GLENVILLE, W.Va. (Nov. 2) – The Cardinals held a halftime lead for the first time, but allowed 24-unanswered points in the second half of their 24-14 loss at Glenville State Saturday afternoon at Morris Stadium.

The loss drops the first-year Wheeling University football team to 0-9 overall, 0-8 in the Mountain East Conference (MEC). Meanwhile, the Pioneers improve to 4-4 in league play, 5-4 overall. Glenville State is undefeated in four home games this season.

Sophomore running back Sy Alli IV (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) led the offense with 73 yards rushing on 17 carries. Classmate Cam'Ron McClain (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) went for 48 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Tucker Strachan (Kensington, Md./Bullis) completed 19 of 35 passes for 156 yards, but threw a trio of interceptions in the loss. Sophomore wide receiver Jake Keenan (Toronto, Ohio/Toronto) led the team with five catches for 56 yards.

Wheeling got into the Pioneer backfield twice on the opening series and forced a three-and-out to start the game. After both teams punted on the next two possessions, the Cardinals took over at their own 29-yard line and embarked on a seven-play 71-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard touchdown run by McClain to make the score 7-0 with 6:47 to play in the first quarter.

The Cardinal took the lead into the second quarter, but Glenville State picked off Strachan near mid-field to setup the Pioneer offense. Glenville State drove to the two-yard line and fumbled near the goal line. Red-shirt sophomore defensive back Jermichael Isom (Gadsden, Ala./Gadsden City) scooped the ball up and took it 98 yards the other way for a touchdown to give Wheeling a 14-0 lead with 8:11 left in the first half.

Glenville State drove the ball right back into the red zone and were setup with first and goal at the four-yard line. Wheeling's defense came up with a huge stop and kept the Pioneers out of the end zone on three-straight running plays. Glenville State elected to go for it on fourth down and the defense stood up again and kept the Pioneers off of the scoreboard with under four minutes to play until halftime.

With the score still 14-0 entering the third quarter, Glenville State drove back inside the 10-yard line for the third time in the game. Wheeling stood tall once again and forced a 21-yard field goal that made the score 14-3 two minutes into the second half.

After a Cardinal punt, Wheeling forced a Pioneer fumble and recovered at the Glenville State 18-yard line. A completion to Keenan setup first and goal from the four, but the Cardinals were held out of the end zone and failed to extend the lead on a fourth down attempt.

Glenville State took over momentum in the game from that point. The Pioneers went on to score a trio of unanswered touchdowns, including on a pick-six and another on a 74-yard run, to assume a 24-14 lead with 6:54 left in the game.

Wheeling had the ball two more times, including a drive that reached the Glenville State 27-yard line, but were unable to come up with any points, allowing the Pioneers to escape with the 10-point win.

Sophomore defensive end Brandon Munoz (Halethorpe, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) was a force on defense for the Cardinals. He matched a program-record with three sacks to go with 12 tackles (six solo), a fumble recovery, and a pass break-up.

Glenville State was led by Florida State transfer running back Mario Pender. Pender rushed for 152 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown, including a 74-yard scamper.

The Cardinals will close out the home portion of their inaugural schedule when they welcome West Virginia State on Saturday, November 9 for a noon kick-off from Bishop Schmitt Field.

GAME NOTES: Wheeling was 7-of-16 on third down conversions; Glenville State finished the day 5-of-14 … leading tackler Rich White III (Cleveland, Ohio/Lakewood St. Edwards) posted five solo stops and two pass break-ups … the Cardinals finished with seven tackles for loss on defense … Isom's fumble recovery for a touchdown is the longest touchdown is program-history … Wheeling was held scoreless in the second half for only the second time all season (Notre Dame, 10/19/19).