Buckhannon, W.Va. – The Glenville State Pioneer football went on the road Saturday and racked up 392 total yards and put up 36 points as they knocked off the Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan, 36-33.
Glenville State (5-5, 5-4) earned 22 first downs while holding West Virginia Wesleyan (1-9, 1-8) to 322 total yards and 16 first downs.
The Pioneers would strike first in the ball game. Justin Watts would nail a 31 yard field goal on GSC's first possession of the game as they took a 3-0 lead at the 8:43 minute mark of the first quarter.
The Pioneer defense came up big on the next possession. Matt Vinson pass was intercepted by Dominic Cizauskas as he returned it 33 yards to the endzone as GSC took a 10-0 lead with 8:24 to play.
On the Pioneers kickoff, an onside attempt would be recovered by GSC. However the drive would stall as the Bobcats got the ball back with 6:09 in the quarter. Again, the Pioneer defense would hold strong and get the Pioneer offense the ball back.
Glenville State then drove 66 yards on nine plays. Justin Watts connected on a 26 yards field goal, his second of the contest, as the Pioneers led 13-0 as we headed into the second quarter.
The Bobcats found the endzone early in the second as Kenny Lewis Jr. caught a six yard touchdown pass from Luke Casey as GSC still led 13-7.
At the 4:06 minute mark Jaylen McNair found Carrington Anderson for a 12 yard pitch and catch as the Pioneers now led by 13, 20-7. However WVWC then pulled within seven as Shaq Freeman-Park scored on a three yard rush making it, 20-14.
Glenville State would strike one more time before halftime as Javon Butler hauled in a 59 yard touchdown bomb from McNair. The PAT however would fail as the Pioneers took a 26-14 lead into halftime.
In the third, the Bobcats struck first at the 4:10 mark as Jujuan Linzy scored a 28 yard pitch and catch from Matt Vinson as they pulled within six points, 26-20. Again the Pioneer offense would respond as Justin Watts nailed a 23 yard field goal, his third of the game, as GSC went back up by nine at 29-20 as we headed into the fourth quarter.
West Virginia Wesleyan's defense then made a big play as Trey Lee intercepted Jaylen McNair's pass and returned it six yards to the endzone as they made it a three point game at 29-26. The Bobcats PAT was blocked by the Pioneers.
After the interception the Pioneers then drove 74 yards on 12 plays as they ran 7:26 off the clock as Thomas Boles scored on a five yard rush to put the GSC up 10, 36-26 with 4:46 to play.
The Bobcats answered as Shaq Freeman-Park scored with 1:50 left on a one yard run as they trailed by three, 36-33. West Virginia Wesleyan's onside kick attempt would fail as GSC took over.
GSC would give the ball back to the Bobcats as they tried to run out the clock. WVWC had one last chance with just eight seconds left at their own 13 yard line. After a short completion by Matt Vision to Kenny Lewis Jr. the Bobcats started to make several laterals but an illegal forward pass during the play would be called as the Pioneers knocked off the Bobcats on the road, 36-33.
The Pioneers rushed for 178 yards while passing for 214 total yards. GSC went 5-of-6 in the redzone.
WVWC was held to just 54 rushing yards while passing for 268 yards.
Mario Pender led the rushing attack for GSC as he carried the ball 22 times for 78 yards while Thomas Boles rushed for 62 yards on 13 carriers and a touchdown.
Jaylen McNair went 16-of-29 for 214 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. McNair's favorite target was Javon Butler as he hauled in 11 passes for 177 yards and a score. Carrington Anderson hauled in three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively for the Pioneers, Dominic Cizauskas had a game-high nine tackles and a 33 yard interception for a touchdown. Wil Mayes also chipped in with nine tackles in the contest. Ellis Lilly had three tackles and a sack for GSC.
West Virginia Wesleyan was led by Matt Vinson as he went 19-for-30 for 234 yards a touchdown and two interceptions. Vinson also rushed for 26 yards on seven carriers.
Kenny Lewis Jr. caught 10 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
Trey Lee led the Bobcats defense with seven tackles while Sal Exposito also had seven tackles and a TFL.
Glenville State (5-5, 5-4) will return to action next Saturday, November 10th as the host the University of Charleston Golden Eagles at 12 p.m. from Morris Stadium on Senior Day.
