WISE - - College football begins Thursday as UVa-Wise and Glenville State College have the honors of being one of three games in the Mountain East Conference on the season's opening night. A year ago, the Cavaliers claimed six wins in Dane Damron's first season at the helm of the program, including a 26-17 home victory over the Pioneers.  The six wins, coupled with 14 returning starters and a cast of talented recruits have expectations high for the Cavaliers in year two of the Damron regime. Coaches picked UVa-Wise fourth in the MEC Preseason Poll while their opponent Glenville State was picked eighth in the same poll.

The Pioneers will begin a new era Thursday as six-year offensive coordinator Eric Smith will take the reigns of the program after Glenville State posted a 5-6 record in 2016. Smith will have to replace arguably his club's top two offensive players from 2016. Quarterback Dante Roberts is gone after passing for 2,725 yards and 26 touchdowns while receiver Dante Absher accounted for 870 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2016. Behind center, Smith will turn to senior Ja'Quay Garmon who completed six of 17 passes for 89 yards.  At tailback, Glenville State will rely heavily on senior Dominique Gibson.  A year ago, Gibson gained 595 yards while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. The 5-foot-11, 210 pound Wake Forest University transfer had made the move to defense in the spring but has moved back to the offensive side of the ball this fall. At receiver, the Pioneers will send out seniors D.J. Williams and Damon Robinson along with Kentre' Grier. Williams is the team's top returning receiver having caught 41 passes for 666 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. On defense, the team returns All-MEC Honorable Mention defensive back Earon Settles. A year ago, the 5-foot-10, 185 pounder led the Pioneers with 86 tackles while adding four interceptions and a fumble recovery. Settles is one of five seniors slated to start on defense for Glenville State Thursday.

Second-year quarterback Brycen Lee is back to guide the UVa-Wise offense. Last year, the Mayo, Fla. product passed for 2,306 yards and 13 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. One of Lee's finer performances came against Glenville State when he completed 24 passes for 346 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Senior Carlton Griffith is back at tailback after leading the team in rushing in each of the last three seasons. As a junior, Griffith gained a career-high 714 yards while posting nine touchdowns. The back should benefit from a "beefed" up offensive line. Offensive line coach Mike Compton will start four juniors and a sophomore who average 6-foot-3, 296 pounds. At wide receiver, senior Jacob Cousins returns after leading the team with 578 receiving yards and six scores as a junior. Juniors Darius Jones and Kaian Durvenger along with freshmen Chris Thaxton and Joe Addison will join senior James Cousins as other receivers in the mix for playing time. On defense, 13 of the 22 players listed are either juniors or seniors. Defensive back Ed Kargbo finished second in the MEC last season with five interceptions while fellow seniors Darius Johnson and Michael Tarrer anchor the defensive line. In the secondary, Norfolk State transfer Kwadwo Diawuo, Marshall transfer Marquis Hamilton and Eastern Kentucky University transfer Demetrius Mann should aid a unit that allowed on average 280.6 passing yards per game.

A win would allow UVa-Wise to win its season opener for the second consecutive season while also securing its first win at Glenville State. Next week, the Cavaliers will play their second of three consecutive Thursday night games when West Virginia State University visits Carl Smith Stadium. Glenville State plays its first road game of 2017 next Saturday when the team travels to Notre Dame College.