Glenville, W.Va. - GSC's Dante Roberts threw for five touchdowns in the MEC Game of the Week, in a 44-24 win over Urbana University in the Pioneers season opener.
 
David Thomas returned the opening kickoff 51 yards to set up the first Pioneers (1-0, 1-0) scoring drive of 2016.  Sophomore kicker Chandler Carrera chipped in a 45-yard field goal to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead with 12:19 remaining in the first quarter.  The Pioneer defense forced a three and out in their first defensive series.  This set up a short field for the Pioneers offense that resulted in junior QB Dante Roberts first passing TD of the year to senior wideout Dante Absher, giving GSC a 10-0 lead.
 
Urbana University capitalized on a short field to chip in a 43-yard field goal with 3:30 remaining in the first quarter.
 
Roberts hooked up with Absher for a 57-yard gain to put the Pioneers deep into the Blue Knights territory. Roberts then connected with Absher for their second TD hookup of the game.  Running back Eric Kyle shouldered the load in moving the Pioneers down the field in route to another Dante Roberts passing TD early in the second.  This time, Roberts connected with senior wideout DJ Williams as the Pioneers lead increased to 24-3 early in the second quarter.
 
Urbana put seven on the scoreboard late in the second quarter with a 44 yard passing TD.
 
With just two seconds remaining in the first half, Roberts connected with DJ Williams for their second TD of the night.  Pioneers lead was extended 34-10 heading into halftime.

Urbana University started off the second half with a rushing TD from Ja'vhari Portis. Glenville's lead cut 34-17.  Urbana's Portis put the Blue Knights on the board again with 3:35 remaining in the third quarter. GSC'S lead was then cut 34-24.
 
Quintavius Twine sparked the Pioneers with a big interception to give GSC the ball at midfield.  Just plays later, Dante Roberts hooked up with DJ Williams for the third time in the game.  Pioneers stretched their lead, 41-24 midway through the fourth quarter.  The Pioneers forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and recovered deep in Urbana's territory.  Chandler Carrera booted a 28-yard field goal to add to Glenville's lead, 44-24.
 
Offensively, the Pioneers racked up 451 yards on 70 plays, an average of 6.4 yards per play.  Dante Roberts was 25 of 35 with five touchdown passes and 303 yards. DJ Williams was the leading receiver with seven receptions for 132 yards, and three touchdowns.  Senior wideout Dante Absher recorded six receptions for 92 yards despite leaving the game at half time due to injury. Absher did not return to action.  Glenville accounted for 148 yards on the ground, led by Dominique Gibson who carried the ball 11 times for 77 yards.
 
Defensively, the Pioneers held Urbana to 251 yards on 62 plays, an average of 4 yards per play, while accounting for seven total sacks. Tajuan Green completed 14 of 27 passes for 171 yards and a TD for Urbana. Ja'vhri Portis carried seven times for 58 yards and two TD's for the Blue Knights. Marcus Umu led the GSC's defense with seven tackles including a tackle for loss while Javon Webster had five tackles, 2.5 sacks, and three TFL's.
 
Glenville State (1-0, 1-0) will hit the road next Saturday, September 10^th as they travel to Buckhannon, West Virginia for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff with the Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan.