The 2024 football season gets underway on Thursday night as three Mountain East Conference teams take on non-conference opponents.
Thursday’s slate gets underway with Fairmont State hosting Seton Hill at 7 p.m. Also at 7 p.m. West Liberty hosts Walsh and Wheeling hosts Mercyhurst.
On Saturday, Glenville State travels to Emory & Henry at 1 p.m. while West Virginia Wesleyan is at Post with kickoff also slated for 1 p.m. At 6 p.m. two other contests get underway with UNC Pembroke hosting Wingate and preseason favorite Charleston traveling to Livingstone.
Week 0 Matchups
Thursday, Aug. 29
Seton Hill (0-0) at Fairmont State (0-0) | 7 p.m. | Faimront, W.Va.
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Notes: Luke Barker kicks off his first season as head coach at Fairmont State after 11-year veteran Jason Woodman took over the head coaching reins at FCS Morehead State (Ky.). …The Falcons return more than 40 lettermen from last year’s regionally-ranked 8-3 (6-3 MEC) squad and checked in at No. 4 in the 2024 MEC Coaches’ Preseason Poll. …First-team All-MEC DB Eltayeb Bushra and OL Joseph Petryszak lead the horde of returning veterans for FSU…Fairmont State is seeking the 500th win in program history, dating back to 1908. …Seton Hill is coming off a 6-5 season (4-3 PSAC West) in 2023. …Junior RB Ky’Ron Craggette is a returning first-team All-PSAC West selection
Walsh (0-0) at West Liberty (0-0) | 7 p.m. | West Liberty, W.Va.
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Notes: Roger Waialae welcomes back 10 starters and 37 lettermen as he kicks off his 20th season at the Hilltopper helm. …West Liberty finished strong a year ago, winning four of its last six games. …Walsh lost its last six games after getting off to a 3-2 start and has just 7 wins in its last 37 games. ….The WLU offense averaged 25.4 points, 66.4 rushing yards, and 277.9 passing yards per game in 2023. …The Hilltopper defense scored 6 touchdowns a year ago, returning 5 interceptions and one blocked punt for scores. …The Cavaliers return 2023 G-MAC Defensive Player of the Year in junior LB Cam Hollobaugh. …In last year’s season opener, a West Liberty rally fell short as Walsh held on for a 24-21 win
Mercyhurst (0-0) at Wheeling (0-0) | 7 p.m. | Wheeling, W.Va..
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Notes: Zac Bruney brings a 30-25 record into his sixth season holding the Wheeling University reins. …The Cardinals are coming off a 5-5 (4-5 MEC) season a year ago, marking Bruney’s fourth consecutive year with a .500 or better overall record. …Wheeling was picked No. 6 in the MEC Coaches’ Preseason Poll, the highest preseason ranking ever for the young WU program. …Returning QBs Javon Davis and Landon Lutz combined for nearly 2,000 passing yards last fall. …The Cardinals also return 4 of 5 starters on the offensive line, led by All-MEC tackle Peter Schmitt. …Mercyhurst is in its first season competing as an FCS program. …The Lakers went 2-9 a year ago in their final season at the NCAA D2 level. …The Cardinals have won 12 of their last 16 games in the friendly on-campus confines of Bishop Schmitt Field.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Glenville State (0-0) at Emory & Henry (0-0) | 1 p.m. | Emory, Va.
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Notes: Veteran head coach Mike Kellar brings a 23-23 record into his sixth season calling the shots at Glenville State. …The Pioneers were picked to finish 5th in the 2024 MEC Coaches’ Preseason Poll. …Glenville State returns a strong nucleus of talent from last year’s squad, which went 6-4 overall and 5-4 in league play. …Senior RB Alfred Menjor and junior QB Anthony Garrett are proven playmakers. …Emory & Henry (Va.) went 5-6 a year ago with a 4-5 record in league play. …The Bees were tabbed for a 9th place finish in the 2024 SAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. …WR Cam Abshire and WR/KR Cam Peoples were among 10 Emory & Henry players named to the Preseason All-SAC Team
West Virginia Wesleyan (0-0) at Post (0-0) | 1 p.m. | Waterbury, Conn.
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Notes: Fourth-year head coach Dwayne Martin and his Bobcats make the long trek east to Connecticut this weekend looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 campaign. …Wesleyan will be relying on a deep and experienced front line to jump start the running game and provide protection for returning QBs Nate Payne, Logan Landers and Quinton Pulley. …Senior PK Liam Depp booted 13 FGs a year ago and was 5-for-5 from 40 yards and out – including an MEC season-best 50-yard bomb against West Virginia State. …The host Eagles are in just their third season as a varsity program. …Post picked up the first win in school history last fall, defeating Franklin Pierce (N.H.), 16-13, on Oct. 21.
Wingate (0-0) at UNC Pembroke (0-0) | 6 p.m. | Pembroke, N.C.
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Notes: Mark Hall brings plenty of momentum into his second season at the UNC-Pembroke helm. …The Braves, coming off a 7-3 season (6-3 MEC), host fellow North Carolina D2 power Wingate under the lights at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. …The defense is led by NCAA D2 All-America and MEC co-Defensive Player of the Year Jamae Blank, who was charted with 21.5 TFLs a year ago, including a school-record 12.5 QB sacks. …MEC Offensive Freshman of the Year Sincere Baines returns to the UNCP backfield after rushing for nearly 800 yards and 11 TDs in his debut campaign. …Wingate went 8-2 (6-2 SAC) a year ago and was picked 2nd in the 2024 SAC Coaches’ Preseason Poll. …Consensus NCAA D2 All-American DE Marquise Fleming leads a rock-ribbed Bulldog defense. …Wingate has averaged more than 10 wins a season over the past seven years
Charleston (0-0) at Livingstone (0-0) | 6 p.m. | Salisbury, N.C.
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Notes: After leading Charleston to an MEC championship and the first NCAA Division II playoff win in school history, MEC Coach of the Year Quinn Sanders brings an impressive 16-7 record into his third season as head coach at UC. …The Golden Eagles seem primed to make a strong defense of their MEC crown as Sanders welcomes back 20 starters for Saturday’s opener on the road at Livingstone (N.C.). …UC was ranked No. 23 in the AFCA Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 and No. 24 in the D2Football.com Preseason Poll. …Junior RB Chavon Wright, the 2023 MEC Offensive Player of the Year, and senior QB Javonte Howard headline a diversified attack for Charleston. …LBs Willie Floyd and Aden Miller return to head up a solid UC defense after combining for 145 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 5 QB sacks last fall. …The Blue Bears went 4-6 (4-4 CIAA) last fall.
