*West Liberty (3-2, 2-0)
at
Fairmont State (3-2, 1-2)
Thursday, October 2---7:00 p.m.
Fairmont, West Virginia
Duvall-Rosier Field (5000, artificial turf)
Webcast: www.fightingfalcons.com or www.hilltoppersports.com*
WEST LIBERTY "Hilltoppers"
Head Coach: Roger Waialae (24-14, 4th season)
Formations: Offense: Multiple I; Defense: Multiple "4"
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Branden Ore (101 for 664 yds, 7 TD)
Passing: Zach Amedro (65-101-6, 1011 yds, 7 TD)
Receptions: Eddie Hills (23 for 360 yds, 5 TD)
Tackles: Nick Harding (57 TT, 9 TFL)
Schedule/Results: 8/30 Edinboro L, 10-35; 9/6 at Walsh W, 24-10; 9/13 at
Concord W, 38-20; 9/20 Mars Hill L, 35-38; 9/27 WV Wesleyan W, 46-0; 10/2 at
Fairmont State; 10/11 Glenville State; 10/18 at WV State; 10/25 Shepherd;
11/1 Charleston; 11/8 at Seton Hill.
FAIRMONT STATE "Falcons"
Head Coach: Mike Lopez (9-7, 2nd season)
Formations: Offense: Multiple Spread; Defense: 3-3 Stack
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Doug Brazill (73 for 306 yds, 0 TD)
Passing: Vick Bradford (39-80-3, 611 yds, 12 TD)
Receptions: Perry Baker (21 for 353 yds, 7 TD)
Tackles: Nate Black (51 TT, 9 TFL)
Schedule/Results: 8/28 at Clarion W, 23-20; 9/6 Lake Erie W, 34-21; 9/13 WV
State L, 20-21; 9/20 at Shepherd W, 46-42; 9/25 at Glenville State L, 13-23;
10/2 West Liberty; 10/11 at Charleston; 10/18 at St. Joseph's (IN); 10/25 WV
Wesleyan; 11/1 Seton Hill; 11/8 at Concord.
THE SERIES:
Fairmont State leads 37-33-5.
Last Season's Meeting: West Liberty State (5-1, 3-0) held onto first place
in the WVIAC following a 20-0 blanking of Fairmont State (2-4, 0-4)...Darren
Banks pushed his NCAA-leading interception total to 10 as he snared three of
the Toppers' five picks on the afternoon...Zach Amedro completed 20 of 39
passes for 240 yards to lead the West Liberty offense...Almonzo Banks made
eight receptions for 84 yards...Eddie Hills had 76 rush yards and a
touchdown...Fairmont State, which trailed 10-0 at halftime, got 68 rush
yards from freshman Doug Brazill...The Falcons received a valiant effort
from a defense that was forced to defend eight WLSC drives that began in FSU
territory...Matt Vujaklya paced the Falcon defense with seven tackles, two
pass breakups, and an interception...West Liberty State owned a 364-185 edge
in total offense, including a 240-72 advantage through the air...Fairmont
State passers only completed 6 of 16 passes and were intercepted five
times...The shutout was the Toppers' first in league play since a 48-0 win
over Concord in October, 2002.
The Last Ten Meetings: 2007: WL 20-0; 2006: WL 27-20; 2005: WL 24-3; 2004:
FSU 51-9; 2003: FSU 26-16; 2002: WL 22-14; 2001: FSU 45-27; 2000: FSU 34-0;
1999: FSU 29-19; 1998: FSU 27-15.
