GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Football team will head to Northwood (Mich.) on Thursday to open the 2023 season, kicking off at 2 p.m. inside Hantz Stadium.
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, August 31 | 2 p.m. | Hantz Stadium
Glenville State at Northwood (Mich.)
Watch on GMAC Network | Live Stats
NORTHWOOD TIMBERWOLVES
The Timberwolves are coming off a (3-8, 2-6 GMAC) campaign in 2022. NU started the year off 2-0 but would finish the season 1-8, including eight-straight losses. Northwood has accumulated 263 wins, six conference championships and appeared in the NCAA DII Playoff four times since they began competition in 1962.
Dustin Beurer is in his first season leading the NU program after spending the last four years at Albion College (Mich.), posting a 29-5 overall record, winning two MIAA Conference Championships and coaching 47 All-MIAA players. Beurer spent 11 seasons as an assistant prior to becoming the HC and was also an offensive lineman at Albion during his playing career, winning a conference championship in 2001. He spent two seasons on the Morehead State staff as an assistant after he completed his collegiate career.
Redshirt Junior Jake Kelbert is expected to get the start at QB for the Timberwolves after appearing in nine games last season and throwing for 510 yards on 36-66 (54.5 Cmp%) with 5 TD and 1 INT. Kelbert will have three receivers returning who all contributed last year, led by redshirt junior Shamarr Wright who caught 23 passes for 241 yards. As a team, the offense averaged 21.9 PPG and 292.5 YPG (170. 1 Passing, 122.4 Rushing), finishing with 3,217 yards of total offense on the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, NU returns All-GMAC Third Team selection redshirt junior LB Mbaimba Tunkara and a load of experienced returners. Tunkara, a 6-1 220 product of Parma Heights, Ohio, finished the 2022 season with 62 total tackles, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks and 1 INT. Senior Duwayne Legette, a transfer from Albion College, will help man the defensive line after totaling 29 tackles and 1.5 TFL last year. The secondary is headlined by redshirt junior Drew Carpenter as he was fourth on the team last year in tackles with 48 and finished with an interception.
Junior Max Gonos is back after earning All-GMAC Second Team honors last season, going 11-15 on field goals with a long of 43 and 61 total points. Redshirt Sophomore Matt Paull will be in control of the punting duties once again after downing the ball inside the 20-yard line 15 times and having a long of 64.
GLENVILLE STATE PIONEERS
The Pioneers went (7-4, 6-4 MEC) last season, finishing the season on a three-game winning streak. Glenville State is in their 120th year of competition, gathering 397 wins, nine conference championships, three playoff appearances and two national runner-up finishes.
Mike Kellar enters his fifth season leading the Pioneer Football program. Kellar has two seasons of at least seven wins during his tenure at Glenville State and looks to take an even bigger leap in 2023. There's familiarity with midwest college football for Kellar, coaching at Northern Michigan for two years as an offensive coordinator in the early 2000s. In his career, he has been part of seven conference championship teams and appeared in the playoffs three times.
Sophomore Anthony Garrett will start at QB for the Pioneers following his strong freshman campaign. In 2022, Garrett started in six games, completing 113 passes on 205 attempts and throwing for 1.415 yards and 11 TD. He will have a returning receiving core of junior Orion Bonner (42 receptions, 636 receiving yards and 5 TD in 2022), sophomore Tariq Miller (10 receptions, 190 receiving yards and 3 TD in 2022), Terrell Heath Jr. (10 receptions for 71 receiving yards in 2022) and Dylan Day (5 receptions for 42 receiving yards in 2022). At the Tight End position, David Livingston returns after gathering 3 receptions for 42 yards last year
There will also be a trio of new options for Garrett through the air. Transfer WR Zion Barnette (Concord) enters the mix after spending four seasons at CU, catching 16 passes for 246 yards and 2 TD. WR James Mickens is prepared to be another weapon for the Pioneer offense, transferring from Hartnell CC where he had 30 receptions, 487 receiving yards and 4 TD in 2022. Transfer TE Robert Shanabarger (Alderson Broaddus) brings another big (6-foot-6) advantage to the passing and blocking.
On the ground, All-MEC Honorable Mention selection Alfred Menjor is back after rushing for 766 yards and 5 TD on 173 carries. The junior RB ran for almost 800 yards and found the endzone seven times in 2021. Senior Saeed Galloway was a goal line threat last season, totaling 78 carries for 328 yards and 8 TD. To go along with two key returners, former Virginia Tech and Western Kentucky RB Zavione Wood was added to the backfield during the off-season to bolster the running game.
Senior Ian Pomeroy heads the offensive line after his All-American and All-MEC First Team season in 2022. Junior Roy Coppedge also garnered All-MEC honors last year, landing on the Honorable Mention squad. Justin Collier is another experienced player up front as the junior played in 10 of 11 games last season. Sophomore Jaheziah Wade and true freshman JJ Dollenmeyer will bring even more size as does Alderson Broaddus transfer Payton Hawkins, who carries over experience as well.
For the defense, Senior LB Seth Arnold captains the defense following his All-MEC Second Team nomination for the second-straight season. He totaled 95 tackles 8 TFL and 1.5 sacks in 2022 and ranked top-10 in the MEC in tackles. Junior DB Shaun Sterling Jr. was an All-Conference honoree last year as well, landing on the Honorable Mention team after recording 55 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 INT and 1 FF in 2022.
Many more mainstays return from last year's team. Junior Joshua Carr and sophomore Jacob Clark protect the edges while senior Max Boyd and junior Isaiah Macklin hold down the interior of the defensive line. Newcomers junior Steve Bradshaw (Mt. San Jacinto CC) and freshman Brogan Brown (Marshall) look to be key contributors at the linebacker spot. Junior Hayden Moore is eyeing to make an even bigger impact this year after appearing in 10 games last season.
The secondary returns many experienced DBs from 2022 in addition to Shaun Sterling Jr. Fifth-year Dane Lynch Jr., junior Mark Shepherd, junior Terry Noel and redshirt sophomore Evan Jackson join Sterling in the back end, bringing back a total of 131 tackles for the first five DBs out. Senior Christian McPoyle, sophomore Sean Scott, junior De Vante Roberson, sophomore Andre Jefferson and freshman James Sparrow look to be in the rotation to add reinforcements for the secondary.
Special teams appears different this season as true freshman Brody Layman takes over the kicking duties and redshirt freshman Zander Watson will be the Pioneers new punter.
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