Box Score
By RICH STEVENS
for www.wvsuyellowjackets.com

West Virginia State University wide receiver Quinton Gray cured what ailed the Yellow Jackets on
Saturday afternoon at Dickerson Stadium at Lakin Field.
 
In a meeting during which the scoreboard was turning like a gas station pump, State scored its most
points since October 3, 2015 in a 52-45 Mountain East Conference victory over Concord.
 
The speedy junior caught a 38-yard scoring strike to account for State's first points and then threw a
33-yard strike to Dionta Brown for the second WVSU touchdown.
 
The last time the Yellow Jackets scored at least 50 points was at UVa-Wise last season in a 52-45 win. In 2015, State had three games with at least 50 points, including a season-opening 59-34 victory at Fairmont State.
 
The 97 combined points are five fewer than the MEC record of 102 that came in a Glenville State 54-48 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan last season. State had scored only 17 points combined in its last three meetings with Concord.
 
Besides throwing his first college touchdown pass, he was 1-1 for two yards last season, Gray's part in State's first victory over the MountainLions (2-8) since 2008 included 11 receptions for 211 yards and three touchdowns, giving him six scores this season,and two carries for 27 yards. Gray has  68 catches this season for 907 yards.
 
"He's a slot receiver who does so many things for us," said WVSU Head Coach Jon Anderson, whose team will finish the season at 1 p.m. Saturday at West Liberty. "He's a tremendous athlete and tremendous student. This is his third season and he's super consistent."
 
The shootout that ended a seven-game losing streak for State (2-8) featured four ties and six lead
changes. The last tie was broken with 6:11 left in the third when State quarterback Matt Kinnick hit Kyle Garretson with a 9-yard scoring pass.
 
The teams traded possessions when Concord forced State to punt with 11.7 seconds remaining in the
quarter. State punter Kole Patterson hit a long spiral that Chaudlier Shepherd fair caught at his team's 3-yard line. Concord fumbled on the next play and Dionta Brown scored two plays later to give State a two-touchdown lead.
 
Concord had another opportunity after forcing State into a fourth-and- 3 at the Mountain Lions' 25.
State took a shot to the end zone but defensive back Akil Bordelon inexplicably intercepted the ball at the 1, forcing the visitors to travel 99 yards to score.
 
The Mountain Lions couldn't cut the lead to seven until an 18-yard pass from quarterback Nick Novak to Davon McGill with 1:05 left. Providing a fitting end to State's victory on Senior Day, Gray continued to prove his worth by cleanly fielding the ensuing onside kick to put an end to any Mountain Lion hopes.
 
The 5-foot- 11, 175-pound slot receiver continued his assault on defenses during his time at State,
entering next week's game with 156 career receptions for 2,049 yards and nine
touchdowns in 30 games.
 
"Our whole motivation since the beginning of the week is how we were going to reinvent the season
with two games left," Gray said. "Today being Senior Day, I told the seniors I'll give them everything I have."
 
Gray, whose durability has never been questioned, said he "trains too hard to be average."
 
The Yellow Jackets (2-8) also received big efforts from quarterback Matt Kinnick (22-of- 33 for 289 yards and five touchdowns) and Brown (22 carries, 136 yards).
 
WVSU finished with 279 yards rushing to bolster a running game that averaged only 95 yards entering Saturday's contest. The Yellow Jackets scored almost 30 more points than their season average (22.2) and outproduced their season average in passing yards (283.2) by almost 39.
 
Concord quarterback Brian Novak kept the Mountain Lions in the game by completing 22-of- 39 passes for 403 yards and five scores. Each team gave up 601 yards, which did some damage to their averages. State was surrendering 457.8 yards and Concord 385.6.
 
Concord receivers Jermeil Douse and McGill combined for 15 receptions, 326 yards and five
touchdowns, but it wasn't enough against State.
 
The Mountain Lions (2-8, 2-8 MEC), who reached the NCAA Division II semifinals just two years ago, are 6-13 since losing offensive line coach John Pennington (now State's offensive coordinator) in 2015 and head coach Garin Justice, who accepted a position as offensive line coach at Florida Atlantic earlier this year.
 
All that mattered when the clock expired was WVSU holding on for the victory, which was followed by Anderson receiving a Gatorade bath on Senior Day.
 
"I'm just super happy for this football team and these kids," Anderson said. "They stayed the course,
continued to be coached and continued to work hard. That's not easy when you're not being rewarded with victories."

Hosea Murphy had 10 tackles, Dennis Gardeck nine and Kaylan Striggles recovered two fumbles to lead the WVSU defense.