The West Virginia State University football team fell to Concord on the road Saturday afternoon, 36-3 in the Mountain East Conference opener for both squads.

"They're a good football team," WVSU Head Coach Jon Anderson said. "They are going to finish very high in the conference."

The final score is somewhat deceptive as the Yellow Jacket defense made a strong showing in many areas.

"It was good," Anderson said. "But we still gave up a couple of big plays."

Those amounted to an 86-yard touchdown through the air and a 40-yard score off a double-pass trick play.

Still, the WVSU defensive effort forced Concord quarterback Brian Novak to throw four interceptions with William Merritt, Dwight Blankenship, Romell Haley and Justin Carr all picking off passes.

WVSU also forced a fumble that stalled a Concord drive deep in the red zone with Merritt picking up the loose ball for the Yellow Jackets.

"If we continue to do that we will put ourselves in position to win games," Anderson said of the five turnovers the Jackets forced.

The Yellow Jackets also shut down the Concord running game holding the Mountain Lions to just 74 yards rushing, something the Jackets stress each week.

"Our goal every week is to stop the run," Anderson said. "I felt we did that most of the game."

The WVSU pass rush got to Novak twice with Blankenship and Wenly Beliard each recording a sack.

Merritt, a sophomore, finished the game as the leading tackler as he recorded 13 tackles on the afternoon.

"Will is a dynamic player," Anderson said. "He does the right things and works hard, he has the ability to be a very good player in the conference."

Special teams' play was another bright spot for WVSU as the defense blocked an extra point and punter Cory Broughton got off a 55 yard kick and pinned the Mountain Lions deep in their own territory when another effort was downed inside the 20.

"I think it improved," Anderson said of the special teams' play. "We still have a few things to fix and I think that is part of the process."

Offensively senior quarterback Tyler Seals finished 17-of-28 passing for 128 yards. Senior LeFloyd Phillips led the ground game for the second straight week carrying the ball 22 times for 35 yards.

"We're on the right track," Anderson said. "We just have to continue to mature as a team and improve each week."

West Virginia State will be play its home opener next week when the Yellow Jackets play host to the Hilltoppers from West Liberty at 1 p.m. at Lakin Field.