CHARLESTON — West Virginia Wesleyan football wrapped up its road schedule on Saturday afternoon with a 69–15 setback to the University of Charleston.
Charleston (6–3, 5–1 MEC) wasted no time establishing momentum with three first-quarter touchdowns, including a 46-yard scoring burst from Joshua Donald on the Golden Eagles’ first drive. After a fumble on the ensuing kickoff set up another short-field score, Charleston extended its lead to 14–0 just six minutes into the game.
The Bobcats (0–10, 0–7 MEC) answered late in the opening quarter when Landers connected with Heyward on a 30-yard touchdown strike, capping a quick two-play, 43-yard drive that provided Wesleyan’s first points. That trimmed the deficit to 21–7 before Charleston’s Jamal Wallace Jr. rushed for two more scores in the second quarter to send the hosts into halftime ahead 35–7.
The third quarter proved decisive as Charleston piled on 27 unanswered points. Wesleyan’s special teams did notch a highlight when Eudean Dobson scooped a blocked PAT and returned it for two defensive points.
Charleston’s balanced offense, led by Donald (15 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs) and Wallace Jr. (4 carries, 37 yards, 3 TDs), continued to find success on the ground, finishing with 285 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Wesleyan closed the game on a positive note. In the fourth quarter, Raphael Manning completed an impressive 72-yard drive, finishing with a two-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 69–15.
Landers completed 16 of 34 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown, spreading the ball to six different receivers. Heyward led all Bobcats with six receptions for 63 yards and a score, while TeDerrius Strowbridge added five catches for 50 yards and Zion McIntosh recorded a season-long 49-yard grab.
On defense, Elias Jeffries and Eric Watson led Wesleyan with six and five tackles, respectively. Isaiah Irvin recorded an interception, and Dobson added a blocked PAT return. The Bobcats also forced two Charleston fumbles and recovered both.
Punter Bryson Johnston booted six punts for 168 yards, while Heyward and Strowbridge combined for 136 kickoff return yards.
The Bobcats take a week off before hosting the season finale against Glenville State University on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. This will be Wesleyan’s Senior Recognition Day.
