Box Score Charleston, W. Va – On Saturday, the Golden Eagles faced their cross-town rival West Virginia State for a chance to win the Mountain East Conference Championship title for the first time in school history. The Yellow Jackets came into this matchup fresh off a loss on the road to Wheeling prior, whereas the Golden Eagles entered Dickerson Stadium as winners of their last two MEC bouts. 
 
The Basics
Location: Dickerson Stadium
Score: UC 52, WVSU 20
Records: UC 9-1 (8-1 MEC), WVSU 4-6 (4-5)
 
How it Happened
After the two sides exchanged punts on their opening drives, the Yellow Jackets would strike first on a penalty-driven drive down field capped off with a Caleb Jantuah pass to Nate Baker for the 7-0 lead at home. The Golden Eagles would match their rival with a tremendous grab overtop the coverage from Marquan Herron as he sprinted the rest of the field for the 47-yard receiving score to level the game at 7-7. Just as the Yellow Jackets had found their offensive rhythm, they would be denied through the air on a 3^rd and 6 by Ashton Gilkey as he intercepted Jantuah's pass at the two-yard line. The Golden Eagles would march out of their own territory and stall at the Yellow Jackets' 47-yard line. Hayden Pack, who proved to be a crucial weapon for Charleston, would pin West Virginia State at the nine-yard line. On the next Charleston drive, Pack would once again place the ball inside the 10-yard line and put the Yellow Jackets deep in their own territory. The Golden Eagles would end the punt-off as Javonte Howard's pass would be brought down by Damon Mouzon in the endzone to take the 14-7 lead into the locker room. 
 
Charleston would receive the ball in the second half and take the game over. Howard would strike through the air for his third touchdown pass to Niko Kausky from six yards away to hold a 21-7 advantage over West Virginia State. With just under four minutes to play, the Golden Eagles would hand the ball off to reliable Chavon Wright as he punched his way into the endzone from five yards out to extend the lead to 28-7. On West Virginia State's next drive, David Schweinefuss would sack Jantuah and jar the ball free. Andrew Chamblee would waste no time at all finding the rock and sprinting the other way for the defensive touchdown and the 35-7 lead. Tim McCutchen would find a 31-yard field goal on the next Charleston drive for the 38-7 advantage. The Golden Eagles would find another defensive score on a pick-six from Roderick Webb on the ensuing drive and the Golden Eagles held a dominant 45-7 lead. After an interception from Kolton Goldie, Charleston's final score of the day would come from the veteran senior Josh Brown up the middle bullying his way through defenders to take a 52-13 lead. When it was all said and done, the Golden Eagles would celebrate their first MEC Championship Title at their rival's field, taking the victory by a score of 52-20. 
 
Up Next
Charleston awaits their next opponent for the first round of the NCAA Super Region One Playoffs. They will be hosting the first round game at the University of Charleston Stadium on November 18^th at 1:00 PM.