It's rare that the combatants in any college football rivalry can run into each other en masse at the local shopping mall, but that is one of the things that intensifies the competition between the University of Charleston and West Virginia State, two programs separated by a shade over 11 miles of highway between Charleston and Institute.
"It's super-competitive," State linebacker Dennis Gardeck said. "I know that, in years past, that it might not have been as competitive, as far as play goes. But it's definitely bragging rights for the Charleston area, and it's important to us."
When the Golden Eagles (2-1, 2-1 Mountain East Conference) visit the Yellow Jackets (2-1, 2-1 MEC) at 1 p.m. today, bragging rights are only part of what is at stake. It's not just that State is seeking its first win over UC since a 24-21 win in 2008. The two teams enter the game with identical records and the winner remains near the top of the Mountain East standings.
Only Shepherd entered this weekend's slate of games undefeated. The State-UC winner stays in the tier at or just below the Rams in the hunt for a conference title. The loser already is saddled with two conference losses and will need help to climb back up the charts.
"It's a conference game and they're all must-wins," UC coach Pat Kirkland said. "I don't like to use that this early, but that's how we approach it, to prepare extremely, extremely hard each week, regardless of who the conference opponent is."
Since that State win in 2008, Charleston has dominated the series. Those six straight wins have included three shutouts and five games where the Golden Eagles held the Yellow Jackets to 10 points or fewer. The only game where State got past that 10-point threshold was a 42-20 loss in 2011.
Today, though, no one should expect low scores, especially with how both teams' offenses have exploded into the first three games of the season. In a conference where six teams are averaging more than 28 points per game, State and UC both sit in the top four of the MEC and the top 32 in all of Division II in scoring.
The Yellow Jackets are second in the conference and 11th in the country, averaging 44.7 points, having broken the 50-point barrier twice. The Golden Eagles are fourth in the conference and tied with Tusculum for 31st nationally, averaging 37.3 points.
State rides the prolific arm of quarterback Matt Kinnick. After winning MEC offensive player of the week honors with his 434-yard, three-touchdown day versus West Virginia Wesleyan, the redshirt sophomore now leads the conference in passing with 312.3 yards per game. The Yellow Jackets also have weathered the loss of starting running back Tevin Brown to average 174.3 rushing yards per game and sit second in the MEC with 11 rushing touchdowns.
UC remains a stout running team, second in the MEC averaging 250 yards. But the Golden Eagles have improved through the air, thanks to the dual-threat capabilities of transfer Jeremy Johnson. The sixth-year quarterback played every series but one in UC's 31-30 win over Glenville State, throwing for 214 yards on 11-of-20 passing and adding 88 yards on 11 carries.
"We're always going to have to account for him, running and throwing," State coach Jon Anderson said. "And that certainly opens up things for what they want to hang their hat on, which is the physical run game. They've done a nice job of adding that athlete back there."
Both State and UC have given up some points to start the season, State allowing 31.7 per game and UC allowing 39.7. But the Golden Eagles came up with the necessary plays to beat the Pioneers, holding running back Rahmann Lee to 99 rushing yards after he gained 412 the week before versus Wesleyan.
The Yellow Jackets have shown a knack for momentum-shifting plays. They're third in the conference with 11 sacks and tied for second in the conference with eight turnovers gained, including six interceptions. Gardeck is second in the MEC with four sacks, while Stevin Gomez leads the conference with three interceptions.
"We try not to worry about that," UC receiver Joey Augustin said. "We try to just play our game. We feel if we play our game - no turnovers, take care of the ball - not too many people can stop us."
In what has already been a topsy-turvy conference season - West Liberty upset then-ninth-ranked Concord, then lost to previously winless Fairmont State - one game can make a massive difference, even this early in the year. Both UC and WVSU aspire to remain among the MEC's leaders. The loser of this game not only slides down the standings, but must feel the sting of knowing the victor sits only miles away.
"I don't think you ever get away from it," Anderson said. "Win or lose, you get to live with it year-round and have it in close proximity. That adds something a little to it as well. It's right there. It's where you live, where you eat and where you sleep."