Glenville, W.Va. –After trailing 20-3 late in the third quarter the Glenville State Pioneers scored 27 point in the second half of action; however their comeback would fall short Saturday on the road to the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State University by three, 33-30.

Glenville State (1-1, 0-1 MEC) racked up 414 total yards of offense while West Virginia State (2-0, 2-0 MEC) finished with 513 total yards of offense as 439 yards came in the air.

The Pioneers struck first at the 6:06 minute mark as Justin Watts connected on a 28 yard field, 3-0. The score would come as GSC drove 44 yards on five plays.

West Virginia State then took their first lead of the afternoon as Donovan Riddick scored on a four yard run as the Yellow Jackets held a 7-3 lead with 1:05 to play in quarter number one.

The Yellow Jackets had the only score in the second quarter when Austin Hensley hit Zach Pate from 39 yards out as WV State held a 13-3 lead as we headed into halftime.

The Yellow Jackets had the advantage in the first half in the air as they threw for 177 yards while GSC had just 70 yards passing. The Pioneers suffered a big blow as quarterback Jaylen McNair would be knocked out of the contest. McNair suffered a concussion on GSC's first drive on a targeting call by WVSU's Henry Forson.

The Yellow Jackets added to their lead in the third. WVSU drove 55 yards on 10 plays as Zach Pate caught his second TD pass of the afternoon from Hensley, this one from three yards out, as Yellow Jackets took a commanding 20-3 lead.

However, the Pioneers would still battle as Javon Butler hauled in a 23 yard touchdown pass from Tim Heltzel as GSC made it, 20-10 with 3:25 to play in the third. Heltzel's touchdown pass was the first of his young Pioneer career.

WVSU then responded early in the fourth, at the 14:32 minute mark, as they hit a 30 yard field goal as they now led, 23-10.

Then at the 10:20 minute mark GSC found pay dirt again as Heltzel connected with Butler. This hookup came from 25 yards out as the Pioneers made it a one score game, 23-17.

But again the Yellow Jackets added another field goal, this one from 37 yards out as WVSU led 26-17 with 6:27 left to play.

The Heltzel and Butler connection was in full swing as they hooked up for the third time in the contest at the 5:05 minute mark from 53 yards out as GSC only trailed by two, 26-24.

Glenville State's defense then got the ball back and again the Pioneers found the endzone. GSC drove 65 yards in six plays as Mario Pender finished the drive off with a six yard TD run as GSC took their first lead, since leading3-0 early in the first, at 30-26 with 3:03 to play.

The Yellow Jackets had one possession left in the contest. WVSU moved the ball down the field but faced a 4th-and-10 at the Glenville State 23-yard line with just over a minute to play. Hensley and Barnette came up with the key conversion with a 13-yard completion to get a fresh set of downs, and then three plays later they connected for what would be the game-winner from 10 yards out as they defeated the Pioneers, 33-30.

Glenville State's final possession the Pioneers failed to pick up a first down as they turned it over and the Yellow Jackets took a knee.

Glenville State rushed for 186 yards while the Pioneers defense limited West Virginia State to just 71 rushing yards.

The Pioneers defense also had the only take away in the contest. GSC was just 5-of-19 on third down conversions while WVSU went 9-for-19.

Mario Pender rushed for 39 yards on 14 carriers and a touchdown.

Tim Heltzel, who replaced the injured McNair, went 16-for-34 for 214 yards and three touchdowns.

Javon Butler had an excellent day as he hauled in seven passes for 177 yards and three scores.

Defensively, Dominic Cizauskas led GSC with 14 tackles while Jansen King and Tatah Njoka each finished with nine tackles.

Austin Hensley finished the day 38-of-59 for 439 yards and three touchdowns for WVSU. The Yellow Jackets had two receivers go over 100 yards with Isaiah Scott, 111 yards and Zach Pate, 108 yards and two touchdowns. AJ Barrette had 94 yards and the final TD.

Dustin Crouser had 14 total tackles (seven solo) to help lead WVSU on defense. Tevon Littleton had six solo tackles, including three for a loss.

The Pioneers will host Concord University (0-2, 0-2 MEC) this Saturday, September 14^th in their home opener. Kick-off from Morris Stadium is set for 12 p.m.