although Blewett missed the PAT kick.
The Mountain Lions answered with another Kennedy score. The sophomore took athandoff at the CU 41 and ran into a swarm of West Liberty defenders. Kennedy was brought to within inches of being tackled, but somehow slid out of the pile and bounced back to his feet. From there, he accelerated away for an electric 59-yard TD run that pulled the Mountain Lions within 36-28 with 11:23 left in the 3rd quarter.
Concord tried an onside kick, but the gamble backfired and West Liberty’s offense again got a short field to work with.
The Hilltoppers moved 43 yards in only four plays and went up 43-28 on Jimmy Burress’ 1-yard run with 9:33 left in the quarter.
With 3:11 to go Kevon Calhoun ran for another WLSU one-yard TD.
With 1:25 left, Amedro found Hills for a 26-yard TD strike.
Hills scored again, on a 19-yard TD run that closed out the scoring binge and pushed the West Liberty lead to 64-28 with 11:19 remaining in the 4th quarter.
Concord would close out the scoring with two rushing touchdowns. Kennedy covered 23 yards for his fourth touchdown with 10:33 left, and Dennis Cole ran in from five yards out from 2:08 to go.
Amedro finished the game 28-37 for 377 yards and four touchdowns. Amedro, a Hill Award candidate along with Mayo, finished the regular season with 41 TD throws.
Travis caught nine passes for 135 yards and two TDs, to go with his scoring strike to Walls on the first play of the game. Walls ended with four catches for 146 yards and two TD; Hills caught five passes for 66 yards and a score.
Kennedy clinched the WVIAC rushing title with an outstanding effort: 27 carries, 234 yards and three TDs. He added four receptions for 43 yards and another TD. Cole covered 76 yards on 15 carries.
Mayo burnished his Harlon Hill Award credentials with 11 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Hearons wound up 19-32 for 179 yards and two TDs.
Concord finishes the first season under head coach Mike Kellar at 6-5, 4-4 in the WVIAC. It’s the first season in which Concord has won six games since 1998.
Kennedy finished with 1505 yards rushing, second-best in Concord history and the 10th-best all-time in the WVIAC.
Mayo burnished his Harlon Hill credentials by totaling 72 receptions for 1368 yards.
The Mountain Lions lose only six seniors from this year’s roster, three on each side of the ball.
On offense: Cole, FB Matt Greenway, OL Bobby Thompson III
On defense: DE Duke Adu, DT Tyrell Lynch and NT Daniel Stone
If you like to plan in advance, the next Concord football game is scheduled for Thursday, August 26, 2010, against Southern Virginia University. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm EDT at Callaghan Stadium
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