The Basics
The West Virginia Wesleyan football team is set to play host to Concord in its home opener on Saturday (March 27) at 2 p.m.
Quick Hits
• WVWC fell in the season opener at West Virginia State, 38-13 on Saturday (March 13)
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Devin Taylor was named MEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after an 88-yard kickoff return touchdown he had in the setback at WVSU.
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Trey Milam,
Khalil Smith,
Kobe Vinegar and
Dana Young were named team captains.
• Junior safety
John Merica was named First Team All-MEC in 2019 after recording 70 solo tackles (third most in NCAA).
• Redshirt-junior linebacker
Grant Safford earned MEC Honorable recognition after a 2019 campaign where he finished second on the team with 58 tackles and also forced a pair of fumbles.
• On the offensive line, Milam also earned MEC Honorable Mention accolades at right guard last season.
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Kenny Lewis Jr. led the Bobcats in touchdown receptions last season with two of those coming against West Virginia State on October 26, 2019.
• Taylor collected the most receptions (41) for the Bobcats last season.
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Allen Gant (defensive coordinator/linebackers),
Mike Maloney (offensive line/recruiting coordinator),
Dominic Bornman (wide receivers/strength & conditioning) and
Jordan Hopgood (running backs/tighe ends) all enter their first year on the WVWC football coaching staff.
• West Virginia Wesleyan alumnus and former assistant,
Tony Testa returns for his second season as head coach.
Scouting Concord
Concord's first two games were postponed so this will be the season opener for the Mountain Lions after a 1-10 season in 2019.
Junior Jack Mangel takes over at quarterback and has receiver Tywan Pearce returning as a top target (65 receptions, 690 yards, three touchdowns in 2019).
Linebacker Dwain Porterfield is also back and was the leading tackler for the Mountain Lions a season ago (56 solo tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, two sacks).
Overall, Concord has a plethora of new faces on both sides of the ball and a new face leading the charge on the sidelines. Dave Walker takes over as the head coach after running one of the most successful high school programs in the state of West Virginia at Martinsburg.
Up Next
The Bobcats stay in Buckhannon to welcome Charleston to Ross Field on Saturday, April 3 at 1 p.m.
