It was Homecoming weekend for Glenville State and West Virginia Wesleyan did everything they could to spoil their day, but in the end the Bobcats would fall just shy of doing so. The Pioneers were able to cling to an early lead Saturday afternoon and hold off a strong second half run by the Bobcats to earn a 35-32 victory.
The Pioneers reached the scoreboard first on a eight yard touchdown run nearing the end of the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. Before the Bobcats could find the endzone on a Jeremy Musselman to Lavaughn Hughes 15 yard touchdown connection of their own, the Pioneers would amass 21 more points of their own bringing the halftime score to 28-7.
The second half would start with a solid Wesleyan drive capped off by a 38 yard Kasper Bernild field goal. Then the Bobcats would accrue a rare safety followed by Musselman and Hughes hooking up for a second time on the afternoon. Wesleyan's defense would allow only one last, late third quarter score and at the end of the period Wesleyan would find themselves back in the game, down 35-19.
Mussleman and Hughes would connect for a third passing-receiving combo to draw to 35-25. The 'Cats two-point conversion attempt would be snuffed out leaving it, still, a two possession game. After a Musselman interception and a Bobcat failed 4th down attempt, junior Connor Arlia would find the endzone from Musselman and the Bernild tacked on the extra point to leave the Bobcats down three. That left an onsides attempt for Wesleyan that, although recovered by the 'Cats, did not travel the minimum 10 yards thus leaving the Pioneers the ball and the victory.
Despite out-gaining Glenville State and controlling the time of possession by more than five minutes, Wesleyan would fall to turnovers and penalties resulting in the outcome. The Bobcats will return home to host West Virginia State next Saturday as it is their Homecoming.
