WISE - - Thursday's game between UVa-Wise and West Virginia State pits two teams who got their season off to a fast start last week. The Cavaliers overcame a 16-3 deficit in the second quarter to defeat Glenville State 41-29 on the road while the Yellow Jackets blasted the University of Charleston 51-28 in Institute, W.Va. This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools with each of the first four games being decided by eight points or less; UVa-Wise holds a 3-1 lead in the series.

Both teams will look to keep the offensive momentum going after the Cavs posted 485 yards of total offense and the Jackets tallied 538 offensive yards last week.

UVa-Wise was led by redshirt sophomore Brycen Lee who passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Lee added 56 rushing yards and received solid protection from his offensive line as he was sacked just once in the win. Playing in their first game together, Lee may have found a favorite target as junior college transfer Kaian Duverger caught eight passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

West Virginia State is led by senior quarterback Matt Kinnick who completed 22-of-27 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns in last week's win over the University of Charleston. The signal caller also showed his ability to move the ball with his legs as he gained 43 yards on just four carries. Kinnick's go-to-receiver was a familiar one in fellow senior Quinton Gray. Gray finished the game with six catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns, including a 59-yard scoring reception.

While both offenses were lighting up the scoreboard, each team's defense struggled in one facet. While UVa-Wise locked down Glenville State's rushing attack, the Cavs struggled to defend the deep ball in the passing attack. The Pioneers completed eight passes of 15 yards or longer, including touchdown passes of 80 and 34 yards en route to 318 passing yards in the game. Meanwhile, West Virginia State had a hard time stopping the run. The Golden Eagles gashed the Jackets for 352 yards on the ground while averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Last season, the two played down-to-the-wire in Institute as West Virginia State scored with 25 seconds to play to take a 37-36 lead. UVa-Wise answered back with a quick moving four-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by Trent Martin's MEC record setting sixth field goal of the day as time expired to give his team the 39-37 win. Lee passed for a career-high 423 yards in the win while James Cousins finished with 120 receiving yards for the Cavs.

Gray was a thorn in the side of the UVa-Wise defense as he caught 11 passes for 101 yards as part of a Jackets' offense that tallied 494 passing yards in the loss.

A win Thursday would allow the Cavs to start 2-0 for the first time since the 2008 season when then head coach Bruce Wasem guided the progam to an 8-3 record.

Next week West Virginia State will return home to square off with Notre Dame College Saturday while UVa-Wise will play its third consecutive Thursday night game when the team travels to Concord University for a 7 p.m. kickoff.