For the second consecutive game, tight end Tim Brown and wide receiver Mike Doty both had big games. On the ground, running back Brandon Monk rushed for 122 yards despite leaving the game just before halftime due to an injury. Running back Eddie Elliott also eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground, carrying 21 times for 125 yards and a touchdown to go along with four catches for 24 yards. The Golden Rams doubled Concord in first downs (32-16), nearly doubled them in total plays (97-52), and held a significant nine minute advantage in time of possession.
But Concord had a running play of 87 yards and passing plays of 71, 50, 49 and 36 yards to account for 293 of their 619 yards in just five plays. And the Mountain Lions first touchdown came on a 68 yard return of a blocked 36-yard field goal attempt. Rich Bruno would later miss a 31-yard field goal attempt wide left. Meanwhile Concord connected on all three of their field goal attempts and averaged 51 yards on their three punts, including having two downed inside the West Chester 5. But the worst part about the special teams play was West Chester surrendering yards on kickoffs. Even with the wind at their back, the Golden Rams continued to squib or pooch the kickoffs, giving the Mountain Lions the ball to start six drives at an average of the 38 yard line. This compares to West Chester’s average starting point after kickoffs of the 26 yard line.
West Chester, so used to getting off to fast starts, found themselves trailing 10-0 and without the ball with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. But Cory Scott forced a fumble that squirted right into Brandon Pepper's arms giving the Golden Rams the ball at the Concord 34. Sean McCartney completed his first of three touchdown passes just four plays later. But Concord responded with a one-play touchdown drive on a 71-yard catch run past Pepper and Al-Hajj Shabazz.
The Golden Rams answered back early in the first quarter when Elliott went around the left end and made a beautiful diving leap while keeping the ball inside the pylon for the touchdown. Concord extended their lead back to ten points on a 39-yard pass play and a 31-yard touchdown pass. West Chester’s attempt to immediately answer got down to the Concord 18, but McCartney’s attempt to find Doty in the end zone was picked off for a touchback. On the Golden Ram’s next possession, he would place the ball perfectly to Doty and the score was narrowed to 24-21.
The West Chester defense forced a three-and-out, and with three minutes remaining, the Golden Ram offense would travel 98 yards to take the lead on a 5-yard McCartney to Shawn Driggins touchdown pass. But a short kickoff, good return and a 36-yard pass play setup a 44-yard field goal for Concord. West Chester would take a 28-27 lead into the locker room.
The second half started much the way the first had ended, with a short kickoff and a good return. But when Concord attempted a long pass to the end zone, Shabazz was there for his fifth interception of the season. The Golden Rams, behind 52 rushing yards of Elliott, would get down to the Concord nine after an 11-yard completion to Erick Brundidge. But rather than go for it on fourth and two, West Chester elected to attempt the field goal which went wide left.
A rejuvenated Concord offense quickly went 80 yards capped by a 50-yard touchdown pass on a back side screen play. Concord retook the lead, 34-28, and would not relinquish it. On West Chester’s next possession, a McCartney pass went through Shannon Mayer's hands and was intercepted. Concord would then use another one-play touchdown drive, this time an 87-yard run. Down 41-28, West Chester’s offense was held to a three-and-out. Concord used a 49-yard pass play to get deep into West Chester territory, but Scott forced a fumble giving West Chester the ball at their own three. The Golden Rams would go 95 yards, but Andrew Derr’s pass to Elliott fell short of the first down marker. Starting quarterback Sean McCartney was hurt on the drive, thus ending his season.
The West Chester defense held Concord to a 33-yard field goal, keeping West Chester within a two score striking distance at 44-28. Derr completed a short pass to Brown who bullied his way 62 yards for the touchdown. Derr completed the two-point conversion to Doty to pull the Golden Rams within one score, 44-36. The West Chester defense really did its part by forcing their second three-and-out, but Ted Patton failed to field the Concord punt and it was downed at the West Chester three.
Elliott picked up four yards on the ground, but two incomplete passes brought up fourth and six from the West Chester 7. It would seem that with two and a half minutes and three timeouts left that a punt was in order, but West Chester elected to go for it and the pass fell incomplete. It only took Concord two plays to punch in the final touchdown of the game. On West Chester's final possession, Brown would get a six-yard reception. It was his ninth catch of the contest for 216 yards.
The West Chester defense was unable to get significant pressure on the Concord quarterback let alone sack him in the game. Senior captains Ronell Williams and Mike Labor, playing in their final collegiate game, tallied eight and six tackles respectively. Cory Scott who came on strong as the season progressed, accounted for seven tackles. Although the defense registered ten tackles for loss, they totaled only 16 yards.
When the offense starts deep in its own territory and is only four of eight in the red zone, it’s easy to see how 691 yards equates to just 36 points. Meanwhile, when the opponent scores seven touchdowns and the longest one lasts only five plays, it’s easy to see how time of possession proves meaningless.
West Chester Athletic Site - No. 10 Concord Defeats No. 15 West Chester, 51-36, In NCAA II Playoff
Concord Athletic Site - Concord Wins First Ever Playoff Game, Defeating West Chester 51-36
Bluefield Daily Telegraph - Writing history: Unbeaten Concord gets first playoff win
Bluefield Daily Telegraph - Teamwork produced CU playoff win
Concord Football - West Chester Game Highlights
D2football - PSAC Columnist - Huskies advance, Rams Eliminated in Second Round
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