CONFERENCE PLAY CONTINUES IN WEEK 5
• Conference play continues in week five with one Thursday matchup and five matchups on Saturday afternoon/evening across the league.
• Saturday’s originally scheduled Frostburg State at UNC Pembroke game has been rescheduled for Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m., the Mountain East Conference announced on Tuesday. The schedule change is due to the likelihood of significant rainfall and potentially dangerous winds reaching the Pembroke, N.C. area as early as Friday morning due to Hurricane Ian.
Saturday’s slate includes Charleston at Notre Dame and Wheeling hosting West Virginia Wesleyan at 12 noon, West Liberty at Glenville State and Fairmont State at Concord at 1 p.m., while Alderson Broaddus hosts West Virginia State in the evening at 6 p.m.
• In week three, eight of the 12 teams surpassed the 30 points mark, including three teams that scored 40+ points. Last Saturday in week four, just three teams scored 30+ points (Charleston 62, Notre Dame 48, and Wheeling 34).
• Only four teams scored 30+ points during week two.
• MEC teams went 6-6 in non-conference play in week one, with three of the four MEC home teams coming away with victories.
• MEC teams are 15-7 at home this season. Last week, home teams went 4-2.
Notable
• West Liberty’s Shon Stephens (7), Frostburg’s Wylan Harich (4) and Wheeling’s Kelvin Bazemore (3) each rank in the top five in the country in interceptions this fall.
• Nine different players in the Mountain East Conference have two or more interceptions this season.
• Through four weeks of the 2022 season, just 10 games have been decided by 7 points or less. However, six of those 10 games have taken place over the past two weeks.
• Wheeling’s Sy Alli currently leads the Mountain East Conference in rushing with 441 yards to go with 6 TDs. He is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. The Frostburg State duo of Sean Aaron (386) and Josh Maxwell (376) ranked second and third in the league in rushing, respectively. Alli’s teammate Eli Young is fourth in the league in rushing with 368 yards.
• Concord’s Jack Mangel and Glenville State’s Jeff Miller have already surpassed 1,000 yards passing this season. Mangel has a league-high 1,111 yards and nine passing touchdowns, while Miller has thrown for 1,070 yards and a league-best 10 touchdowns. NDC’s Chris Brimm is third in the league in passing yards with 939.
• Concord wide receiver Jarod Bowie is leading the MEC in both receptions (32) and receiving yards (575) this season. Five different players have over 300 receiving yards already this season, including Bowie, Marvin Smith (ABU, 340), Javian Bellamy (GSU, 328), Devin Washington (WVWC, 308) and Lowell Patron (WU, 301).
• Four different MEC players have over 500 all-purpose yards this season, including Concord’s Jarod Bowie (574) and Kris Copeland (533), Glenville State’s Zakee Swann (528) and Wheeling’s Sy Alli (517).
• Fairmont State’s Jovon Jackson and Notre Dame’s Nathan Moore currently leads the MEC in total tackles this season with 44 apiece.
• In 2022, three MEC offenses are averaging over 400 yards per game – including Glenville State (475.8), Wheeling (426.0) and Concord (422.0).
• In week three, three different MEC players rushed for 100 yards, including 167 yards and two touchdowns from Sy Alli (WU). Fairmont State’s Myles Miree (117) and Frostburg’s Sean Aaron also surpassed 100 yards rushing last weekend.
• In week three, two different MEC receivers had double-digit catches, including Glenville’s Javian Bellamy (14-151) and Concord’s Jarod Bowie (13-221).
• Three MEC quarterbacks surpassed 300 yards passing in week three, led by Concord’s Jack Mangel with 354 yards through the air. Notre Dame’s Chris Brimm (349) and Glenville State’s Jeff Miller (324) also surpassed 300 yards passing last weekend.
Thursday, Sept. 29
Frostburg State (3-1, 2-1) at UNC Pembroke (1-3, 1-2) | 4 p.m. | Pembroke, N.C.
Watch Live | Live Stats
Notes: The Frostburg State at UNC Pembroke football game has been moved up to Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. due to the likelihood of significant rainfall and potentially dangerous winds reaching the Pembroke, N.C. area as early as Friday morning due to Hurricane Ian … In 2021, Frostburg State pulled away for a 51-21 win over UNC Pembroke in Maryland … In that meeting, Frostburg State had 525 yards of total offense, including over 300 yards passing and over 200 yards rushing … Frostburg’s Graham Walker threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns, while Josh Jones (UNCP) completed 18-of-30 passes for 206 yards and a TD … UNC Pembroke ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in red zone defense at .500 this season … Frostburg State’s 34:17 time of possession average ranks seventh in NCAA Division II this fall … FSU’s Jordan Marcucci ranks third in NCAA Division II with six receiving touchdowns in 2022 … UNCP’s Branden Spencer currently ranks fifth in the country in sacks per game (1.38).
