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West Virginia State University Athletics

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FB23 Jones-Lomax
Photo: Todd Griffith
22
West Virginia St. WVS 4-5 , 4-4
29
Winner Wheeling WHL 5-4 , 4-4
West Virginia St. WVS
4-5 , 4-4
22
Final
29
Wheeling WHL
5-4 , 4-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WVS West Virginia St. 7 7 0 8 22
WHL Wheeling 0 15 14 0 29

Game Recap: Football | | James Garcia, Sports Information Director

State's fourth quarter comeback is stopped short by Wheeling

WHEELING, W.Va. – West Virginia State football (4-5, 4-4 MEC) suffered a defeat to Wheeling (5-4, 4-4 MEC) by a final score of 29-22 on Saturday afternoon at Bishop Schmitt Field. The Yellow Jackets went up by two scores early on before falling behind at halftime. They launched a comeback effort in the fourth quarter, but it came up a score short.

Graduate student Jalen Jones made a career-high 12 tackles in the game, including seven solo tackles and a sack. Meanwhile, junior Joel Felder played a part in all three touchdowns and a successful two-point conversion.

State elected to receive the opening kickoff and picked up seven points on the first possession of the game. Quarterback Donovan Riddick connected with wideout Javion Monroe on third and eight for a 41-yard gain down to Wheeling's 25 yard line.Riddick then completed another pass to running back Joel Felder for a 16-yard touchdown, 7-0.

An interception by defensive back Nick Blake at the beginning of the second quarter set up State's next scoring drive. The Yellow Jackets took over at Wheeling's 19 yard line and scored six plays later. Felder took a direct snap and pulled off a jump pass to tight end Nate Baker to get into the end zone from two yards out, 14-0.

The Cardinals responded on the following drive by marching 65 yards down the field for a touchdown. They went 3-for-3 on third downs, including the one-yard rush over the goal line, 14-7.

After three consecutive drives ended with punts, the Cardinals regained possession at their own 43 yard line with 2:29 remaining in the first half. Five plays later, they found a receiver wide open for a 39-yard touchdown strike. The holder on the extra point then carried the snap into the end zone for a two-point conversion, 15-14. Wheeling carried the one-point advantage into halftime with only 49 seconds left on the clock after the score.

The Cardinals increased their lead to 29-14 in the third quarter with scoring drives of 67 and 74 yards. State attempted a 42-yard field goal midway through the third stanza but missed.

The Yellow Jackets finished off a drive that started near the end of the third quarter towards the beginning of the fourth quarter. Felder capped the 13-play, 75-yard drive by punching the ball into the end zone from two yards out. He was then on the receiving end of the successful two-point conversion that made it a one-score game, 29-22.

The WVSU defense forced a three-and-out before Riddick had one of his passes intercepted. Wheeling then took the clock down to 6:47 before missing a 34-yard field goal attempt.

Hope of a comeback returned to State as Riddick scrambled up the middle for a 33-yard gain on third-and-13 to place the ball at midfield. Unfortunately, Riddick suffered an injury at the end of the play that retired him for the rest of the contest.

A roughing the passer penalty on fourth down later in the same drive kept hope alive for WVSU. Backup quarterback Caleb Jantuah was able to lead the Yellow Jackets down to Wheeling's 23 yard line before turning the ball over on downs after a pass incompletion.

Wheeling got the ball back with 1:30 left in the game. The Cardinals fumbled the ball on first down. State's Avery Scott recovered the fumble only to fumble the ball right back to Wheeling. The Cardinals were then able to knee the ball until the clock expired.

The Yellow Jackets outgained Wheeling, 355-324. They also out possessed the Cardinals by nearly seven minutes.

West Virginia State will host rivals Charleston on Saturday, Nov. 11 to conclude the 2023 season. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.   
 
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