After playing what was billed as the West Virginia Conference's biggest game ever, the University of Charleston faces a game of similar impact today.
After playing what was billed as the West Virginia Conference's biggest game ever, the University of Charleston faces a game of similar impact today.
The Golden Eagles play host to Glenville State at 1 p.m. today at UC Stadium and are in a must-win situation, needing a victory to stay in contention for postseason play.
A week ago at UC Stadium, the Golden Eagles suffered a 48-42 double-overtime loss to West Liberty in just the second matchup of nationally ranked West Virginia Conference teams. The Golden Eagles and Hilltoppers entered that game ranked Nos. 10 and 18, respectively, in Division II. This week West Liberty is No. 12 and UC No. 17.
The victory gave the Hilltoppers command of the WVC championship race and moved them to the No. 1 spot in the regional rankings, but UC, which slipped to No. 7 in the region, remains a strong contender for the 24-team NCAA Division II playoffs.
UC, however, cannot afford another loss. Only the top six teams from each of four NCAA regions qualify for the playoffs, which begin Nov. 14.
The Golden Eagles (8-1, 5-1 WVC) face a Pioneers team that routed them 50-20 last year in Glenville in the season finale. The Pioneers, who have played two Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) teams this season, are 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the WVC.
"We're totally focused on Glenville,'' said UC coach Tony DeMeo. "They're probably the most underrated team in the country. They've played a tremendous schedule. They're much better than their record indicates.''
The Pioneers' size also raises a concern, DeMeo added.
"Their defensive line is so big that when they take the field, I'm afraid they're going to destroy our drainage,'' he said.
UC and Glenville are run-oriented. The Golden Eagles, led by quarterback DaRante Hunter's 790 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, rank fourth in Division II with an average of 285.3 rushing yards a game. The Pioneers, led by Brian Harden's 717 yards on the ground, rank No. 28 in Division II rushing with an average 187.0.
Hunter has completed 76-of-120 passes for 1,461 yards and 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Glenville quarterback James McCants has hit 114-of-228 throws for 1,426 yards, 11 TDs and nine interceptions.
Glenville is tied for the league lead with 17 interceptions, including five by Belle native A.D. Hale.
In other games involving West Virginia Conference teams today:
West Virginia State (2-6, 1-5) at West Virginia Wesleyan (1-7, 1-5), 1 p.m. - The Yellow Jackets' quarterback situation is up in the air as they try to end a three-game losing streak against a Bobcat team that has lost four in a row.
After playing what was billed as the West Virginia Conference's biggest game ever, the University of Charleston faces a game of similar impact today.
The Golden Eagles play host to Glenville State at 1 p.m. today at UC Stadium and are in a must-win situation, needing a victory to stay in contention for postseason play.
A week ago at UC Stadium, the Golden Eagles suffered a 48-42 double-overtime loss to West Liberty in just the second matchup of nationally ranked West Virginia Conference teams. The Golden Eagles and Hilltoppers entered that game ranked Nos. 10 and 18, respectively, in Division II. This week West Liberty is No. 12 and UC No. 17.
The victory gave the Hilltoppers command of the WVC championship race and moved them to the No. 1 spot in the regional rankings, but UC, which slipped to No. 7 in the region, remains a strong contender for the 24-team NCAA Division II playoffs.
UC, however, cannot afford another loss. Only the top six teams from each of four NCAA regions qualify for the playoffs, which begin Nov. 14.
The Golden Eagles (8-1, 5-1 WVC) face a Pioneers team that routed them 50-20 last year in Glenville in the season finale. The Pioneers, who have played two Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) teams this season, are 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the WVC.
"We're totally focused on Glenville,'' said UC coach Tony DeMeo. "They're probably the most underrated team in the country. They've played a tremendous schedule. They're much better than their record indicates.''
The Pioneers' size also raises a concern, DeMeo added.
"Their defensive line is so big that when they take the field, I'm afraid they're going to destroy our drainage,'' he said.
UC and Glenville are run-oriented. The Golden Eagles, led by quarterback DaRante Hunter's 790 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, rank fourth in Division II with an average of 285.3 rushing yards a game. The Pioneers, led by Brian Harden's 717 yards on the ground, rank No. 28 in Division II rushing with an average 187.0.
Hunter has completed 76-of-120 passes for 1,461 yards and 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Glenville quarterback James McCants has hit 114-of-228 throws for 1,426 yards, 11 TDs and nine interceptions.
Glenville is tied for the league lead with 17 interceptions, including five by Belle native A.D. Hale.
In other games involving West Virginia Conference teams today:
West Virginia State (2-6, 1-5) at West Virginia Wesleyan (1-7, 1-5), 1 p.m. - The Yellow Jackets' quarterback situation is up in the air as they try to end a three-game losing streak against a Bobcat team that has lost four in a row.
Kevin O'Brien, who returned from a thumb injury last week, felt discomfort in the thumb in last week's first half at Shepherd and played very little after halftime. Reserve QB Patrick Ryan, who has appeared in seven games this season, has been out with a knee sprain.
Although O'Brien is not fully recovered, he's expected to start today, said State coach Earl Monroe.
"Kevin took snaps [Thursday] and Patrick Ryan is still out. He has not practiced,'' said Monroe. "Kevin will be the starter. We'll see how long he can go. He aggravated that thumb last week prior to halftime, but he stayed in. He got some swelling in it and some stiffening of the joint, and he couldn't grip the ball. He came out the first series in the second half.''
Robert Jackson, a sophomore from Baltimore who has appeared in three games this season, will be the backup.
State defeated Wesleyan 31-24 in overtime last year.
Seton Hill (1-8, 0-7) at West Liberty (8-1, 6-0), 1 p.m. - The Hilltoppers are ranked No. 12 in NCAA Division II and No. 1 in Super Region I and need to win their final two games to collect a WVC championship and a berth in the postseason. ... West Liberty's junior quarterback Zach Amedro has passed for 3,297 yards this season to rank seventh in conference single-season passing history. ... The Hilltoppers have not lost since a 42-30 setback at Edinboro, Pa., Aug. 29. ... The Griffins have not won since picking up a 34-27 victory over Virginia-Wise, an NAIA school, that same day.
Concord (5-4, 3-3) at Fairmont State (3-6, 3-3), 1 p.m. - The Mountain Lions are looking for a victory that would give them their first winning record since 1998. ... They rank sixth in Division II offense with 468.4 yards per game. ... The Falcons have won two in a row, beating West Virginia Wesleyan and Seton Hill, and last week produced a season-high 430 yards of offense. ... The Falcons are tied with Glenville for the conference lead in interceptions with 17.
Mid-South Conference
Faulkner (1-7, 0-5) at WVU Tech (2-6, 0-4), 1:30 p.m. - The Golden Bears, who have lost six in a row, face a team that's lost seven straight, and coach Scott Tinsley wants his team to salvage some success in its final three games of the season.
"It'd be just huge for us to get on a mini-roll and win two or three of these last games and have some momentum going to the offseason,'' said Tinsley.
Last week, in a 44-14 loss at Cumberlands (Ky.), the NAIA's No. 13 team, Tech quarterback Michael Scott completed 15-of-35 passes for 182 yards in his first game since being sidelined with a shoulder injury Oct. 3.
He's still not 100 percent, said Tinsley.
"Scott is getting better. I would say he's maybe 75 percent or so right now, but each week he's getting stronger and better,'' he said. "He played really well last week, but we just still aren't hitting on all cylinders. We had a lot of dropped balls.''
Reach Mike Whiteford at 304-348-7948 or mikewhitef...@wvgazette.com. Ryan Pritt contributed to this report.
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