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West Virginia State University Athletics

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FB23 Felder
Photo: Todd Griffith
51
Winner West Virginia State WVSU 4-1 , 3-1
16
WV Wesleyan WVWC 0-4 , 0-3
Winner
West Virginia State WVSU
4-1 , 3-1
51
Final
16
WV Wesleyan WVWC
0-4 , 0-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WVSU West Virginia State 0 17 21 13 51
WVWC WV Wesleyan 7 9 0 0 16

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

State makes a second half statement to defeat Wesleyan convincingly

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – West Virginia State football (4-1, 4-0 MEC) came away with a 51-16 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan (0-4, 0-3 MEC) at Cebe Ross Field on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Bobcats 34-0 in the second half for a convincing win.

Wesleyan scored first with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. On third and goal, a designed quarterback draw opened a crease up the middle for a touchdown scamper, 7-0. 

The Yellow Jackets attempted a field goal near the end of the first quarter, but were handed a first down after the Bobcats sent too many men onto the field. State was able to make the most out of the penalty by finishing the drive with Donovan Riddick lunging over the goal line from a short yardage situation, 7-7. The score was made on the first play of the second quarter.

Wesleyan converted a 37-yard field goal with around 11 minutes to go in the second quarter to regain the lead, 10-7.

Brennen Schmitt was successful on a 31-yard field goal attempt to tie the score at 10-apiece with 6:34 left in the first half.

After a series of failed drives from both teams, the Bobcats were able to set up a 51-yard field goal attempt that sailed through the uprights with less than a minute on the first half clock, 13-10.

A deep pass from Riddick to Nolan Johnson moved the Yellow Jackets across the 50 yard line on the first play of the ensuing drive. The next play was a screen pass to Joel Felder who found some open space and ran 41 yards to the house, 17-13.

A long kick return then set up one more field goal attempt for Wesleyan before the end of the first half. The Bobcats' kicker was able to convert again on a 47-yarder this time, 17-16.

The second half started with Justin Pessoa returning the kickoff to Wesleyan's five yard line. Felder broke the plane a play later with a four-yard rush, 24-16.

The Yellow Jackets scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter without a reply from the Bobcats. Riddick found Amare Ary wide open for a mid-range touchdown strike before Felder dashed 35 yards for another score, 38-16.

State increased its lead to 28 points, 44-16, towards the beginning of the fourth quarter. On fourth and goal, Joe Jones took the snap out of the Wildcat formation and punched the ball into the end zone. The point after try missed the mark.

The Yellow Jackets added one more touchdown about halfway through the final quarter. Backup quarterback Caleb Jantuah tossed an absolute dime to Nolan Johnson from around 30 yards out. Johnson caught the pass in stride with five yards between him and the back of the end zone, 51-16. 

The WVSU defense completed its second half shutout by not allowing Wesleyan to score for the remainder of the contest.

The Yellow Jackets will travel to Notre Dame College on Saturday, Oct. 7 for a noon game next.
 
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