Correction: September 29, 2019
The fake punt play on fourth down was a result of a check-down implemented by Special Teams Coordinator Paul Smith. If the punt return team lines up in a certain way, they check to that play.

ATHENS, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University football team traveled to Concord for a Mountain East Conference (MEC) matchup on Saturday afternoon and pulled out a 33-23 victory. The Yellow Jackets gave up the lead early in the fourth quarter, but were able to score two unanswered touchdowns in order to seal their third win of the season.

Head Coach John Pennington had this to say postgame:

"I love coaching this football team. We don't always play perfect football, but we continue to believe in each other and play together as a team. We know that every game is going to come down to the fourth quarter, so we prepare and make adjustments to be ready for those final moments."

WVSU jumps to 3-1 overall, 3-0 in the MEC with the win. Meanwhile, CU falls to 0-4 on the year and 0-4 in league-play with the loss.

The Yellow Jackets offense was led by freshman quarterback Donovan Riddick and senior wideout Isiah Scott. Riddick rushed for a 26-yard touchdown and threw for another. Scott hauled in two touchdown passes from senior quarterback Austin Hensley while adding 72-yards receiving to his season totals.

The West Virginia State defense forced four turnovers by the end of the contest. Defensive backs Kyle Alexander, Jeffery Parker, and Christian Thompson each recorded an interception and linebacker Adam Suruy recovered a fumble. Junior Linebacker Dustin Crouser had another dominant performance with a game-high 12 tackles. Freshman defensive lineman Cody Stanley carried his momentum over from last week with eight tackles, including a tackle for a nine-yard loss. Senior defensive back Tevon Littleton was a force to be reckoned with. He registered six solo tackles, one tackle-for-loss on a critical third down and one situation, and one pass breakup.

On special teams, sophomore wide receiver Tyrone Lyte returned three kicks for 118-yards (39.3 yards per return), including a 66-yard return to start the second half. Junior kicker Martin Ahlstroem also had a strong outing. He converted both of his field goal attempts, including a long field goal of 44-yards.

Concord received the kickoff to start the first half and quickly drove down the field. The WVSU defense came up with a stop in the redzone to hold the Mountain Lions to a field goal on the opening drive. CU's offense got the ball back after West Virginia State's first drive of the game stalled out.  Alexander then picked off the opposing quarterback to set up a 44-yard field goal from Ahlstroem that tied the contest at 3-3.

After a 52-minute lightning delay, the Yellow Jackets opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 49-yard touchdown grab by Scott. The score came on the heels of a fumble recovery by Suruy. Following a missed PAT, WVSU led 9-3 with 13:26 remaining in the first half.

The WVSU defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession. Riddick then took advantage of the barely rested defense and found a seam on third and one to rush 26-yards for the score. The touchdown rush by Riddick put WVSU up 16-3 with 8:35 left in the second quarter.

Ahlstroem kicked a 30-yard field goal with time expiring in the first half to put the scoreline at 19-6 in favor of the Yellow Jackets going into halftime. Parker made the interception and 23-yard return with less than 30-seconds left on the clock to set up the field goal attempt.

Another long delay due to lightning prevented the Yellow Jackets from keeping their momentum going into the second half. The Mountain Lions turned the tide in the third quarter and, with a touchdown scored early in the fourth quarter, went up 23-19.

On the very next drive, the Yellow Jackets responded with a touchdown of their own via Scott snatching a pass over the head of a Concord defender. The touchdown reception made with just over 11-minutes remaining in the game regained the lead for WVSU, 26-23.

Following a stalled drive and short punt by CU, West Virginia State started what would become the game-defining drive with 8:45 showing on the scoreboard. After three failed plays, the Yellow Jackets were faced with a fourth-and-eight situation on their own 32-yard line. They lined up for a punt in which running back Dant'e Jones received the direct snap and rushed for a first down. Later on that same drive, Riddick connected with slot receiver Zach Pate in the flats for a 21-yard touchdown score to put the game out-of-reach, 33-23, with just over five-minutes left in the contest.

Thompson's interception on the next possession ensured that the Mountain Lions would not score again and allowed WVSU to run the clock down to zero.

The four turnovers by West Virginia State proved to be crucial in the win. The Yellow Jackets picked up 12 points off the first three turnovers and were able to run the clock out as the result of the last one.

The Yellow Jackets return to Lakin Field at Dickerson Stadium for Homecoming against West Liberty on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.