The West Virginia State football team hits the road again today, hoping the momentum from last week's win - the biggest since head coach Jon Anderson arrived on campus - will carry through against an unfamiliar opponent.
Today's 2 p.m. game at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke has no effect on the Yellow Jackets' spot in the Mountain East Conference standings. The Braves are a Division II independent, the school reinstating the program in 2007 after a 57-year absence.
Still, Anderson sees plenty of opportunities in this game for his team, including the chance to act as ambassadors for the MEC and the university.
"It's an exciting deal," Anderson said. "It's the unknown. It's going out of our region, playing a team we don't know much about. I want our guys to take the mentality of taking the Mountain East brand and, they might not know a whole lot about West Virginia State University, but our performance is going to put that image to West Virginia State. Whatever we do is what they're going to think of us."
The Braves (4-3) likely think the Yellow Jackets (5-3, 5-3 MEC) are walking into today's game with confidence. Even without top rusher Tyrone Barber and top receiver Quinton Gray, State was able to weather one final Glenville State drive and hold off the Pioneers for a 24-21 win. It snapped a seven-game losing streak to Glenville and was State's first win this season over a team with a winning record entering the game.
If WVSU can beat the Braves, it will guarantee the Yellow Jackets a winning season, their first since 2008 and only their third in the last 22 years.
State has no history with UNCP, but Anderson said that isn't going to change how the team gets ready for the Braves.
"We're going to prepare the same," Anderson said. "We're going to do our homework and put together a great game plan. The only difference is when you see teams every week in conference, you get to think about that a little bit longer and see a team over the course of a season - how they morph, how they play, what they do well.
"When you haven't seen their entire body work, you have to make some assumptions based on what you see and based on what you think you could see."
One could assume the Braves will be happy to return to the confines of Grace P. Johnson Stadium, especially after two tough road losses. UNCP dropped a 62-28 decision at North Alabama and took a 39-21 loss at Catawba and has lost three of its last four games.
Turnovers - UNCP has 17 this season - have been an issue, especially recently. The Braves gave up a pair of interceptions and a fumble against both UNA and Catawba. Running back Rontonio Stanley leads the Braves with 422 yards and five touchdowns on 70 carries. Quarterback Patrick O'Brien has thrown for 1,473 yards 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Seven of those 10 touchdown passes have gone to receiver B.J. Bunn.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets will have to worry about defensive lineman Mike Keck, who has nine sacks, nine quarterback hurries and 12 tackles for a loss this season.
In enjoying success they haven't seen in years, State defensive back Daniel Ware said the Yellow Jackets relish the chance to explore new horizons.
"It's going to be a great experience, going to another part of the country and playing a team like that," Ware said. "But we definitely want to leave our mark, show them and continue to show our conference and around our area the new West Virginia State University football team."