Buckhannon, W.Va. – West Virginia Wesleyan downed the Yellow Jackets from West Virginia State 45-30 Saturday afternoon in front of a large 2013 Homecoming crowd at Cebe Ross Field. The Bobcats used a strong, all around team effort in the second half to secure the victory.
Wesleyan would win the coin toss and elect to defer to the second half. That left the Yellow Jackets to open up the game with a touchdown drive capped off by a four yard run by quarterback, Tyler Sears. After an unfortunate Jeremy Mussleman interception, the Yellow Jackets would add three more to the scoreboard before Wesleyan could answer. On the ensuing kickoff, senior Lavaughn Hughes would return the kick 31 yards to the Bobcat 36 yard line setting up an 11 play Bobcat scoring drive culminated by a Mussleman to Connor Arlia 10 yard touchdown pass.
Wesleyan would be down 10-7 after the first quarter, but after the teams traded punts, the Bobcats Robert Chesson would find the endzone on a three yard scamper to push Wesleyan ahead 14-10. That would be the last time the Yellow Jackets would lead in the game. Both teams would add another touchdown before the first half whistle and the Bobcats would take the 21-17 lead into the locker room.
Wesleyan would use their first, second half possession to their advantage as Mussleman would add a 1 yard touchdown run propelling the Bobcat lead out to 28-17. The ensuing drive for the Yellow Jackets would be abruptly halted by the Bobcats freshman, Desmond Holley, as he would take a State fumble back 48 yards for a defensive Wesleyan touchdown further extending the Bobcat lead to 35-17. The Yellow Jackets would add a late third quarter score, however the P.A.T. would be missed and Wesleyan found themselves with a 35-23 lead at the end of three quarters.
The final period started with a scare for the 'Cats as the Yellow Jackets would have similar fortune picking up a Chesson fumble and taking it to the house nearing the score 35-30. However, the Bobcats would return the favor when, again, Desmond Holley forced another fumble, while this time, teammate Johnny Roundtree, would pick up the ball and sprint into the endzone repositioning the 'Cats to a two score lead. Kasper Bernild would add a 22 yard field goal with just over four minutes left in the game and that would prove to be the final. With the 45-30 victory, the Bobcats improve to 2-3 in the Mountain East Conference play while the Yellow Jackets fall to 0-5.
The Bobcats are back in action next Saturday as they will travel to Athens, WV to face off with the Mountain Lions of Concord before returning to Cebe Ross Field October 26th to host West Liberty.
