INSTITUTE, W. Va. – Eddie Stockett scored on a four-yard sneak with 27 seconds remaining to lift Urbana University over West Virginia State University, 35-31, in a wild finish Saturday at Laken Field.
The host Yellow Jackets had one final chance at a Hail Mary, but UU's
Marcus Omosule dumped WVSU quarterback Austin Hensley into the turf as time expired for the only sack of the game. The Blue Knights scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory.
UU improved to 5-2 (5-2 MEC) for the first time since 2013 while handing WVSU (5-2, 5-1 MEC) its first conference loss of the season. Saturday's victory was the third for coach Haines at Laken Field as the Blue Knights lead the all-time series against WVSU, 4-3.
Additionally, the Blue Knights moved to 9-2 in road games decided by seven points or less during the Haines era.
Stockett led a surging Blue Knight offense that totaled 514 yards, including 278 on the ground. The senior signal caller went 13 of 22 for 236 yards, while tying his career-high with three passing TD's for the second straight week. He also added two short rushing TD's. Stockett's favorite target was
Rafael Floyd with 61 yards on four catches.
The UU offense had zero turnovers and dominated the time of possession with a margin of over 14 minutes. The Blue Knights did not commit a penalty in the second half after committing five before halftime. The Yellow Jackets were flagged 11 times for 172 yards.
The Blue Knight running backs dominated behind a great effort from the offense line, led by
W.R. Sanders Jr. and
Isaiah Young. Sanders carried a season-high 24 times for 141 yards. It was his third 100-yard game of the season and featured a long run of 25 yards to set up a game-tying touchdown in the third quarter. Young produced 146 all-purpose yards, leading the team with 80 receiving yards and a pair of TD catches, including a 50-yard catch and run off a wheel route.
Defensively,
Joe Marshall totaled 11 tackles,
Chris Richardson had nine and
LA Kelly and
Duray Hall each made seven stops.
UU took the lead first when Stockett found Young leaking out over the middle for a 30-yard TD on the second play of the second quarter. The Blue Knights struggled to capitalize in WVSU territory early on despite running 41 plays and holding possession for nearly 20 minutes in the first half. WVSU tied it on the next drive and scored on a 34-yard pass just before halftime to take a 14-7 lead into the break.
WVSU had the ball first after halftime with the chance to extend the lead, but Richardson knocked the ball loose after a first-down completion and
Duray Hall recovered near midfield. UU tied the game five plays later as Stockett found paydirt on a one-yard plunge. Sanders led the drive with a pair of 20-yard gains to get deep in WVSU territory.
The game remained tied until Stockett hit Young in stride down the UU sideline for the senior running back's second touchdown. The 50-yard strike put the Blue Knights ahead 21-14 with 11:41 remaining.
But, the fireworks were only starting.
WVSU tacked on a field goal to make it 21-17, following a nice defensive stand by the Blue Knights at the UU 3. Stockett went back to work and answered on the next drive by finding a wide open
DeArmon Lewis downfield for a 36-yard TD. The first touchdown of Lewis' career put the Blue Knights ahead 28-17 with just over four minutes left.
The Jackets have had success all year late in games, twice recording a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute. The same script almost played out on Saturday.
Hensley, who threw for 380 yards on 20-of-34 passing, marched the Jackets down in four plays to trim the deficit to five, 28-23, with three minutes left.
Then, UU failed to convert a 4th-and-2 at the WVSU 41, which would've sealed the game, and the Jackets took over with 1:54. Three plays later, Hensley made a perfect throw to Isiah Scott and the home crowd erupted as the wideout tip-toed the sideline for a 44-yard TD. After a 2-point try, the Jackets led 31-28 with 1:08 remaining.
However, a penalty on Scott's TD celebration proved costly on the kickoff as the Blue Knights were able to start the game-winning drive at their own 40. Another penalty on the first play moved the ball up to the WVSU 45, and Stockett took advantage. He took a shot downfield with a deep ball to Floyd, who made a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab at the 4 yard line. The Blue Knights used their final timeout and regrouped to overpower the Jackets at the line to push Stockett across with 27 seconds to go.
Overall, the two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense with UU holding the slight advantage, 514 to 495. WVSU running back Taylor Carter had 101 rushing yards and Scott finished with 149 receiving yards with two scores. Wideout Zach Pate also finished with over 100 receiving yards and a TD to lead the Jackets. Linebacker Dustin Crouser had 17 tackles to lead the WVSU defense.
UP NEXT: UU returns home to host Concord next Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. ET.
