GLENVILLE - Still undefeated in West Virginia Conference action, Glenville State will hit the road for a 1 p.m. affair Saturday when the G-men tangle with host West Liberty University at Russek Field.
With the non-conference portion of its season over, Glenville State brings a 1-3 overall mark and 1-0 WVIAC record against the Hilltoppers, who are 2-2 overall and now 1-1 in the conference after watching host Fairmont State rally for a 25-20 triumph last Saturday.
The Pioneers, whose only WVIAC contest to date was a 41-21 win versus Fairmont State inside Morris Stadium, haven't pulled off consecutive victories against WLU head coach Roger Waialae's squad since winning 44-33 in 2007 and 42-39 in 2008.
Last week was one to forget for second-year GSC head coach David Hutchison's gang, who let a 24-7 lead through three quarters slip away as the G-men fell 28-24 to host Lindenwood in Missouri.
In the loss, though, Glenville State tailback Rahmann Lee continued his impressive season as he rushed for 165 yards and also hauled in five passes for 41 yards from Pioneer signal-caller Darold Hughes. Lee is averaging nearly 116 yards rushing a game and is tied for 15th in Division II.
While the West Liberty University offense, which is ranked 142 out of 158 Division II schools, has had its problems thus far, the Hilltopper rush defense is another story. Lee and the GSC offensive line will be tested by a WLU defensive front that is allowing less than 60 rushing yards a game, which is good for No. 13 in the land. Conversely, WLU's rushing attack is the seventh worst in the country, netting an average of only 37.3 ground yards an outing.
Fact Box
Game Time
Glenville State
(1-3, 1-0 WVIAC)
at West Liberty
(2-2, 1-1 WVIAC)
- Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday at Russek Field
- Last year: Glenville State 41, West Liberty 14
- Note: GSC has not won back-to-back games versus the Hilltoppers since 2007-08
The running back duo of Kenjay Trueblood (70-189-2.7 ypc) and Isiah Moody (27-104-3.9 ypc) will try and look for some running room against a GSC defense which is ranked 138th among D-II programs.
Quarterback L.D. Crow has yet to have a breakout game for the Hilltoppers and is 65 of 120 for 607 yards. Crow has thrown four touchdowns and as many picks. First team all-WVIAC wideout Brandon Schroeder, now a junior, has hauled in just 11 passes for 169 yards and the top WLU wideout to date is Bo Whitney (26-189).
Aside from Lee leading the WVIAC in rushing yards per game, Hughes is the conference leader in passing efficiency while Orlandus Harris paces the conference in catches per game (T-21st nationally) and Robert Jiles leads the WVIAC in receiving yards per game with 79.
Glenville State, which had three turnovers last week, is led defensively by James Johnson with 36 total stops and James Washington's three sacks.
Former Williamstown all-stater David Huggins had a pair of tackles for West Liberty against FSU last week, but coach Waialae's squad was plagued against the Falcons by going 1 of 17 on third downs, having just 10 first downs and gaining only 16 yards on 26 rushing attempts. WLU's top defensive standout is Marco Ricchetti, who has two interceptions and 29 total tackles.
