WHEELING, W.Va. (Sept. 27) – The Wheeling University football team hits the road in search of its first win when it takes on West Virginia Wesleyan in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) game at Cebe Ross Field Saturday afternoon. Kick off is set for 1 p.m.

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GAME NOTES (pdf.)

WHEELING WEEK IN REVIEW: A 47-yard touchdown draw Wheeling back within one score at 34-26 with just over three minutes on the clock Thursday night, but Urbana put the game away with four first downs and a touchdown to claim a 41-26 win at Bishop Schmitt Field last week.

W.Va. WESLEYAN WEEK IN REVIEW: The Bobcats trailed Charleston 27-8 with 6:45 to play in the third quarter. W.Va. Wesleyan went on to out-score the Golden Eagles 20-7 over the next 15 minutes to draw within five at 34-29. WVWC had two more possessions, including one at the UC 31-yard line, but were unable to find the go-ahead points and fell to 0-3 on the season.

W.Va. WESLEYAN HEAD COACH: Head Coach Tony Testa is in his first season leading his alma mater and sixth overall. He was elevated to the head job following a five-year tenure as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. As a player, Testa was an All-WVIAC Second Team selection in 2005 and part of the 2002 and 2003 WVIAC Championship teams at West Virginia Wesleyan.

TACKLE MACHINES: Wheeling and West Virginia Wesleyan feature the top-two tackle leaders in Division II. Cardinal corner back Rich White ranks second in the nation with 7.3 solo tackles per game, while Bobcat linebacker John Merica leads the country with 8.3 solo per game.

TOUCHDOWN MAKER: Redshirt-junior wide receiver Jaquaun Davidson scored two more touchdowns last week. Davidson, who has found the end zone in all three games, ranks fourth in the MEC and 33rd in Division II with four touchdowns this season. 

OBEYING THE RULES: Wheeling and West Virginia Wesleyan are the least penalized teams in the MEC this season. The Cardinals have been flagged a league-low 6.0 times per game for 53.7 yards, while the Bobcats have been penalized 6.0 times for 49.3 yards per game.

WRONG SIDE OF THE STICKS: Wheeling on defense has allowed a league-worst 25 first downs per game. West Virginia Wesleyan on offense is averaging a league-worst 15.0 first downs per game.

PICKED OFF: Sophomore quarterback Tucker Strachan has attempted a league-high 117 passes through three games, ranks third in the MEC with 254.0 yards per game, but has been intercepted six times. West Virginia Wesleyan is the only team in the MEC without a defensive interception this season.

STAYING ALIVE: Wheeling went 2-for-3 on fourth down conversions against Urbana and is a league-best 66.7 percent on fourth-down attempts this season (4-of-6). The Cardinals faced fourth down and six from midfield, when Strachan found Jake Keenan for a 47-yard touchdown to draw Wheeling back within one score at 34-26 with just over three minutes left in the game.

NEXT UP: The Cardinals return home on Saturday, October 5 to take on Charleston in a MEC contest at Bishop Schmitt Field. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.