Yellow Jackets and Blue Knights on Collision Course - West Virginia State University Athletics

West Virginia State University Athletics

    The West Virginia State and Urbana football teams each need exactly the same thing when they meet at 1 p.m. Saturday in Urbana.

    A win.

   The squads come in with identical 4-5 records and two games left to play. Each will be favored to win its final game.

    That means a victory Saturday will most likely insure a winning season for the team coming out ahead.

    "Everything," WVSU Head Coach John Pennington said when asked what the game meant. "It's obviously the most important game of the year."

    The Yellow Jackets are looking to post back-to-back winning seasons with hopes of using that momentum to build for more success in the future.

     The Blue Knights have not finished with a winning record since 2013.

     Both were looking for better seasons and both are coming off losses.

     "No doubt both teams are wounded animals fighting for their lives," Pennington said. "They are going to give it everything they have."

     While it would seem that Urbana would have an advantage playing at home history has shown that is not true. The visiting team has won each of the last four meetings.

     Last season WVSU led 28-6 after three quarters only to lose 36-35 when the Blue Knights scored with 1:05 to play and hit a two-point conversion.

     It was Senior Day in Institute and will also be Saturday in Urbana for the Blue Knights.

     In 2016 the Yellow Jackets scored 20 points in the third quarter and won 37-24.

     The team's may have the same record but the outcomes against common opponents varies greatly.

      Both lost to Notre Dame, Fairmont State, and Shepherd, the top three teams in the standings.

      But Urbana beat Charleston and West Liberty, teams that beat WVSU. The Yellow Jackets have wins over UVa-Wise and Glenville State, both of which won against the Blue Knights.

     On paper Urbana appears to have a slight edge defensively allowing 26.8 points per game while WVSU is next at 29.7.

     But the Yellow Jackets are much more proficient at rolling up yardage and putting points on the board.

    WVSU is second in the conference in rushing average picking up 211.8 per game compared to just 140.7 for the Blue Knights.

     The difference is even greater through the air where the Jackets pick up 230.7 yards a contest and Urbana only 149.4.

     Those numbers lead to the Yellow Jackets putting up an average of 31.3 points a game while the Blue Knights are averaging only 19.2.

      Junior Isaiah Young leads the Urbana ground attack with an average of 68.7 yards per game.

WVSU counters with sophomore Calil Wilkins who is averaging 100.2 yards.

Grad student quarterback Faustino Saucedo continues to have a solid season for the Yellow Jackets completing 59.2 percent of his passes and throwing for 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Senior receiver Tyrell Henderson is fifth in the conference with 4.78 catches per game and fourth in yards per contest with 76.6.

      The Blue Knights do not have anyone among either the passing of receiving leaders.

     Seniors Joe Stoneman and Moises Valcarcel continue to lead the Yellow Jacket defense with 95 and 73 tackles respectively. Stoneman also has 4.5 sacks to lead the team.

      Junior linebacker Duray Hall paces Urbana on the defensive side of the ball with 80 tackles.

      Follow all of the action right here.

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