BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Week 3 of the Division II college football season features four Mountain East Conference matchups as conference play begins. Undefeated teams Fairmont State and Frostburg State open MEC play at home, as well as the University of Charleston and West Virginia Wesleyan. Fairmont State, Frostburg State, and UC are receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll. The lone idle team this week is Glenville State, which wrapped up non-conference play with a comeback win at Millersville last Saturday.
Week 3 Matchups
Saturday, Sept. 20
Wheeling (1-2) at Fairmont State (2-0) | 12 p.m. | Fairmont, W.Va.
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Notes: The Cardinals open conference play after posting a winning league record last season (5-4) ... Wheeling carries a two-game league winning streak into Saturday’s MEC opener ... WU won its 2024 conference opener, too ... the Cardinals are coming off their first win of the 2025 season ... Wheeling has won two of the three MEC Special Teams Player of the Week awards ... the Cardinals are one of the top pass rushing teams in the MEC and share the league lead in sacks with six ... Wheeling running back Steven Mitchell is coming off of his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season ... Mitchell now has six career 100-yard rushing games, and the Cardinals are 4-2 when Mitchell reaches triple figures on the ground ... Wheeling has won three consecutive games when Mitchell goes over 100 yards ... Fairmont State enters Saturday’s game as one of the two remaining unbeatens in the Mountain East ... the Falcons are receiving votes in the Top 25 poll ... Fairmont State is on a five-game win streak overall, and a three-game win streak in conference play ... the Falcons have a four-game winning streak at home ... Fairmont State will host its Day of Champions celebration during halftime, recognition for all individuals or teams with conference championships during 2024-25.
West Liberty (0-3) at Frostburg State (2-0) | 1 p.m. | Frostburg, Md.
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Notes: This is the second consecutive year these teams will meet in a Mountain East Conference opener … Frostburg State won at West Liberty, 57-23, on Sept. 14, 2024 … That win by the Bobcats was part of a 6-0 start that saw the program rise into the national rankings … West Liberty is in search of its first victory in 2025 … the Hilltoppers last won an MEC opener in 2022, a 30-17 decision against Alderson Broaddus … WLU QB Kohl Meisman is off to a hot start with 697 passing yards in three games … Meisman’s completion percentage has increased in each game this season … This will be West Liberty’s third road game this season … the Hilltoppers have lost eight consecutive games on the road dating back to 2023, including an 0-2 mark this season … Frostburg State is receiving votes in the Top 25 poll for the first time this season … the Bobcats have a five-game winning streak in MEC openers … Frostburg State will look to open 3-0 for the fifth consecutive season … the Bobcats started 5-0 in 2021, 3-0 in 2022, 3-0 in 2023, and 6-0 last season … Frostburg State is 16-3 prior to October 1 in the last five seasons.
West Virginia State (1-1) at West Virginia Wesleyan (0-3) | 1 p.m. | Buckhannon, W.Va.
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Notes: West Virginia State is back an action after an off week … the Yellow Jackets are coming off a 28-14 win against Barton … Two of WVSU’s touchdowns versus Barton came on interceptions returned for touchdowns … The Jackets are still looking for their first touchdown of the season, as three of their offensive touchdowns have come via the ground and the other two on defense … West Virginia State will look to start hot again in MEC play after winning its first four games in conference play in 2024 … the Yellow Jackets have a two-game win streak in league openers … West Virginia Wesleyan carries a 27-game losing skid into Saturday’s MEC opener … the Bobcats were last on the winning side on Oct. 22, 2022, a 31-30 win against Alderson Broaddus … WVWC is in search of its first win in a league opener since Aug. 31, 2017, a 23-18 win at Concord.
Concord (1-1) at Charleston (1-2) | 1 p.m. | Charleston, W.Va.
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Notes: Concord is back in action after an off week … the Mountain Lions are coming off a 38-31 loss at Bluefield State … Concord’s offense has clicked early this season, ranking No. 18 nationally in total offense and No. 3 nationally in passing yards per game … the University of Charleston opens MEC play after battling a pair of nationally ranked opponents … the Golden Eagles lead three MEC teams that are receiving votes in the Top 25 poll … After going 9-0 in conference play last season, UC puts its length league win streak on the line on Saturday … Charleston has won 12 consecutive conference matchups dating back to Oct. 21, 2023 … the Golden Eagles have won six consecutive MEC openers … the last time a UC team lost a conference opener was Sept. 2, 2017 to West Virginia State.
Conference Play Starts for MEC Teams
• Eight of nine Mountain East Conference teams are in action this week as conference play begins.
• All games this week are slated for Saturday at 1 p.m.
• Fairmont State and Frostburg State both put 2-0 records on the line.
• Glenville State is the only MEC team idle this week.
Notable
• Streaking: University of Charleston, Fairmont State, and Glenville State have overall or conference win streaks. UC has won 12 consecutive games in Mountain East Conference competition; Fairmont State has won five straight games overall, and Glenville State has won five consecutive MEC games after finishing the 2024 season strong.
• Frostburg State has scored 40-plus points in each of the first two games of the season. Since joining the MEC for the 2019 campaign, the Bobcats are 21-0 when scoring 40 or more points.
• Grounded: Fairmont State and Frostburg State are the MEC’s two remaining unbeaten teams. Their success in 2025 is rooted in the run game. The Falcons have the MEC’s top rushing offense, while the Bobcats lead in rushing defense.
• Concord leads the MEC in passing yards per game, but the offensive philosophy has not led to more sacks. The Mountain Lions have allowed only one sack in 2025, a conference best.
• No team gets off the field on third down like Charleston. The Golden Eagles have faced 35 third down situations, but the defense has allowed a conversion only four times this season — the No. 1 percentage (.114) among Division II teams nationally.
• West Virginia Wesleyan is the most disciplined team in the MEC with 13 penalties across three games.
• Glenville State’s 44 points last Saturday in a win at Millersville is a single-game high by an MEC team this season. The Pioneers’ 604 yards of total offense also mark a single-game best in the league in 2025.
• Anthony Garrett’s 404-yard outburst against Millersville is the top single-game performance in the MEC this season.
• The only three 150-yard rushing performances have come from Fairmont State: Leonard Farrow (twice) and LeJay Hatcher (once).
• University of Charleston running back Jaylen Butera reeled off a 71-yard run against nationally ranked West Alabama, the longest rush from scrimmage in the MEC this season.
• The MEC boasts two of the top 10 nationally in total offense: Concord QB Tyler Mizzell (No. 2) and Glenville State QB Anthony Garrett (No. 10).
• Of the teams with two or more defensive touchdowns nationally, two of the six are from the MEC: Frostburg State and West Virginia State. The Bobcats are one of three teams that have a fumble return and an interception return for a score.
• Fairmont State running back Leonard Farrow is one of two players averaging at least 200 yards per game on the ground, joining N.M. Highlands’ Jeffery Jones. Farrow is No. 70 nationally in total offense, one of two non-QBs in the top 100.
• The 93-yard link up between Wheeling quarterback Ade Olanegan and receiver Jordan Kaiser is the longest pass-and-catch in the MEC in the last two seasons. Kaiser had one career reception prior to his three-catch, 120-yard performance last Saturday in a win at Lake Erie.
• Frostburg State ranks No. 11 nationally in scoring offense (41.5 points per game).