The University of Charleston and West Virginia State football teams entered the 2016 season with high expectations. Both programs had moved in positive directions over the last few years.
The Golden Eagles were coming off their inaugural Division II playoff appearance after winning 10 games for the first time since 2013. The Yellow Jackets had continued to make progress and increased their win total every year since Jon Anderson took over the program.
It looked as if UC could be on the verge of returning to the playoffs again while WVSU finally made it over the hump for a winning season.
But, as the programs head into their final two games of the season, things haven't gone quite as planned. Charleston currently sits at 2-7 after dropping its fourth game in a row Saturday, while West Virginia State is 1-8 and on a seven-game losing streak.
Charleston visits Alderson Broaddus at 1 p.m. Saturday, while West Virginia State hosts Concord at 1 p.m. Saturday.
"We've built this program over the last six years with the expectation that we want to compete for championships," UC coach Pat Kirkland said. "If you think back to our last four games, those are close games we were in until the final minute and if they go differently, we aren't having this conversation."
For West Virginia State, the goal was to continue building off a five-win 2015 and move over .500. And with the league's leading passer returning, some good pieces back on defense and another year of working with Anderson, the Yellow Jackets felt like they were ready to take that step forward.
But as the losses have piled up this season, it has grown tougher and more frustrating as the Yellow Jackets haven't been able to catch the breaks they've looked for - losing a few games in heart-breaking fashion.
"The toughest thing is how much I hurt for the kids because they put so much into it," Anderson said. "You see your kids come out and play hard every week, and it's hard to go in that locker room after a game and see the frustration and pain on their faces. But we're still working to fix it. We have games left to try to end this season on a good note."
It's been a bit different for Charleston as the Golden Eagles have been battling through injuries for the large majority of the season.
At different points this year, UC has been missing as many as five starters from a game, including starting quarterback Mason Olszewski and running back Tevion Cappe, who led the MEC in rushing before dislocating his hip.
"It's been difficult and it continues to be difficult," Kirkland said. "But none of that changes the fact that we have to suit back up and be out there again on Saturday to try to get back in that win column."
The one thing both coaches have been pleased with, despite the results, is the fact that the players have seemed to keep working hard. As the teams look to move forward from these difficult seasons, the two coaches understand that it is vital that everyone remains bought in to what the staffs are saying.
If the players continue to believe in what they're doing when they step out on the field each week, that's the first step in making sure these tough seasons stay in the past once 2016 is over.
"A football program is only as strong as the culture you build," Anderson said. "That's something our seniors have done a good job of leading the charge on.
"We're struggling, but we haven't fractured or splintered in these trying times. We've stuck together, and that's the most important thing."