The Yellow Jacket football team topped the Kentucky State Thoroughbreds 61-42 to win the 2018 Homecoming game in the battle of the “states”.
The game was a high scoring affair that saw 779 yards of total offense, and 16 total scores.
Kentucky State’s Michael Nero ran the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to put the Thoroughbreds up 7-0.
State scored the next three touchdowns, with Faustino Saucedo scoring from 10 yards out, Calil Wilkins going in from 20 yards out, and A.J. Barrette catching a touchdown pass from 18 yards out from third string quarterback Matt Jude.
Kentucky State got back on the board to bring the Thoroughbreds within seven after a Jules St. Ge five-yard touchdown run.
Carl Gorman had a kickoff return for a touchdown of his own to put State up 28-14 with four and a half minutes left in the second quarter.
Kentucky State responded to get within seven once again after a Cort Groathouse seven-yard touchdown once.
Aaron Ball kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to end the first half.
St. Ge scored his second touchdown of the day for the Thoroughbreds, this time from 15 yards out, to bring Kentucky State within three.
Calil Wilkins scored from 39 yards out to put State up 38-28 on the next Yellow Jacket drive. After a Yellow Jacket interception from Robert Branch that set State up in excellent field position and Saucedo connected with Jamal Brown from 18 yards out on the very next play to put the Yellow Jackets up 45-28. Aaron Ball would send a 42 yard field goal through the upright just a minute and half later to put State up 48-28, and with more than nine minutes left in the third quarter.
St. Ge scored a four-yard touchdown, his third of the day, to make the scored 48-35.
Wilkins closed the fourth quarter out with his third touchdown of the game, this time from 20 yards out, pushing the Yellow Jacket lead to 55-35. Gorman scores his second touchdown of the day to push the Yellow Jacket lead to 61-35 just after the start of the fourth quarter.
Kentucky State’s Nero would close the day out with a 70-yard punt return touchdown with just over a minute to left to set the final score of 61-42.
Saucedo led all players going 8 for 18 passing for 103 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Matt Jude went two for two for 39 yards, and a touchdown.
Calil Wilkins led all rushers with 166 yards, on just 13 carries, and three touchdowns. Carl Gorman had 10 carries for 56 yards, and a touchdown as well.
A.J. Barrette was the top receiver for State, catching four receptions for 79 yards, and a touchdown.
State gets back to .500 with a 3-3 overall record, and a 2-3 record in conference play. The Thoroughbreds drop to 0-6 overall.
The Yellow Jackets are at home next week when they host the Concord Mountain Lions.
WVSU freshman football player Carl Gorman has been named Mountain East Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
Gorman returned one kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and another 21 yards in Saturday’s win. He also ran 10 times for 56 yards and caught two passes for 21 yards.
