Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, SportsFive Mountain Lions Earn Honors

The post-season continues to be ‘award season' for Concord's football team.

Five members of the WVIAC champion Mountain Lions have been named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-Super Region 1 Team.

Linebacker Joe Greenway and center Brandon Link earned 1st Team honors. Running back Brian Kennedy made the 3rd Team. Safety Aaron Martinez and cornerback Riyadh Richardson received Honorable Mention recognition.

The Mountain Lions won seven of their last nine games to claim their first conference title since 1990. CU qualified for the NCAA Super Region 1 playoffs, its first post-season berth since an appearance in the NAIA playoffs in 1992.

Under first-year head coach Garin Justice, Concord finished 7-4, 7-1 in the WVIAC. The conference named Justice its Coach of the Year.

The nod from Don Hansen's Football Gazette is the latest in a lengthy series of post-season honors for the Mountain Lions.

Greenway was the 2011 WVIAC Defensive Player of the Year – Concord's first POTY since Freddie Ford in 1994. The senior from Roanoke, VA also earned spots on the All-WVIAC 1st Team and the Daktronics All-Super Region 1 1st Team.

Greenway averaged 8.9 tackles per game and led CU with 12 tackles for loss. He grabbed four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Concord's defense topped the conference in interceptions (16) and points allowed (19.3/game), and helped lift the Mountain Lions to a league-best +15 turnover differential.

Link was also a Daktronics All-SR1 1st Team member, 1st Team All-WVIAC and an Honorable Mention on the Beyond Sports College Network's Division II All-American squad.
The senior from Cumberland, MD anchored a CU offensive line that paved the way for more than 373 yards per game.

Kennedy overcame an ankle injury that cost him one game and parts of two others to earn a spot on the All-WVIAC first team. He produced a performance for the ages in CU's matchup against West Virginia Wesleyan on November 12, rushing 35 times for 303 yards and a touchdown in a 48-40 victory that clinched the WVIAC championship. "BK" also rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown in CU's 17-14 playoff defeat at Kutztown University (PA) on November 19.

Martinez was a 2nd Team Daktronics All-Atlantic Region player and 1st Team All-WVIAC. The senior from Yorba Linda, CA topped Concord with six interceptions while averaging 7.5 tackles per game. He added eight passes defended, three pass break-ups, three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Richardson was 1st Team All-WVIAC following a season in which he emerged as one a top-flight shutdown corner. The sophomore from Duncan SC recorded five interceptions, 14 passes defended, 10 pass break-ups and five tackles for loss.