Glenville, W.Va. – The Glenville State Pioneer football team had a tough test this Saturday as they welcomed the No. 4 Shepherd University Rams to Morris Stadium.
 
Glenville State (0-3, 0-3) would build a two touchdown lead over Shepherd (2-0, 2-0) late in the third quarter however the Rams would score the last 21 points of the contest as they survived, defeating GSC 42-34.
 
The loss is the third straight for Glenville State this season as they still are looking for their first win of the year.
 
After trading punts to start the game, Shepherd's Jabre Lolley leaped over the line of scrimmage to give the Rams a 7-0 lead in the first at the 9:20 minute mark. Glenville State would step up on defense and the Pioneer offense would score back-to-back touchdowns. First, Thomas Boles III scampered it in from 12 yards out to tie the game at 7-7.  GSC would force a punt and score on their next play from scrimmage on a Jaylen McNair 81 yard touchdown pass to Damon Robinson, McNair's first TD pass of his career, as the Pioneers held a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.
 
On the ensuing possession, Shepherd Connor Jessop would march the Rams down the field 77 yards on just five plays as he completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Feiss as they tied the game up at 14-14 with 1:29 in the first quarter.
 
The Pioneers defense then made a huge play as Keevin Gillard II recorded an interception and moved the Pioneers deep into Rams territory.  On the first play of the possession, McNair hooked up with Javon Butler from 38-yards out to give GSC a 21-14 lead at the 10:14 mark of the second quarter. However the Rams ensuing possession led to a three-yard touchdown pass from Connor Jessop to Ryan Feiss, their second hookup of the game, with 4:15 remaining in the half. The score would stay at 21-21 heading into the half.
 
In the third quarter, GSC would strike twice.  A 12-yard pass from McNair to Butler, and then a 10-yard pass from McNair to Boles but GSC would miss the PAT as they held a 34-21 lead with 4:17 to play in the third. 
 
Shepherd would strike back with two scores of their own and take a 35-34 lead.  The ensuing Pioneer possession would see GSC throw an interception. Shepherd would convert the turnover into points as they scored from 42 yards out on the very next play as Jessop hit Duron Norris as the Rams came from behind to defeat the Pioneers 42-34.
 
Glenville State tallied 356 total yards on 62 plays while the Pioneer defense allowed the Rams 541 total yards on 80 plays. Shepherd had 10 more first downs in the contest as they had 28 in the game while GSC had 18 first downs.
 
Both teams racked up the penalties as Shepherd had 11 for 108 yards and Glenville State was flagged eight times for 86 yards.
 
True-freshman Jaylen McNair got the start at QB for the injured Ja'Quay Garmon. McNair went 20-of-31 for 298 yards with four touchdowns and an interception.
 
Javon Butler was his favorite target hauling in five receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns while Damon Robinson caught just one pass, however for 81 yards and a touchdown. Austin Ratliff and Giles Guy-Williams both caught five pass each while Ratliff tallied 51 yards and Guy-Williams had 24 yards.
 
Dominique Gibson led the Pioneer rushing attack as he totted the ball 10 times for 56 yards.
 
Earon Settles racked up 12 total tackles for the Pioneer defense while Cory Roberts chipped in with seven. Quintavius Twine finished the day with six total tackles and an interception while Keevin Gillard also had an interception in the game.
 
Connor Jessop led Shepherd with 357 passing yards as he went 28-for-42 with three touchdowns but also had two interceptions. Ryan Feiss pulled in 16 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
 
On the ground for the Rams Jabre Lolley rushed for 149 yards on 22 carriers and had two touchdowns.
 
Defensively, Elijah Norris had seven total tackles with 3.5 TFL's, and 2.5 sacks while James Gupton finished the day with six tackles and a TFL.
 
Glenville State (0-3, 0-3) will hit the road next Saturday, September 23^rd as they travel to Philippi, West Virginia for a non-conference matchup with the Battlers of Alderson Broaddus University in the I-79 Barrel Classic. Kick-off is set for 12:00 p.m. from Multi-Sport Performance Stadium.