GAME NOTES:
Fairmont State looks to hand West Liberty their first league loss when the
Hilltoppers head to Duvall-Rosier Field for a Thursday showdown...A victory
would give West Liberty their first four-game win streak in the series since
the 1940's...WLSC DB Darren Banks established the WVIAC career interception
record with his 33rd pick during last week's 46-0 blanking of West Virginia
Wesleyan...His five interceptions this season lead Division II...RB Branden
Ore is eighth nationally in rushing at 132.8 yards per game...Linebackers
Nick Harding (10th) and Clay Beeler (14th) rank among the national leaders
in tackles...QB Zach Amedro has thrown for 678 yards and five touchdowns in
the past two weeks...WLSC has scored during all 15 (11 TD, 4 FG) of their
trips into the red zone this season...A pair of the strongest kickers in
D-II will be on display...Fairmont State's Alex Ashley (51, 51) and West
Liberty's Billy Hager (52) have combined for three of the seven 50-yard plus
field goals in the division during the 2008 season...FSU quarterback Vick
Bradford was limited to a season-low 48 yards passing in the loss to
Glenville State last week, but has thrown a league-high 12 touchdown passes
in only four games this season...The Falcon defense has forced a WVIAC-best
15 turnovers...FSU leads the WVIAC with a plus-six turnover margin...The
Falcon offensive line has only permitted three sacks this season...WR Perry
Baker tops the league with seven touchdown receptions with five of those
coming in the 46-42 win over Shepherd two weeks ago...LB Nate Black is
fourth in the WVIAC with 10.2 tackles per game...FSU has dropped four of
their past five league contests at home.
West Liberty *By The Numbers* Fairmont State 30.6 (39th) Scoring
Offense 27.2
(58th) 20.6 (46th) Scoring Defense 25.4 (79th) 452.8 (15th) Total
Offense 300.8
(99th) 318.2 (56th) Total Defense 330.2 (65th) -0.40 (88th) Turnover
Margin +1.20 (17th) 32.5 (74th) Net Punting 29.7 (122nd) *---rank
indicates national standing among 148 Division II football squads.
*Glenville State (3-2, 2-1)
at
Lake Erie (0-5)
Saturday, October 4---1:00 p.m.
Painesville, Ohio
Jack Britt Memorial Stadium
Webcast: www.gscpioneers.com
*
GLENVILLE STATE "Pioneers"
Head Coach: Alan Fiddler (28-21, 5th season)
Formations: Offense: Spread; Defense: 4-3
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Jerry Seymour (107 for 925 yds, 8 TD)
Passing: James McCants (54-117-2, 804 yds, 4 TD)
Receptions: Antwan Stewart (14 for 320 yds)/Brian Miles (14 for 188 yds)
Tackles: Kaleb Lawrence (42 TT, 8 TFL)
Schedule/Results: 8/28 at Lock Haven W, 30-0; 9/6 at Liberty L, 27-44; 9/13
at Shepherd W, 21-14; 9/20 Seton Hill L, 29-34; 9/25 Fairmont State W,
23-13; 10/4 Lake Erie; 10/11 at West Liberty; 10/18 at Concord; 10/25 WV
State; 11/1 at WV Wesleyan; 11/8 Charleston.
LAKE ERIE "Storm"
Head Coach: Mark McNellie (0-5, 1st season)
Formations: Offense: Spread; Defense: 4-3
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Tony Howard (64 for 330 yds, 5 TD)
Passing: Sean Bedevelsky (76-149-10, 935 yds, 5 TD)
Receptions: Brandon James (31 for 301 yds, 2 TD)
Tackles: Bill Finucan (39 TT, 10 TFL)
Schedule/Results: 8/28 Gannon L, 22-24; 9/6 at Fairmont State L, 21-34; 9/13
at California (PA) L, 0-54; 9/20 St. Joseph's (IN) L, 35-58; 9/27 Adrian L,
17-37; 10/4 Glenville State; 10/11 Apprentice School; 10/18 at Salisbury;
10/25 at Charleston; 11/1 at Kentucky Wesleyan; 11/8 Wesley.
THE SERIES:
The schools have never met.
GAME NOTES:
Glenville State steps out of league play to battle first-year program Lake
Erie...The Pioneers moved to 3-2 with last week's 23-13 win over rival
Fairmont State, while Lake Erie fell to 0-5 following a 37-17 setback to
Adrian (MI)...Lake Erie is a Division II independent...The Storm dropped a
34-21 decision to Fairmont State earlier this season and will travel to
Charleston later this month...GSC running back Jerry Seymour leads Division
II with 185.0 rush yards per game...The senior has gone over the 200-yard
mark in three straight contests and owns three of the top seven rushing
performances in Division II this season...Seymour was named the
D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week following his 220-yard
output versus Fairmont State...The Pioneers rank ninth nationally in rushing
offense (230.8 ypg)...GSC is second in the WVIAC with a plus-four turnover
margin...The Pioneer defense has allowed 64.0 yards per game on the ground
in their three wins, but has been hammered for 225.0 yards per game during a
pair of losses...LB Kaleb Lawrence is fifth in the league with 42
tackles...Lake Erie is allowing 6.0 yards per rush and 251.6 rush yards per
game...The Storm has been outscored 83-10 during second quarters...LEC
rolled up 557 yards of total offense two weeks ago during their loss to St.
Joseph's (IN)...QB Sean Bedevelsky has thrown for 513 yards during the past
two weeks...The Storm's roster includes no seniors, three juniors, and only
five sophomores.
Glenville State *By The Numbers* Lake Erie 26.0 (67th) Scoring Offense
19.0 21.0 (48th) Scoring Defense 41.4 391.6 (45th) Total Offense 340.4
297.4
(37th) Total Defense 445.6 +0.80 (30th) Turnover Margin -3.4 29.9
(118th) Net
Punting 29.0 *---rank indicates national standing among 148 Division II
football squads.
*Seton Hill (5-0, 2-0)
at
West Virginia Wesleyan (1-4, 1-2)
Saturday, October 4---1:00 p.m.
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Cebe Ross Field (3000, natural turf)
Webcast: www.msasportsnetwork.com
*
SETON HILL "Griffins"
Head Coach: Joel Dolinski (5-0, 1st season)
Formations: Offense: Pro; Defense: 4-3
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Antwarn Jones (124 for 701 yds, 7 TD)
Passing: David Wess (74-112-5, 812 yds, 7 TD)
Receptions: Sammy Tranks (18 for 218 yds, 3 TD)
Tackles: Mark Hartz (41 TT)
Schedule/Results: 8/30 Slippery Rock W, 27-20; 9/6 at Geneva W, 27-18; 9/13
at Walsh W, 23-21; 9/20 at Glenville State W, 34-29; 9/27 Shepherd W, 24-14;
10/4 at WV Wesleyan; 10/11 WV State; 10/18 at Charleston; 10/25 Concord;
11/1 at Fairmont State; 11/8 West Liberty.
WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN "Bobcats"
Head Coach: Bill Struble (113-145, 26th season)
Formations: Offense: Multiple Pro; Defense: 3-4
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Reggie Taylor (111 for 524 yds, 2 TD)
Passing: Zane Zebrasky (23-71-3, 407 yds, 2 TD)
Receiving Yards: Bryan Overton (9 for 246 yds, 2 TD)
Tackles: Tyler Kraus (36 TT)
Schedule/Results: 8/30 Southern Connecticut State L, 21-26; 9/6 at Virginia
Union L, 14-35; 9/13 Charleston L, 17-24; 9/20 Concord W, 31-26; 9/27 at
West Liberty L, 0-46; 10/4 Seton Hill; 10/11 UNC Pembroke; 10/18 at
Shepherd; 10/25 at Fairmont State; 11/1 Glenville State; 11/8 at WV State.
THE SERIES:
Seton Hill leads 1-0.
Last Season's Meeting: Seton Hill (2-3, 2-1) gained 355 rushing yards and a
school record 506 yards of total offense in a 43-14 whipping of West
Virginia Wesleyan (2-4, 1-3)...Antwarn Jones established a new school mark
for individual rushing yards for the second time in three games with 253
yards on 26 carries...The Griffins fashioned a 27-0 lead midway through the
second quarter...Samuel Tranks recorded touchdowns on a 61-yard punt return
and a 9-yard pass from Matt Dowdell to help key the big SHU lead...Dowdell
completed 11 of 24 passes for 151 yards and three scores...Derek Thompson
grabbed a pair of the touchdown passes for SHU...Two Harry Lorusso to Alex
Puente touchdown passes allowed Wesleyan to avoid the shutout...Puente
enjoyed game honors with six catches for 96 yards.
Series History: 2007: SHU 43-14.
