BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — As the weather cools and November begins, the Mountain East Conference football race is heating up. In the twilight of the 2025 season, Frostburg State leads with a 5-1 record in conference play. The Bobcats lead by virtue of having an additional conference game than the University of Charleston and Glenville State, which each bring a 4-1 record into this week's place. Frostburg State steps out of conference action, while UC plays at home and GSU hits the road in pivotal matchups that will certainly shape the final weeks of the season.
Most attention will be on Institute, West Virginia, where the Pioneers — with the longest active winning streak of MEC teams at four games — will face host West Virginia State. Both teams have a winning record in league play, although it has been the well-traveled Pioneers who have had the hot hand. Glenville State finished October at 4-0, with wins against Fairmont State, at now nationally ranked Frostburg State, Concord, and at West Liberty. The Pioneers rallied last week for a 32-28 win against the Hilltoppers, with quarterback Anthony Garrett finding Koraun Perdue for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:00 left of the fourth quarter for the go-ahead score. If Glenville State can survive WVSU, the Pioneers will play Wheeling in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and at West Virginia Wesleyan to close the regular season schedule.
Week 9 Matchups
Saturday, Nov. 1
Concord (3-5, 2-4) at Wheeling (4-4, 3-2) | 12 p.m. | Wheeling, W.Va.
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Notes: The The Mountain Lions and Cardinals meet for the sixth time … Wheeling has won four of the last five meetings … the Mountain Lions have never defeated the Cardinals in Wheeling … CU enters the contest after snapping a three-game losing streak … the Mountain Lions have lost four consecutive games on the road this season … Concord is one of five MEC offenses averaging more than 400 yards of total offense per game … the Mountain Lions also have one of the stingiest defenses, allowing 353.8 yards per game (No. 2 in the MEC) … Wheeling enters November after going 2-2 in September and 2-2 in October … the Cardinals are just behind Saturday’s opponent in total defense, ranking No. 3 in the MEC … WU is also No. 3 in scoring defense … the Cardinals have been stout against the run, ranking No. 1 in the MEC in average yards per carry allowed (3.7 per tote) … Wheeling can also be a challenge against the pass, tied atop the MEC list for team sacks (14).
Frostburg State (7-1, 5-1 MEC) at California (Pa.) (5-3, 2-3 PSAC) | 1 p.m. | California, Pa.
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Notes: Frostburg State hits the road for a non-conference matchup after re-entering the AFCA Top 25 poll … the Bobcats are undefeated in non-conference play this season and have not lost a road game (4-0) … Frostburg State ranks No. 2 in the MEC in scoring offense and No. 1 in scoring defense … the Bobcats have held half of their opponents to 13 points or fewer, winning all of those matchups … Frostburg State is No. 1 in the MEC in total defense, allowing the fewest yards per game and touchdowns … the Bobcats are especially adept at defending the pass, ranking No. 1 in the MEC in yards per game allowed, yards per reception allowed, and fewest touchdowns allowed … Frostburg State is also tied for first among MEC teams in interceptions, and second in forced fumbles … this will be the Vulcans’ second matchup against an MEC team this season, as they previously defeated the University of Charleston, 23-19, on Sept. 4 in their season opener … California started the season 4-0, but have lost three of the last five games.
Glenville State (5-3, 4-1) at West Virginia State (4-4, 3-2) | 1 p.m. | Institute, W.Va.
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Notes: The Pioneers and Yellow Jackets meet in a matchup of teams battling near the top of the standings as November commences … GSU won last year’s matchup, 40-14 … Glenville State and West Virginia State have played every season of the MEC’s existence, with the Yellow Jackets owning a 7-4 advantage in the series … WVSU has won five consecutive MEC games against Glenville State in Institute … Glenville State brings the longest active win streak in the MEC at four games … the Pioneers are 3-1 in road games this season … the Pioneers have the No. 2 offense in the MEC, averaging 436.3 yards per game … GSU ranks No. 2 in the MEC in passing offense at 255.5 yards per game … the Pioneers’ passing attack gets great protection up front, as they are tied for the league lead in fewest sacks allowed (six) … Glenville State is particularly effective in the red zone, converting 31 of 37 trips inside the 20 into points — No. 2 in the MEC.
West Virginia Wesleyan (0-9, 0-6) at Charleston (5-3, 4-1) | 1 p.m. | Charleston, W.Va.
