UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -- The West Virginia Wesleyan (0-1) football team dropped its season opener at Saginaw Valley State (1-0) by a final score of 72-0 at Wickes Stadium on Thursday (Sept. 1).
 
Leaders for WVWC
Amani Woods logged 24 yards on seven rushing attempts. Senior tight end Evin Hurt caught a 24-yard reception and Dariuse Cooper hauled in a 17-yard catch. Nathan Payne completed nine passes for 60 yards.
 
Defensively, Ely Ghameshlougy made 12 total tackles in his first game with WVWC. Wayne Brooks made 2.5 tackles for a loss. Amir Franklin-Branch blocked a PAT.
 
Leaders for Saginaw Valley State
Dante Barthwell scored three rushing touchdowns. Willie Taylor completed eight passes for 71 yards and a score. Earnest Sanders IV tallied 61 receiving yards and a touchdown.
 
Inside the First Half
The Cardinals scored on their first drive after Tyler Amos powered into the end zone with a five-yard rush. SVSU struck again on their next possession after Dante Barthwell scored a 14-yard run. Franklin-Branch blocked the PAT, and the score was 13-0 in favor of the home team. The Cards' Isaiah Malcome found the end zone to increase the SVSU lead 20-0. The Cards tacked on a field goal and two touchdowns and held a 37-0 lead at the intermission.

Inside the Second Half
Taylor lofted a pass to Sanders for a 40-yard strike to open the scoring in the second half. The Bobcats managed to generate a 12 play, 74-yard drive deep into Saginaw Valley territory that featured Payne connecting with Hurt for a fourth down conversion. The drive stalled at the Saginaw Valley 11-yard line. The Cards cruised to a 72-0 opening night win. 
 
Up Next
The Bobcats open Mountain East Conference play at UNC Pembroke on Saturday (Sept. 10) at noon.