Football Looks to Rebound on the Road at Glenville State - West Virginia State University Athletics

West Virginia State University Athletics

    The WVSU football team will be looking to rebound from a couple of tough losses the last two weeks when the Yellow Jackets travel to Glenville State Saturday for a 1 p.m. match-up against the Pioneers.

     After winning 17-7 on the road at the University of Virginia at Wise on the opening weekend Glenville State has dropped three in a row, including two at home.

     On paper WVSU should be heavily favored.

      The Pioneers (1-2 in MEC, 1-3 overall) rank toward the bottom of the Mountain East Conference in pretty much every offensive category. They are next to last in scoring and rushing offense, and seventh out of 11 teams in passing offense. They are dead last in total offense.

      On the defensive side of the ball Glenville has not fared much better. The Pioneers are ninth in points allowed and eighth in both rushing and passing yards given up per game.

      The Yellow Jackets rank higher in every category except rush defense where WVSU is one spot lower. Even after getting just seven points on the board against Shepherd last week the Jackets are averaging 25.5 points a game while Glenville State averages just 18.8.

      In last week's home loss to Alderson-Broaddus the Pioneers were out-gained 540-256. Their biggest problem has been on the ground where Glenville State gained 161 yards in the opener and a total of only 163 in three games since.

     The Pioneers' top two ball carriers are Mario Pender, who averages 56.5 yards a game, and Thomas Boles, who averages 41.5.

     Sophomore Calil WIlkins leads WVSU with an average of 93.8 yards per outing followed by sophomore Dylan Lucas who is getting 63.8 yards per contest.

     Through the air the Jackets hold a per game advantage of 261.2 to 199.5.

     Glenville State sophomore quarterback Jaylen McNair has completed 55.1 percent of his passes for 795 yards while throwing for six touchdowns but also four intereceptions.

      WVSU will again be led by grad transfer Faustino Saucedo who has been putting up solid numbers since stepping in for injured starter Austin Hensley. Saucedo is connecting 65.6 percent of the time and has thrown for 785 yards including five touchdowns and just two interceptions.

      His favorite targets have been senior Tyrell Henderson with 26 catches for 366 yards, Zach Pate with 21 for 265, and A.J. Barrette with 15 for 258.

     There is another fact that Yellow Jacket faithful should keep keep in mind though.

     The Pioneers have come out ahead the last five times WVSU has traveled to Glenville.

     The last Yellow Jacket road win in the series came by a final of 23-21 in 2006.

     When playing in Institute the programs have split six games evenly since then. WVSU trails 7-to-13 in the series with five of those wins coming in Institute giving the Jackets a 5-5 home mark over the last 20 years against the Pioneers but just a 2-8 record in Glenville.

    WVSU won 34-28 last season.

     On the defensive side of the ball the Yellow Jackets are led by Joe Stoneman with 38 tackles and Moises Valcarcel with 35. Dustin Crouser has broken up eight passes, picked one off, and notched 16 tackles.

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