By JONATHAN GREENE
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD —
Thrilling might be an understatement on last year’s game between Concord and Lenoir-Rhyne.
The Mountain Lions travel to Hickory, N.C. for a Saturday night showdown with the Bears.
The two teams combined last season for more than 1,100 yards of offense and nearly 100 points in their overtime battle. Concord won, 52-45, their first non-forfeit victory over Lenoir-Rhyne.
This year, both teams are coming off convincing wins at the start. Last Saturday, Concord routed Southern Virginia 72-21 while Lenoir-Rhyne thumped Chowan 59-10.
The Mountain Lions and Bears bring vastly different offenses to the table.
Concord runs a variation of the spread while Lenoir-Rhyne uses the triple-option.
In Concord’s victory over Southern Virginia, the spread offense produced a lopsided 786-186 advantage with a balanced 370 yards through the air and 416 yards on the ground.
Lenoir-Rhyne offense is unbalanced toward the run. The Bears outgained Chowan 631-164 with 513 yards coming on the ground and 118 yards passing.
Those stats were similar to last year’s game when 406 of Lenoir-Rhyne’s 441 total yards came on the ground. Concord featured a balanced attack with 371 yards through the air and 246 yards rushing.
Eyes will be glued on wideout Thomas Mayo — last year’s Division II leader in receiving yards per game with 124.4 — who caught three passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in the opener. Mayo established a Concord record with 16 receptions for 253 yards in last year’s tilt with the Knights.
Mountain Lion quarterback Zach Grossi, in his first start since knee surgery sidelined him last year, picked up where he left off, throwing for 299 yards and five touchdowns.
Grossi and Mayo are not the only two guys to keep an eye out on. Running back Brian Kennedy rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown in just over a quarter of action.
As for Lenoir-Rhyne, quarterback Major Herron will be the key to their triple-option. Herron rushed for a career-high 101 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for 69 yards.
Anthony Silvers joined Herron with 101 yards and a touchdown as 12 different players had a carry for the Bears. Le’Quan McCorkle was the other big yardage running back picking up 84 yards on 16 carries.
While the offenses might show up the defenses in this game, it will still be a major factor.
Lenoir-Rhyne picked off Chowan twice and recovered a fumble last week while Concord intercepted Southern Virginia three times, including two picks by Nate Pollard.
The difference in this game could come down to defense and special teams. Which ever team can make a stop, force a turnover, or win the special teams battle could finish on top.
Concord faces Lenoir-Rhyne tonight at Moretz Stadium in Hickory, N.C. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
— Contact Jonathan Greene
at jgreene@bdtonline.com
