West Virginia Wesleyan football started its 2024 campaign on a high note Saturday, scoring its first touchdown on its opening drive, but eventually fell, on the road, to Post University (Conn.) 41-24.
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The Bobcats'
Quinton Pulley completed a short pass to senior receiver
Dariuse Cooper who ran it 40 yards for a touchdown less than two minutes into the game. But Post was quick to respond when Joshua Tracey took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to the end zone.
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Cooper snared his second touchdown with a 5-yard reception from Pulley with 2:58 left in the first quarter to top off a 9-play, 45-yard drive and Wesleyan went up 14-7.
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Post tied the game after a series of Bobcat penalties including a pass interference on
Keyishaun Robinson and a personal foul on Corey Baugh that placed the ball at the Bobcat four. Post's Isaiah Emmanuel rushed the middle for the touchdown and a tie score.
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The teams traded a series of plays then together, scored three touchdowns with less than two minutes before the half. At 1:37, Bobcat sophomore running back
Kevin Mitchell capped a 9-play, 69-yard drive with a two-yard lunge into the end zone. Then, 23 seconds later, a Wesleyan penalty again helped move Post down the field where, from the Bobcats' 45-yard line, Malakai Taylor found Joshua Tracey running deep to tie the score at 21. Just 60 seconds later, Post had the ball after a quick three-and-out by Wesleyan and used 13 seconds to take the lead on a 3-play, 60-yard drive capped by Tyler Phammachanh's 10-yard run.
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The Bobcats would score just three more points in the second half.
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Wesleyan's Pulley led all passers with 176 yards on 19-of-30 passes, and two touchdowns and no interceptions.
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Mitchell ran for 61 yards and one touchdown on 17 attempts. Redshirt freshman
Logan Altland added 28 yards on eight attempts.
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Junior receiver
Elijah Lewis led Wesleyan's receiving corps with 78 yards on six receptions. Cooper caught four for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
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Two Post quarterbacks threw for touchdowns. Phammachanh went 3-of-7 for 104 yards and Taylor 3-of-8 for 83 yards. Emmanuel led all rushers with 95 yards on 23 attempts. Tracey led all receivers with four receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
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The Bobcats take a week off and return to action Saturday, Sept. 14 for the home-opener under the new Cebe Ross stadium lights. Wheeling University will visit Buckhannon for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. Admission to the game is free.
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