The West Virginia State and University of Charleston football teams will see their roles from last week reversed for today's slate of games.
This week, it's the No. 20 Golden Eagles who step out of Mountain East Conference play for a game, hosting Alderson Broaddus at noon. The Yellow Jackets return to Mountain East Conference competition, visiting Concord at 1 p.m.
When State (5-4, 5-3 MEC) looked at this matchup on paper at the beginning of the year, it looked a lot different than it does now. The Mountain Lions entered the season ranked ninth in the AFCA Division II poll. They're concluding their season against the Yellow Jackets trying to snap a three-game losing streak and end the season at .500. Concord is 4-5 both overall and in the conference.
WVSU redshirt sophomore quarterback Matt Kinnick said the Yellow Jackets see on film a team that doesn't reflect its win total. Four of Concord's five losses, including each of the last three, have come by seven or fewer points.
"You can't really look too much at their record," Kinnick said. "They've lost some close games and we're not taking them lightly at all. They're still a very talented team."
The Mountain Lions still have running back Calvinaugh Jones, an All-MEC first-team pick last season who has rallied in the second half of 2015. After gaining no more than 67 yards in any of his first four games, Jones has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in each of his last five, averaging 160 yards in that stretch.
Concord's skid hasn't hurt its defense, which still ranks second in the conference in both points allowed (22.3 per game) and yards allowed (350.9 per game). With Kinnick, who is tied for second in the conference with 18 touchdown passes, under center, the Yellow Jackets have big-play potential. State coach Jon Anderson knows any big plays won't come easily against Concord's defense.
"They play extremely hard and are well coached," he said. "They're going to have a good scheme and force you to make plays and extend drives and not give you anything for free. You're not going to sneak anything over the top."
West Virginia State left its MEC environs last week and visited the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The unfamiliarity didn't help in a 45-21 loss. The Yellow Jackets may know a bit more about today's opponent, but Anderson knows they can't dismiss Concord due to its struggles.
"The message I'm sending to the team is we're in no position to overlook anyone based on any record," he said. "I hope they hear that loud and clear."
n While the Golden Eagles (8-1, 8-1 MEC) enter some unfamiliar territory against Alderson Broaddus (6-3), it's at least a bit more familiar than what the Yellow Jackets dealt with last week. The Battlers are based in Philippi and UC coach Pat Kirkland said that offers some advantages.
"You try to get every edge you can," he said. "You have some film on them and you try to track them each week since they are in-state, which is nice. A lot of those kids we looked at on film, recruiting-wise."
AB is 6-3, having snapped a three-game losing streak with a win last Saturday over Virginia University of Lynchburg. Two of the losses in that slide came against Football Championship Subdivision foe Duquesne and MEC member Glenville State.
UC enters today with some lofty goals still well within reach. The Golden Eagles want their first Division II playoff berth and, ranked third in Super Region One, they're in very good position to secure it. But they have to keep winning, which means their focus has to be on today's game and not the big picture.
"Really, as a head coach, it's my job to worry about the entire puzzle and just keep the players focused on their next opponent," Kirkland said. "That's what they need to do. We're playing a team that has some talent and will come in here and give us their best shot. We've got to handle that."
Fifth-year senior defensive lineman Danilo Morales can see the focus in his teammates' eyes. He's not worried about the Golden Eagles looking too far ahead. It has been their week-to-week preparation that has carried them this far.
"The biggest thing I like to stress to our guys is just living in the moment," Morales said. "I've been here for five years and I've experienced highs and I've experienced lows. Just living in the moment and enjoying what's happening; we don't know what tomorrow is promised. I think the boys love it. They enjoy having that target on their backs and really do think we enjoy living in the moment."