The Concordian

The undefeated streak is over, as Concord University’s Mountain Lion football team dropped their first game of the season, against Charleston. The 52-14 defeat puts Concord’s record at 3-1 (1-1 conference).

“Our kids, it was the first time we’d been in a big game like that, being 3-0 and playing for first place in the conference and we just didn’t go out and perform as well as we’d like to,” Coach Mike Gellar said.

Gellar gave a lot of the credit to Charleston’s team.

“Right now, I think Charleston is the team to beat,” Gellar said. “Their team’s speed seems to be a little better than everybody else’s in the league.”

Despite the loss, Gellar notes the positives in the game. Charleston was one of the top teams in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 22 yards a carry. Concord held Charleston to only one return of seven yards.

“That’s a testament to our Special Teams coach in Jason Woodman and all the guys helping him out, and all the kids who bought in and had a good week of preparation,” Gellar said. “I thought that was a good sign.”

Gellar notes another positive from the loss was that the team played hard from start to finish.

“The kids never gave up and they very well could have,” Gellar said. “I mean, you knew for a while that we were out of the game, but we played hard. We ended the game on the 10-yard line, driving it. We didn’t quit.”

When asked about team and school morale being affected after their first loss of the season, Gellar said that he did not see morale being affected.

“I think the people at the university, students and administrators as well are smart enough to understand that this is a process,” Gellar began. “Chances are, we were never going to go undefeated. The fact that we’re 3-1 with a team coming to our place should be a good thing. I think the school morale should be as high as ever for the football team.”

The team “coming to our place” that Gellar mentioned is West Virginia State, who travel to Callaghan Stadium this Saturday to take on the Mountain Lions.

“West Virginia State has something like 18 or 19 starters returning from last year’s team,” Gellar said. “You know, they’re a pretty good football team.”

Gellar said the key to success is to play hard and improve as a team.

“We just have to go out and do the best that we can in getting ourselves ready,” Gellar said. “We’ve got to get better this week. Win or lose, we need to improve as a football program this week.”

West Virginia State is coming off of a bye week, meaning they have had two weeks to prepare for this game. Gellar pointed out that the team was also in attendance at last week’s game against Charleston.

Gellar said that a bye week can affect a team either positively or negatively.

“Sometimes on a bye week, you’re a little sluggish because you didn’t play,” Gellar said. “Other factors are that they’re probably a week healthier than we are, they’ve had two weeks of preparation for us when we’re only going to have one week of preparation for them.”

Gellar said that those are all factors, but at the end of the week, they are excuses.

“At the end of the day, they’ve got to come here and they’ve got to play well to beat us,” Gellar said. “We’ve got to go out and play well to beat them.”

Concord will not be playing with the quarterback who led them to their first three victories, as Zack Grossi has been ruled out for the season, after a knee injury.

“It’s a definite now,” Gellar said, of Grossi being out for the season. He has received “medical red shirt” status and will be not lose this year of eligibility.

Steven Harris is the starting quarterback, with Evan Dusold backing him up.

“I’m really proud of the way the quarterbacks played [against Charleston],” Gellar said. “I thought Evan and Steven did a good job under tough circumstances. We weren’t able to do the things we normally do offensively and we just hung in there and made some good throws.”

Gellar pointed out that neither quarterback was sacked nor had any turnovers.

“Both kids have such different skill sets that I think it makes us a more dynamic offense,” Gellar said of the duo.

Regarding Concord’s reputation around the league, Gellar notes that it seems as though the other teams have realized that Concord has made a commitment to the football team.

“We’re going to have a great football program here, there’s no doubt about that,” Gellar said. “Starting at the highest levels at this university, down to the smallest people on campus - everyone on campus wants to see us do well in football.”

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