CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University football team was defeated by Charleston, 39-10, at University of Charleston Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

WVSU wraps up its spring 2021 football season with a 2-2 record in the Mountain East Conference after the loss. Meanwhile, UC finishes its regular season with a 3-0 record in the MEC following the win.

Senior linebacker Dustin Crouser recorded a game-high 12 tackles. He had six solo tackles and six assisted tackles. Junior defensive back Ibrahim Sesay was not far behind with 11 total tackles, including seven solo tackles.

The first quarter was a defensive battle between the two teams. The deadlock was broken when Charleston started a drive near midfield with 7:21 remaining in the opening quarter. A 45-yard pass on the first play of the drive put the Golden Eagles in prime position to score. A 12-yard rush pushed the pigskin over the goal line, 6-0. The point after attempt failed.

A shanked punt by UC gave the Yellow Jackets possession at Charleston's 31-yard line towards the start of the second quarter. Kicker Martin Ahlstroem ended up with a 42-yard field attempt on the drive which he booted through the uprights, 6-3.

On the next possession, the Golden Eagles put together a 14-play, 73-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown, 13-3. UC scored another touchdown before the end of the first half to leave West Virginia State with a 17-point deficit at the break, 20-3.

Charleston increased its lead with a touchdown on the first drive of the second half, 26-3. The extra point was not converted.

The Yellow Jackets were able to get into the endzone near the midway point of the third quarter. Linebacker Noble Zuschlag forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive lineman Nathaniel Parrish at the UC 15-yard line. Quarterback Donovan Riddick finished off the short drive with a three-yard scamper to paydirt, 26-10.

The Golden Eagles tacked on another touchdown to their lead before the end of the third quarter, 32-10. They missed a third PAT after the score.

A 14-play, 80-yard drive that lasted nearly nine minutes and resulted in seven points for Charleston left little time for WVSU to respond in the fourth quarter. The game ended with UC on top, 39-10.

West Virginia State will be looking forward to the fall 2021 season next.