For the last couple of weeks, West Virginia State has gone up against teams that center their offensive focus around establishing the run early and often in order to have success.
This week, that changes a bit. The Yellow Jackets prepare to take on a UVa-Wise team that is currently last in rushing in the Mountain East Conference, averaging just 80 yards per game on the ground.
It's a Cavaliers team that looks to be improved after last year's 1-10 campaign, currently sitting at 2-2 following a quality win over Glenville State. And it's one that is going to do a lot of its damage through the air.
"Defensively, we always try to make a team one-dimensional. Any time you can do that, the odds can shift into your favor," West Virginia State coach Jon Anderson. "We've got the personnel that I think we can be comfortable if a team is going to throw it 50-plus times or run it a bunch. Our guys are confident in what they can do to slow down whoever they go up against."
In the win over the Pioneers, UVa-Wise was able to throw the ball all over the field - with brothers Jacob and James Cousins both finishing the game with more than 100 yards.
Jacob Cousins enters the game with 15 grabs for 283 yards and a touchdown this season, while James has caught 11 passes for 214 yards and a pair of scores.
As West Virginia State prepares for the game, it is doing so by entering the contest with a simple mindset about the best way to go about slowing down the talented duo.
"Shut them down, don't let them catch anything that's thrown their way," cornerback Ayinde Warren said. "It's pretty easy to say, but that's what we have to go out there and try to do. They're athletic, they're physical - we just have to play our game and not let them get free."
Through four games this season, the young WVSU secondary has been able to find success when opposing teams have thrown the ball.
Teams are completing just 54 percent of their passes against the Yellow Jackets through the first four games and State has intercepted six passes - including two apiece from junior Kevin Coffie and freshman Kyle Alexander.
"We're young and I think we've done a pretty good job," Warren said. "It's different for me a little bit because I'm one of the older guys now, so we're the ones that have to set the right example. We're the ones the young guys can go to when they need to get on the same page."
UVa-Wise quarterback Brycen Lee has thrown for 882 yards and six touchdowns, as well as three interceptions, this season. And the Cousins brothers aren't the only targets he's had to throw to.
In Corey Hilberath and running back Carlton Griffith, the Cavaliers have two other players who have caught at least 20 passes this season in addition to the big-play threats that Jacob and James Cousins have emerged as.
With a number of players who can factor into the plans and make it even more challenging, the Yellow Jackets understand they could have their hands full this week.
And now their challenge is to answer the call and help West Virginia State get back on track with what could be its second win of the season.
"We've been watching a lot of film on them. It's a lot different from the last couple times we've played where we've focused more on tackling and things in the open field," Coffie said. "Now we're focusing on everything, our technique and how we play the ball in the air. We've got to make sure we're in the right position.
"We're going into this one needing to win, we're starving to get another one, so we've got to get it right."