Glenville State University wide receiver Tariq Meredith looks to gain yardage after the catch in a game against Charleston earlier this season at Spencer’s County Stadium. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

GLENVILLE — Things are definitely going in the right direction for Glenville State University and head football coach Mike Kellar, but the Pioneers will be tasked with finding a way to emerge victorious come 1 p.m. Saturday versus West Liberty University when the two Mountain East Conference programs collide at West Family Stadium.

“It was a beautiful day. We did enough good things to win. Had the game in control pretty much the whole day, but it was a little closer than it needed to be,” coach Kellar admitted on his weekly show of last Saturday’s 42-30 homecoming victory versus Concord.

The G-men (4-3, 3-1) scored the first two touchdowns of the game last week and jumped ahead 28-10 as Anthony Garrett tossed four touchdown passes – two to tight end Koraun Perdue – while Jeremiah King had a career-high 142 ground yards and found the end zone twice.

“It was good to see. Koraun has turned into a pretty good player for us,” said coach Kellar, who got a dozen tackles, eight solo, and a forced fumble last week from Shary Jefferson.

“He’s been a blocker primarily for us. I watch him in practice and know he’s more than capable. It was good to see some of that. It’s going to be a good weapon for us, hopefully, moving forward.”

Kellar added of Jefferson, “he’s coming into his own a little bit and that talent is starting to show through. I can say that with a few guys and the defense as a whole.”

The Hilltoppers (2-5, 2-2) gave head man Roger Waialae career win No. 100 thanks to last week’s 35-11 triumph at West Virginia Wesleyan. Although quarterback Antevious Jackson was sacked five times, leading rusher Hunter Patterson had a career day with 247 ground yards and three touchdowns.

WLU, which is tied for 23rd in Division II with seven fumble recoveries, opened the season with five straight losses before knocking off West Virginia State, 47-41, on a Hail Mary back on Oct. 4 and then having a bye week.

“Seems like they always get hot right when they are playing us,” Kellar quipped. “I coached there for a year and the whole staff are my buddies. Going up there, we haven’t had a lot of success playing up there. It seems like they beat us up there and we win down here. They are hard to figure out. They got a tailback, really two, that are excellent players. A very vocal quarterback.

“Coach Waialae, I know him. He’ll get in the game and just, he’s liable to come out running all triple-option. He will scheme you up pretty good and then their defense does what we like to do. They’ll have a good beat on our tendencies and who we are. To me that is what it is. They’re going to know what we do. We know what they do. We all know each other really well. It’s about whose kids can settle in and play the best.”

Since the formation of the MEC, the Hilltoppers own a 7-4 record versus the G-men, who have lost three straight on the road in this series with the last victory at WLU coming back in 2017.

Patterson, who was the MEC Male Track Athlete of the Year, has 20 grabs for 205 yards and one touchdown out of the backfield. Trey Singleton (27-445-3) and Jaylin Harcum (18-228-1) lead the team in receiving.

“He’s more of a dual-threat and I think that’s why they went with him,” Kellar said of Jackson taking over for Kohl Meisman. “You can’t let him get loose. He’s fast. He can fly. He’s just not a track athlete.

“He’s a football player. He’s a very physical kid. A very confident kid. They are schemed up pretty well and I think their line has improved from what it’s been. Their record doesn’t show it, but we’ll have to go up there and play pretty well.”

Former Parkersburg Big Red Curtis Hayes, a 6-foot-1, 295-pounder, is expected to make his eighth consecutive start for the Hilltoppers’ O-line.

“You never know how good that group is going to be and how quickly they can gel and play together,” coach Kellar said of the Pioneers’ O-line play. “It’s a testament to the coaching and the kids.”

West Liberty, which has defensive lineman Grant Thompson averaging 1.29 tackles for loss per game which ties him for 42nd in D2, ranks 36th nationally in time of possession at 31 minutes.

“They got a really good screen game. They got a lot of good skill,” stressed Kellar. “They are going to rush the passer pretty hard. I think what they do is they create a lot of turnovers.

“They blitz a lot and they make you have to execute. If you are executing there’s opportunities back there, but if you are not executing you’re going to have guys in your face all day. They are going to be aggressive.”

Pioneers Inside the Numbers

Glenville State’s Brandon Penn has blocked two kicks, which is tied for fourth in the land. He’a also tied for fourth in solo stops per game (6.43) and tied for 14th in total tackles (9.7). Teammate Sean Scott is tied for 25th with 5.14 solo tackles.

King is 38th in all-purpose yards (112.14), T28th with seven rushing touchdowns, 21st in rushing yards (642), 24th in rushing yards per game (91.7) and T37th in scoring at 7.7.

Micah Brown has 312 kickoff return yards and his average of 22.3 ranks 49th. He’s also 46th nationally in combined return yards.

Kicker Brody Layman has converted 7 of 8 field goals (87.5%) and is T9th.

Garrett checks in at 46th nationally in passing efficiency (144.43), T25th in passing touchdowns (14), 18th in passing yards (1,779), 21st in passing yards per game (254.14), 8th in passing yards per completion (15.47) and ranks 18th in total offense (281.4).

“It’s always the same thing. They are going to force us to have to take care of the football,” added Kellar, who is hoping his team can finally play a full clean, disciplined game.

“They are going to put the pressure on us early and we’re going to have to make plays. We’ll have to maintain balance. The whole key to the game is going to be to try and keep them off balance with our balance.”

GSU Inside the Numbers

T9th in tackles for loss allowed per game (3.71).

16th in red zone defense (.655)

28th in total offense (431.4)

30th in team passing efficiency defense (113.23)

T32nd in fourth down conversion defense (.350)

T35th in passing offense (254.1)

40th in rushing offense (177.3)

T48th in red zone offense (.839)

49th in team passing efficiency (144.43)

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com