Jackets Head North to Face Notre Dame Saturday - West Virginia State University Athletics

West Virginia State University Athletics

   The Yellow Jackets get another shot at a team picked ahead of them in the coaches' pre-season poll when they travel to Notre Dame College Saturday for a noon kickoff.

   The Falcons (2-0) were picked to finish third and have exceeded expectations so far with a 35-33 upset win at home over the #16 Shepherd to open the season. Last week they went to Glenville State and beat the Pioneers 27-17.

    After falling a yard short of beating Charleston in their opener the Jackets, picked to finish fifth, took over in the second half this past Saturday and cruised to a 33-12 win over visiting UVa-Wise.

    This contest features a matchup of the top two running backs in the Mountain East Conference in Notre Dame freshman Jaleel McLaughlin and WVSU sophomore Calil Wilkins.

     McLaughlin is averaging a whopping 239 yards a game, best in the nation, while Wilkins is averaging 136.5.

     The Falcons feature the top run defense in the league and are giving up just 2.0 yards per carry. The Yellow Jackets counter with the third best rushing offense in the MEC averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

     Notre Dame won last season's meeting 47-35 mainly on the strength of a 433-118 yard advantage on the ground. The Falcons lead the series 4-1.

     Holding onto the ball will be of prime importance as the Falcons lead the league in turnover margin with seven takeaways in two games while WVSU is second with six.

     If WVSU starting quarterback Austin Hensley cannot go again this week after sustaining an ankle injury late against Charleston it will be grad school transfer Faustino Saucedo under center.

    Saucedo looked very steady last week completing 14-of-18 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown while not turning the ball over. 5351

    The Falcons have been rough on quarterbacks so far breaking up 25 passes, intercepting four, and sacking the passer five times.

    Notre Dames starts red-shirt freshman Chris Brimm who is 31-of-49 for 242 yards and four touchdowns. Brimm has also done well at protecting the ball with no turnovers.

    The Yellow Jackets have picked off four passes and five different players have sacked the opposing quarterback once each.

    While the Falcons rely almost solely on McLaughlin to carry the ball the Yellow Jackets counter with Wilkins and fellow sophomore Dylan Lucas.

    The former Buffalo High star ran for 120 yards on just 13 carries last week and is averaging 90 yards per game and 9.0 per carry, second in the conference to McLaughlin's 10.6.

     Junior defensive back Tevon Littleton leads the WVSU defense with 16 tackles followed closely by Moises Valcarcel and Joe Stoneman with 15 and 14.

    Zach Pate leads WVSU with 13 reception for 124 yards while Tyrell Henderson has caught 11 passes for 163 yards.

     Junior Marvell Ross, at 5-foot-9, is the Falcons' top receiver with 12 catches for 150 yards.

    Defensively Notre Dame has been especially tough inside the red zone. Opponents have driven inside teh 20-yard line eight times and come away with just one touchdown and two field goals.

     Sophomore linebacker Guam Lee paces the Falcons' defense with 16 tackles and two interceptions.

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