West Virginia State football coach Jon Anderson has gotten used to the fact that every week in the Mountain East Conference presents a new and interesting challenge for his team.
But as the Yellow Jackets prepare for this weekend's contest against Notre Dame College, they are realizing they are in for a test unlike many they've seen this season in quarterback Malik Grove and the rest of the potent Falcons offense.
"Everything starts with [Grove]. He's without a doubt one of the most dynamic athletes in the league," Anderson said. "He's such a threat whether he's throwing the ball or running it - whenever he has it, you know he has the chance to do something special for them."
Grove leads the Mountain East Conference in total offense (355.2 yards per game) and in passing touchdowns with 17, a number that puts him at No. 4 nationally.
He also is eighth in the nation in points responsible for thanks to his 18 total touchdowns. The Cincinnati native has completed 88 of 155 passes for 1,384 yards and has thrown just one interception. He's also seventh among Division II quarterbacks in rushing, gaining close to 80 yards per game on the ground.
"He's able to create chances with the way he can extend a play, then that buys him the time to find a guy to pass it to or take off running," Anderson said. "He's someone we have to key on and focus on a lot. He's a great player who touches the ball every play and makes the guys around him better."
West Virginia State is coming off a last-second loss to UVa-Wise last week in which it allowed more than 600 yards of total offense.
Despite allowing a lot of yards, including more than 400 through the air, Anderson said he was pleased with the way his team stayed strong and had a handful of great stands in the red zone that forced the Cavaliers to attempt field goals rather than add to the lead with more touchdowns.
The fourth-year coach said he's expecting to see that type of drive and resolve again as the Yellow Jackets square off against what has been the MEC's most dynamic offense this season.
"The way offensive football is anymore and the amount of points everyone is scoring now, you just have to find a way to make them snap the ball again - you can't let them in the end zone," Anderson said. "We're going to make them earn their way down the field. With that said, we have to limit our mistakes and tackle well.
"Ultimately, the thing that matters most is what happens the next time you line up. Our biggest goal is to limit the number of big plays and penalties we give up."
In that loss last week, WVSU allowed 12 plays that went for at least 15 yards.
Against an offense like the one Grove has orchestrated for Notre Dame this season, there won't be much room for error.
And, of course, Grove isn't the Falcons' only weapon.
Notre Dame is first in the league with 478.2 yards of offense per game and is second in scoring at 35.8 points per contest.
Senior receiver Mitchell Shegos, the reigning MEC Offensive Player of the Week, broke a school record with 266 yards and three touchdowns on 11 catches in last week's win over Glenville State. Sophomore running back D.J. Greene is seventh in the league in rushing as Grove's complement in the backfield, averaging 77.4 rushing yards per game with three scores.
"The thing that people don't always remember is how many great supporting guys they have around Grove," Anderson said. "Those are guys he can rely on to make plays, and you've seen the success they can have because they have a bunch of guys you have to watch closely and account for on every snap. It's not just him."
Contact Michael Carvelli at 304-348-4810 or michael.carvelli@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @carvelli3.