Saturday, Oct. 1
Charleston (2-2, 2-1) at #18/22 Notre Dame (3-1, 3-0) | Noon | South Euclid, Ohio
Watch Live | Live Stats
Notes: Notre Dame is currently ranked in both Division II national polls … The Falcons dropped one spot to No. 18 this week in the AFCA Top 25, while also moving down one spot to No. 22 in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll … Last fall, Notre Dame suffered its lone regular season setback against the University of Charleston, as the Golden Eagles picked up a 38-28 win at UC Stadium … Last October, UC outgained Notre Dame 430-325, which included 282 rushing yards for the Golden Eagles … UC’s defense also forced two Notre Dame turnovers in the win … Notre Dame is currently tied for first in the country with three defensive touchdowns this season.
Wheeling (3-1, 2-1) at WV Wesleyan (0-4, 0-3) | Noon | Buckhannon, W.Va.
Watch Live | Live Stats
Notes: In 2021, Wheeling blanked West Virginia Wesleyan by the final score of 38-0 at Wheeling’s Bishop Schmitt Stadium … Wheeling outgained West Virginia Wesleyan, 451-147, last October … Wheeling had 198 rushing yards in the win … Sy Alli led the Cardinals in the victory with 18 carries for 120 yards and two rushing touchdowns … Wheeling ranks 10th in the country in rushing defense this fall, allowing just 61.0 yards per game … In addition, Wheeling ranks 16th in the country in rushing offense at 234.0 yards per game on the ground … Wheeling’s Sy Alli ranks in the top 25 in the country in rushing touchdowns (6), rushing yards (441), scoring (9.0/per game) and total touchdowns (6).
West Liberty (3-1, 2-1) at Glenville State (2-2, 1-2) | 1 p.m. | Glenville, W.Va.
Watch Live | Live Stats
Notes: Last fall, West Liberty edged Glenville State, 20-19, in week five of the 2021 season … In last year’s matchup, West Liberty led 20-3 early in the second quarter before holding off a late surge by the Pioneers … The two teams combined for seven turnovers during the last meeting in 2021 … West Liberty’s nine interceptions this season rank third in the country … Glenville State ranks eighth in the country in total offense (475.8) and 16th in passing offense (283.5) … Jeff Miller’s (GSU) 10 touchdown passes in 2022 rank as the eighth-most in the country … Miller also ranks 16th in Division II in passing yards (1,070) this fall.
Fairmont State (1-3, 1-2) at Concord (4-0, 3-0) | 1 p.m. | Athens, W.Va.
Watch Live | Live Stats | Live Audio
Notes: Fairmont State won the last matchup between the two programs, 31-27, back on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 … There was tons of offense in the 2021 meeting, with Concord outgaining Fairmont State, 493-457 … However, Fairmont held a 192-64 advantage in rushing yards … Concord’s Jack Mangel completed 21-of-37 passes for 429 yards and three scores through the air, while Fairmont State’s Michael Floria completed 14-of-24 passes for 265 yards and four TDs … Joshawn Lewis hauled in three passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns for Fairmont State – including a 60-yard TD catch … Senior Tywan Pearce led Concord during the 2021 week five matchup against Fairmont State by hauling in 10 passes for 288 yards and three scores … Concord ranks eighth in NCAA Division II in first downs (offense) this season … Concord’s 277.8 passing yards per game ranks 18th in NCAA Division II … Jack Mangel (CU) ranks 11th in NCAA Division II in passing yards this season (1,111) … In addition, CU receiver Jarod Bowie ranks third in the country in receiving yards (575) and sixth in receptions per game (8.0) this season.
West Virginia State (2-2, 1-2) at Alderson Broaddus (0-4, 0-3) | 6 p.m. | Philippi, W.Va.
Watch Live | Live Stats | Live Audio
Notes: In week five of the 2021, West Virginia State rolled to a 45-13 home win over Alderson Broaddus … In the lopsided West Virginia State victory, the Yellow Jackets rolled up 543 yards of total offense, including 275 on the ground and 268 through the air … Both teams were held below 50 yards rushing in the game … Donovan Riddick completed 13-of-20 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns for WV State in the win … Anthony Billups (18-103) rushing for over 100 yards for the Battlers on the afternoon … Alderson Broaddus’ 309.7 passing yards per game rank eight in the country this season.