Published: October 09, 2009 11:39 am      

Rams edge Mountain Lions

ATHENS — Saturday’s Concord-Shepherd game at Callaghan Stadium saw two distinctly different halves of football played. The first, dominated by the visiting Rams, was reminiscent of the days where Concord was a WVIAC doormat. The second was more in line with the greatly improved Mountain Lions of this year, as they pushed the Rams to the limit. Put them together, the Rams won 34-31 in WVIAC action.

The Rams (4-1, 3-1) opened scoring on their first drive of the game, a nine-play, 60-yard one, as Tommy Addison ran 22 yards for a 7-0 lead (Eric Dobratz kick) with 10:51 left in the first quarter. The drive was aided by a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty against Concord on third and 10 from the Concord 37.

The second Rams drive, a nine-play, 45-yard drive, was also fruitful, as Dobratz hit a 22-yard field goal with 4:48 left in the first quarter. The drive featured a 15-yard run by Nate Hoyte.

Concord (4-2, 2-2) made it 10-3 with 9:46 left in the first half as Brandon Strupp hit a 23-yard field goal to wrap up a 10-play, 46-yard drive. The drive featured a 13-yard Steven Hearons to Nathan Tanner pass and a 10-yard Hearons to Thomas Mayo pass on fourth and 6 from the Shepherd 22-yard line.

Rams punt returner Deante Steele returned a Concord punt 85 yards for a 17-3 Shepherd score with 4:05 left in the half (Dobratz kick).

The final scoring in the first half saw Shepherd go 53 yards in four plays, capping it off with a 31-yard Kevin Clancy to Neal Hardie pass with 1:49 left to make it 24-3 (Dobratz kick). Addison had a 17-yard rush.

Concord opened the second half with a 10-play, 51-yard scoring drive capped off with a three-yard Brian Kennedy scoring run with 11:30 left in the third quarter, making it 24-10 (Strupp kick). The drive featured a 14-yard run by Kennedy, an 11-yard Hearons to Rashid Baker pass, a 13-yard Hearons to Kennedy pass and an 18-yard Hearons to Mayo pass.

A six-play, 80-yard drive by Concord made it 24-17 (Strupp kick) with 2:38 left in the third as Kennedy ran it in from one yard out. The drive was started by a blocked field goal by Concord’s Justin McKissick recovered by Cameron Tarver. The drive featured a 12-yard rush by Kennedy and consecutive Hearons to Mayo passes of 50 yards and 14 yards.

Shepherd made it 27-17 with 14:51 left in the game as Dobratz hit a 34-yard field goal, wrapping up a seven-play, 64-yard drive. Clancy and Hardie connected for passes of 11 and 46 yards.

Concord responded with a seven-play, 80-yard drive culminating with Kennedy’s third touchdown of the day (Strupp kick) making it 27-24 with 11:53 left. Hearons hit Dennis Cole with a 22-yard pass then followed it two plays later with a 24-yard pass.

Shepherd ended their scoring for the day with 8:23 left in the game as Hoyte ended an eight-play, 65-yard drive and made it 34-24 (Dobratz kick). Clancy hit Hardie for 12 yards, then rushed for 12 yards himself, following that two plays later with a 16-yard pass to Raymond Mends. Hoyte also had a 17-yard run.

Concord made it 34-31 (Strupp kick) with a six-yard Hearons to Kennedy pass, wrapping up a 14-play, 80-yard drive. The drive was aided by two defensive pass interference calls, a 19-yard run by Kennedy, a 17-yard Hearons to Kennedy pass on fourth and 5 from the Shepherd 30-yard line and a 12-yard Hearons to Kennedy pass.

Shepherd was led by Addison with 91 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown. Clancy went 12-21 for 153 yards with a touchdown. Hardie caught six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Layton Hersh had nine tackles, seven solo. Steele had 115 yards in total offense (85 on punts and 30 on kick-offs). Hardie had 112 yards total offense.

Concord was led by Kennedy with 91 yards and three touchdowns rushing on 21 attempts. Hearons went 29-44 for 308 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mayo caught nine passes for 120 yards. Kennedy had 251 yards (91 rushing, 96 receiving and 64 kickoff returns) in total offense. Tony Keiling, Jr.,

had nine tackles (seven solo).

Concord travels to Glenville State tomorrow. The next game at Callaghan Stadium will be Homecoming against Seton Hill. Game time will be 4 p.m.

— Contact Jeff Harvey at jharvey1@frontiernet.net or delimartman@yahoo.com.