Blue Knights Fall to Pioneers in Opener, 44-24

BOX SCORE

GLENVILLE, W. Va. - The Urbana University football team got off to a slow start and couldn't overcome a 34-10 halftime deficit, which led to a 44-24 loss to Glenville State in the season opener at Morris Stadium on Thursday evening.

RECORDS UPDATE
Glenville State improves to 1-0 after defeating Urbana in the season opener for the second straight year. Urbana drops to 0-1 and will aim to get back to .500 next week.

TURNING POINT
Urbana fought back to gain momentum after outscoring Glenville State 14-0 in the third quarter to make it a 10-point game at 34-24 entering the fourth. UU kept the juices flowing by forcing a punt on the Pioneers' first possession of the quarter. Then, Tajuan Green (Columbus, Ohio/Brookhaven) hit Trey McFadden (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) on a 17-yard pass play that put UU in the driver's seat at midfield. However, the drive stalled and Green was eventually intercepted on a third-and-13 pass attempt intended for Trevon Saunders for the first turnover of the game. The Pioneers responded with a touchdown on the next possession to put the game out of reach with nine minutes to go.

URBANA STANDOUTS
On offense, freshman running back Ja'Vahri Portis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) scored on two of his seven carries during his collegiate debut, with both touchdowns coming in the third quarter. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound back plunged across the goal line from two yards out to make the score 34-17 with 11:25 left in the third. Then two possessions later, he broke open a 42-yard dash and sidestepped a defender near the end zone to bring UU back into the game.
 
Slot receiver Trevon Saunders picked up where he left off last season with a team-high four receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. The junior turned on the burners and connected with Green on a 44-yard strike for UU's first touchdown of the night just before halftime.
 
On the defensive side, junior captain Andre Cliff recorded a career-high 12 tackles and had one interception. Redshirt freshman linebacker Duray Hall posted nine tackles in his collegiate debut, while junior Dominic Painter registered his first career sack. Junior linebacker Josh Dillard also picked up a sack.
 
The kicking game turned out well for the Blue Knights as Ross Snodgrass and Brandon Purk each had solid performances. Snodgrass drilled a 45-yard field goal to give UU its first points of the season in the first quarter. That is noteworthy since the Blue Knights attempted just two field goals all of last season. Purk was outstanding in the punt game, averaging 44 yards per kick including a long punt of 52 yards to pin the Pioneers on the GSC seven yard line.

STAT OF THE GAME
Urbana went 2-for-2 from the red zone with a first-quarter field goal and third quarter rushing touchdown.

NOTABLES
Urbana is now 8-22 in season openers dating back to 1986. UU's last victory in the first game of the season came in 2012.

Trevon Saunders hauled in his 10th career touchdown. He needs five more to break the top five career leaders in UU history
 
Andre Cliff pulled down his third career interception

UU had 11 players make their debuts in a Blue Knight uniform tonight

UP NEXT
Urbana returns home a week from Saturday on Sept. 10 for its home opener against West Virginia State. The Blue Knights defeated the Yellow Jackets 30-23 in Week 2 last season. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET at UU Stadium.