Throw in an exciting 61-42 Yellow Jacket win and there was plenty for the large Homecoming crowd to enjoy.
Including the second most points scored by a WVSU squad since records have been kept. The most being 67 in the 2008 season opener against Lincoln, Missouri.
Kentucky State did cause a little early concern when the Thorobreds got on the board first on a Michael Nero 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play of the game.
WVSU responded with a 10-yard scramble by quarterback Faustino Saucedo to make the score 7-7 and from that point on the action was close to non-stop though the Jackets never trailed again.
Sophomore Calil Wilkins found paydirt from 20-yards out for a 14-7 WVSU lead. Jasper Jude came in for just a few plays when Saucedo was sbriefly haken up on a sack and threw an 18-yard scoring strike to A.J. Barrette to make it 21-7.
The Thorobreds came back to make it 21-14 but Yellow Jacket kick returner Carl Garmon field the ensuing kickoff at his six and ran it back all teh way to run the score to 28-14.
Kentucky State answered again to make it 28-21. Senior Aaron Ball drove a 44-yard field goal straight down the middle with just before halftime to make the score 31-31 at the break.
The scoring pace only speeded up in the third quarter with the Thorobreds getting the first points to pull within 31-28 with 13:04 left in the third.
But the Yellow Jackets took over from there. They gradually slowed the Thorobreds' running game and totally shut down their passing game allowing only four completions in 18 attempts for 27 yards.
It only took three plays for WVSU to answer the visitors and go ahead 38-28 as Wilkins broke tackle after tackle to pound his way to a 39-yard touchdown.
After a Kentucky State turnover it only took one snap for Saucedo to find Jamal Brown for an 18-yard score.
Wilkins closed out the wild third period with another 20-yard run through defenders to the endzone
The defense forced another fumble with the ball deep in Kentucky State territory early in the fourth and the Jackets capitalized a few plays later with Garmon diving in from the one to run the score to 61-35 and dash whatever hopes the visitors still had.
Wilkins carried 13 times for 166 yards and did not see any real action in the fourth quarter. Garmon had 56 on 10 carries and Dylan Lucas 40 yards on seven attempts.
The Jackets threw just 20 passes completing 10. Jude was 2-for-2 in his brief relief stint for 39 yards. A.J. Barrette caught four passes for 79 yards to lead the receiving corp.
Moises Valcarcel had 12 tackles, Robert Branch 11, and Joe Stoneman 10 to pace the defense.
WVSU hosts Concord Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Yellow Jackets' next contest.
WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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