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Notes: West Virginia Wesleyan hits the road to play defending MEC champion Charleston … the Bobcats enter Saturday’s game on a 33-game losing streak overall, which dates back to Oct. 22, 2022 … UC won last year’s meeting, 69-21 … the Golden Eagles have won five consecutive games in the series … the Bobcats last defeated UC, 27-26, on Oct. 6, 2018 … Wesleyan enters Saturday’s action tied for first in team sacks and team fumbles recovered … Including the 2019 season, Charleston has played some of its best football in November: 11-1 in matchups during that month in that span … the Golden Eagles have often fallen behind this season, outscored 58-45 in the opening quarter; the final three periods, however, UC has outscored its opponents 73-51, 71-34, and 51-42 … UC scored a season-high 45 points against Fairmont State, aided by defense (touchdown) and special teams (punt return that set up a touchdown … the Golden Eagles remain the best in the MEC at stopping opposing offenses on third down, permitting a first down on 18.3 of chances.
Fairmont State (4-4, 1-4) at West Liberty (2-8, 2-3) | 1 p.m. | West Liberty, W.Va.
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Notes: Fairmont State leads the all-time series with West Liberty, since the MEC’s inception, 7-4 … the Falcons have won two in a row in the series, but the teams have split the last four meetings … the Falcons lead the MEC in scoring (33.9 points per game) … Fairmont State leads the league in total offense (468.9 yards per game) … the Falcons have almost perfect balance between the pass and the run with 1,867 yards on the ground and 1,884 yards through the air … Fairmont State’s average of 6.6 yards per play is tied for the lead among MEC teams … the Falcons have scored a league-best 36 touchdowns … West Liberty is back in action having won two of its last three games … With a win against West Virginia Wesleyan, long-time Hilltoppers coach Roger Waialae recorded his 100th career victory … WLU is one of the most disciplined teams in the MEC, with the fewest number of penalties called (48) in eight games this season.
A full slate of action for the MEC
• All nine Mountain East Conference teams are in action again this week.
• Frostburg State ventures out of MEC play this week for a non-league meeting at Edinboro.
• Frostburg State leads the MEC standings entering November, while Charleston and Glenville State are one game back in the win column.
• Four of this week’s contests are MEC games, plus one non-conference matchup.
Notable
• Frostburg State re-entered the AFCA Top 25 poll at No. 24. The Bobcats spent two weeks in the national rankings earlier this season.
• West Liberty’s Hunter Patterson scored three all-purpose touchdowns in all three of the Hilltoppers’ October games. So far this season, an MEC player has scored three touchdowns nine times, and Patterson has accounted for one third of those performances.
• Glenville State kicker Brody Layman scored 12 points vs. West Liberty on Oct. 25, tied for the most points by a kicker in the MEC this season. That has happened three times, and Layman has accomplished the feat twice.
• Fairmont State quarterback Nino Marzullo generated 408 yards of total offense against UC on Oct. 25, the third 400-plus-yard performance in the MEC this season.
• The 85 punt returns yards by UC’s Caleb Barringer last Saturday are the most by an MEC player this season. Barringer was named the MEC Special Teams Player of the Week.
• Glenville State running back Jeremiah King has recorded four consecutive 100-yard rushing performances and six straight games with a touchdown. The Pioneers are 4-0 when King has a 100-yard rushing game.
• Fairmont State running back Leonard Farrow had a 95-yard run against UC, which eclipsed his own previous long of 86 yards at Edinboro the week prior. Those are the two longest rushes by an MEC player this season. Farrow also has three of the top six and four of the top eight longest runs in the MEC in 2025.
• Concord’s Curtis Clark had the third kickoff return for a touchdown in the MEC this season, a 92-yarder in the first quarter in last Saturday’s game against West Virginia Wesleyan.
• WLU running back Hunter Patterson has three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances and three straight games with multiple touchdowns on the ground.
• Fairmont State RB Leonard Farrow ranks No. 4 nationally in rushing yards and No. 7 in D-II in all-purpose yardage. He is the only player in Division II with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 150 receiving yards.
• UC’s Caleb Barringer is tied for the D2 lead in kickoff returns for touchdowns with two.
• West Virginia State wide receiver Amare Ary is third the nation in receiving yards with 804.
• Concord quarterback Tyler Mizzell is in the top 10 in Division II in total offense (fourth), passing yards (ninth) and passing yards per game (10th).
• Fairmont State specialist Emmanuel Richardson is continuing his pursuit of perfection. Richardson has not missed an extra point attempt in 125 career tries — the most makes and attempts by an MEC kicker without a miss in league history.