GAME NOTES:
Seton Hill looks to run their remarkable start to 6-0 when the Griffins head
to West Virginia Wesleyan...The Griffins knocked off Shepherd 24-14 last
week, while Wesleyan fell 46-0 at West Liberty...Wesleyan is off to a 1-4
start, but the Bobcats' schedule is currently ranked as the 11th toughest in
Division II by the NCAA...SHU RB Antwarn Jones is third nationally in
rushing with 141.4 yards per game...Wesleyan's Reggie Taylor is also over
the 100-yard mark with 104.8 rush yards per game to stand fifth in the
WVIAC...The Griffins are second nationally in punt returns with a 22.1 yard
per return mark...WR/KR Sammy Tranks owns touchdowns as a kick returner and
receiver and leads the country with a 38.5 yard per punt return
average...Seton Hill QB David Wess, a Cincinnati transfer, is completing a
league-high 66.1% of his passes...A victory would allow SHU to equal their
combined win total of six during the program's first three seasons
(2005-07)...The Griffins are converting a league-high 46.4% of their third
down opportunities...Wesleyan senior WR Bryan Overton remains a big play
threat at over 27 yards per catch on his nine receptions...WVWC quarterbacks
have been sacked 15 times and limited to a 34% accuracy rate...Wesleyan
assistant coach Luke Struble is a former staff member at Seton Hill.
Seton Hill *By The Numbers* WV Wesleyan 27.0 (59th) Scoring Offense 16.6
(120th) 20.4 (43rd) Scoring Defense 31.4 (111th) 380.6 (50th) Total
Offense 299.4 (100th) 325.0 (60th) Total Defense 442.6 (137th) -0.40
(88th) Turnover Margin -1.40 (133rd) 30.9 (105th) Net Punting 32.6
(72nd) *---rank
indicates national standing among 148 Division II football squads.
*Shepherd (2-3, 0-3)
at
Charleston (3-2, 2-1)
Saturday, October 4---1:00 p.m.
Charleston, West Virginia
UC Stadium/Laidley Field (22500, artificial turf)
Webcast: www.ucwv.edu or www.cumountainlions.com*
SHEPHERD "Rams"
Head Coach: Monte Cater (152-74-1, 22nd season at SU; 183-97-2 overall, 28th
season)
Formations: Offense: Multiple I; Defense: 4-4
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Jimmy Sutch (92 for 388 yds, 4 TD)
Passing: Tyler Lazear (80-134-3, 962 yds, 6 TD)
Receptions: Nasser Muhmmad (19 for 225 yds, 1 TD)
Tackles: Jacquez Taylor (53 TT, 11 TFL)
Schedule/Results: 8/30 at Shippensburg W, 20-16; 9/6 Bowie State W, 14-0;
9/13 Glenville State L, 14-21; 9/20 Fairmont State L, 42-46; 9/27 at Seton
Hill L, 14-24; 10/4 at Charleston; 10/11 Concord; 10/18 WV Wesleyan; 10/25
at West Liberty; 11/1 at WV State.
CHARLESTON "Golden Eagles"
Head Coach: Tony DeMeo (24-14 at UC, 4th season; 100-93-2, 20th season NCAA;
117-99-2 overall)
Formations: Offense: Triple Gun; Defense: Multiple
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Vince Brown (27 for 225 yds, 2 TD)
Passing: DaRante Hunter (40-67-3, 626 yds, 3 TD)
Receptions: Terrance Spencer (16 for 188 yds, 0 TD)
Tackles: Xavier Drakeford (38 TT)
Schedule/Results: 8/28 at Tusculum L, 0-40; 9/6 St. Augustine's W, 34-17;
9/13 at WV Wesleyan W, 24-17; 9/20 WV State L, 21-24; 9/27 at Concord W,
42-17; 10/4 Shepherd; 10/11 Fairmont State; 10/18 Seton Hill; 10/25 Lake
Erie; 11/1 at West Liberty; 11/8 at Glenville State.
THE SERIES:
Shepherd leads 3-2.
