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GLENVILLE — University of Charleston head coach Quinn Sanders’ program was picked third in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll.
The Golden Eagles (2-3, 2-2) enter their noon Saturday kickoff against visiting Glenville State following a 49-24 setback at Notre Dame last weekend. UC’s other MEC loss came earlier this season to Frostburg State, which was slotted behind ND in the preseason poll.
GSU (3-2, 2-2) head man Mike Kellar’s program has been alternating wins and losses each week. Conversely, the Golden Eagles opened the season with a loss and have followed it with a victory and then another defeat each week.
“We’re going to have to play better on the road than we did at Wheeling. Charleston has been a nightmare for us the last three years,” coach Kellar said.
“They’ve been one of the better teams in this league. They are long and fast and good in all the right areas and we will have to go down there and play pretty well.”
When asked about the Pioneers alternating wins and losses thus far coach Kellar added “it’s one of those deals.
“This week is no different than any other week. We got to worry about ourselves. It’s kind of cliche. You want your team to play its best game and get better every week.”
The G-men are coming off a MEC record seven interceptions during last week’s triumph against West Liberty at Morris Stadium.
UC only trailed 14-10 after the first quarter at Notre Dame, but the hosts then scored four straight touchdowns to go up 42-10 early in the fourth.
Starting quarterback Davis Black was replaced following injury in that game by Javonte Howard, who finished 12 of 24 for 184 yards, three TDs and two picks.
Coach Sanders’ team has four players with 200-plus receiving yards — Colby Cooper (22-214-1), Xzavion Gordon (21-207-2), Marquan Herron (10-203-5) and Thomas Ashworth (14-201-1). Chavon Wright (67-258-2) leads the rushing attack for UC, which has received team-highs of 40 total stops and 5.5 tackles for loss by Willie Floyd.
“The kids are a little bit different. You just prepare for their schemes,” coach Kellar said of the two quarterbacks. “Offensively they’ve got some big-play guys and got speed outside like they always do.
“They are probably capable of throwing it more than a couple years ago and they are still good at tailback. Get bigger and faster than everybody and that’s kind of what they’ve been.”
Jeff Miller has completed 75 of 137 attempts for 1,220 yards to go along with a dozen TDs and four interceptions for GSU.
UC, which had 14 penalties for 150 yards last week against Notre Dame, also allowed the Falcons to rush 44 times for 264 yards and a quartet of scores.
The Pioneers will continue to utilize Alfred Menjor (70-356-2), Zakee Swann (56-346-2) and Saeed Galloway (41-183-2) in the run game. Javian Bellamy paces the GSU receivers with 24 catches for 387 yards and four TDs. The UC defense also will have to check Orion Bonner (13-324-3), Isaac Myers (5-141-0) and Tariq Miller (4-121-2).
Sean Bowers, Dane Lynch Jr. and Noah McBride have two interceptions apiece for the GSU defense. Seth Arnold leads the G-men with 42 total stops and is followed by Bowers (39) and Brandon Penn (31).
“It’s weird because your kids are probably more focused after they lose because they got that bad taste in their mouth and after they win everybody is telling them how great they are,” coach Kellar added. “As coaches we take a different approach.
“After a win it’s always a better week. You always feel better after you win. Something we have not done is to build off these wins. Get better and build off the win and string some together. That’s the key to the drill.”
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com