Last Season's Meeting: Shepherd (5-1, 3-1) used a bruising ground game and
plenty of big plays to blow past Charleston (5-2, 3-1) 49-13 in a WVIAC
showdown...The Rams enjoyed a 517-278 edge in total offense as they racked
up 290 rushing yards...Ram quarterback Tyler Lazear completed 11 of 14
passes for 218 yards and three scores to lead his squad...All-American
running back candidate Dervon Wallace gained 138 yards on 25 rush attempts.
Mark Springirth accounted for 95 receiving yards on only two
grabs...Charleston pulled with 14-13 with 3:44 remaining in the first half
on a 61-yard DeRante Hunter to Terrance Spencer touchdown pass...However,
Shepherd hit on a pair of long scoring plays in the waning moments of the
opening half to forge a 28-13 intermission advantage...Lazear connected on a
44-yard touchdown pass to Nikkolai Norrell at the 2:45 mark...Deante Steele
then added a crushing blow with a 68-yard punt return score with only 54
seconds left in the half...Spencer led his squad with a game-high 158
receiving yards on six catches.
Series History: 2007: SU 49-13; 2006: SU 17-0; 2005: SU 27-0; 1950: MHC
48-12; 1949: MHC 19-6.
NOTE: The University of Charleston was known as Morris Harvey College in the
1949 and 1950 meetings.
GAME NOTES:
Charleston looks to extend Shepherd's misery when the Rams head into the
Kanawha Valley...Charleston overcame a 10-7 halftime deficit last week as
they rushed for 439 yards in a 42-17 win at Concord...Shepherd dropped their
third straight league game for the first time since 1989 with a 24-14 loss
at Seton Hill...Charleston KR/RB Julian Johnson has scored six touchdowns on
only 24 touches this season...The sophomore is the lone WVIAC player to own
rushing, receiving, kick return, and punt return touchdowns in 2008...Eight
different UC players have rushed for more than 80 yards, but none have
gained more than Vince Brown's 225 yards...UC paces the WVIAC in rushing at
239.0 yards per game...Leading rushers Vince Brown and Jay Julian each
average over eight yards per carry...Defensive linemen Dominick Iacovone and
Chris Almonte combined for nine tackles for loss at Concord last week...The
Golden Eagle defense has a WVIAC-best 16 sacks...Shepherd's current
three-game losing skid is against teams with a combined 11-4 record...The
Rams have only been outscored by 19 points during the streak...SU
quarterback Tyler Lazear is throwing for 192.8 yards per game...Ram LB
Jacquez Taylor is tied for second in the conference with 53 stops...Shepherd
has allowed a league-worst 18 sacks...DB/KR Deante Steele is third in the
WVIAC with six passes defended.
Shepherd *By The Numbers* Charleston 20.8 (98th) Scoring Offense 24.2
(78th) 21.4 (52nd) Scoring Defense 23.0 (67th) 298.6 (101st) Total
Offense 377.4
(52nd) 315.0 (52nd) Total Defense 362.8 (91st) +0.60 (40th) Turnover
Margin -0.20 (81st) 28.4 (130th) Net Punting 32.3 (76th) *---rank
indicates national standing among 148 Division II football squads.
*Concord (0-5, 0-3)
at
#23/#24 West Virginia State (4-0, 2-0)
Saturday, October 4---1:30 p.m.
Institute, West Virginia
Lakin Field (5000, natural turf)
Webcast: www.wvsuyellowjackets.com or www.cumountainlions.com*
CONCORD "Mountain Lions"
Head Coach: Greg Quick (16-44, 6th season at CU; 48-107, 15th season
overall)
Formations: Offense: Multiple; Defense: 4-3
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Brian Kennedy (50 for 301 yds, 1 TD)
Passing: Thomas Frazier (65-132-5, 569 yds, 4 TD)
Receptions: Thomas Mayo (26 for 228 yds, 2 TD)
Tackles: Danny Stone (27 TT)
Schedule/Results: 8/28 Carson-Newman L, 14-77; 9/6 at Lenoir-Rhyne L, 10-28;
9/13 West Liberty L, 20-38; 9/20 at WV Wesleyan L, 26-31; 9/27 Charleston L,
17-42; 10/4 at WV State; 10/11 at Shepherd; 10/18 Glenville State; 10/25 at
Seton Hill; 11/1 at UNC Pembroke; 11/8 Fairmont State.
WEST VIRGINIA STATE "Yellow Jackets"
Head Coach: Earl Monroe (16-9, 3rd season)
Formations: Offense: 2-Back Set; Defense: 4-3
Stat Leaders:
Rushing: Brian Mitchell (73 for 498 yds, 5 TD)
Passing: Kevin O'Brien (63-98-4, 1049 yds, 10 TD)
Receptions: Jermain King (13 for 289 yds, 5 TD)
Tackles: Demichael Nesbitt (40 TT, 8 TFL)
Schedule/Results: 8/30 Lincoln (MO) W, 67-13; *9/6 vs. Central State (OH) W,
47-13; 9/13 at Fairmont State W, 21-20; 9/20 at Charleston W, 24-21; 10/4
Concord; 10/11 at Seton Hill; 10/18 West Liberty; 10/25 at Glenville State;
11/1 Shepherd; 11/8 WV Wesleyan.
*---at Chicago, IL (Soldier Field)
THE SERIES:
Concord leads 29-15.
Last Season's Meeting: Brian Mitchell rushed for a pair of touchdowns and
added a touchdown reception as West Virginia State (4-1, 2-1) slipped past
Concord (0-6, 0-4) 25-22...Mitchell rushed for 193 yards to lead the Jacket
attack...His fourth quarter touchdown rushes of 61 and 2 yards helped WVSU
erase a 14-12 deficit...Kevin O'Brien tossed two touchdown passes for the
Jackets...Concord freshman Thomas Frazier completed 19 of 37 passes for 181
yards and three scores, but was picked off twice...Orlando Bryant gained 93
yards on eight carries for the Mountain Lions on the ground...Nathan Tanner
had a game-high nine receptions for 62 yards...West Virginia State owned a
339-266 advantage in total offense, including a 208-85 edge on the ground.
The Last Ten Meetings: 2007: WVSU 25-22; 2006: WVSU 22-13; 2005: CU 24-13;
2004: CU 27-8; 2003: WVSU 21-10; 2002: CU 44-14; 2001: WVSU 51-28; 2000:
WVSU 13-3; 1999: WVSU 42-14; 1998: CU 25-21.
GAME NOTES:
Concord will be the guest as West Virginia State celebrates their first
Homecoming as a nationally ranked Division II squad...The 4-0 Jackets are
ranked #23 by D2Football.com and #24 by the American Football Coaches
Association...The Jackets were open last week, while Concord dropped a 42-17
decision to Charleston...State is fourth nationally in pass defense,
allowing a scant 109.3 yards per game through the air...WVSU is the lone
WVIAC team ranked among the national top twenty in total offense and
defense...The Jacket attack is 20th at 442.5 ypg, while the WVSU stop troops
give up a league-low 240.8 ypg to stand 12th in Division II...RB Brian
Mitchell is 13th nationally with 124.5 rush yards per game...QB Kevin
O'Brien ranks tenth in D-II with a 179.7 passing efficiency rating...DL
William Jackson is among the WVIAC leaders with nine tackles for loss and
five sacks...WR Jermain King's 72.2 receiving yards per contest tops the
WVIAC...Concord has led at the break during three of the past four weeks
(L-R, WVWC, UC), but has been outscored 63-14 in the third quarter this
season...The Mountain Lions have allowed 264 yards or more rushing in all
five contests...CU running back Brian Kennedy averages 6.0 yards per
rush...WR Thomas Mayo has a league-best 26 catches...Punter Zach Boyd is
sixth nationally with a 43.6 yards per kick average.
Concord *By The Numbers* WV State 17.4 (116th) Scoring Offense 39.8
(11th) 43.2 (146th) Scoring Defense 16.8 (23rd) 264.8 (121st) Total
Offense 442.5 (20th) 524.8 (146th) Total Defense 240.8 (11th) +0.40
(51st) Turnover
Margin -0.25 (85th) 34.8 (34th) Net Punting 26.2 (140th) *---rank
indicates national standing among 148 Division II football squads.
