WILSON, N.C. – The Barton football team (0-1) suffered a 27-24 loss to West Virginia State (1-0) in the 2024 season opener Thursday night at Electric Supply Company Field and Truist Stadium in front of nearly 3,000 fans.
The Yellow Jackets' Joel Felder (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) rushed for a game-high 178 yards and a touchdown while West Virginia State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to beat the Bulldogs in the first-ever meeting between the two squads.
West Virginia State rushed for 248 yards in the contest and overcame a 23-yard blocked punt return by Barton senior defensive back
Connor Stanley (Garner, N.C.) late in the fourth quarter to hold off the Bulldogs for the road victory. The Yellow Jackets' Justin Pessoa (Clayton, N.J.) scored the game-winning touchdown at the 11:57 mark of the fourth quarter with a three-yard scamper.
Barton sophomore quarterback
Trevor Nored (Waldorf, Md.) passed for 310 yards to go along with a rushing touchdown while senior wide receiver
Jayden Flood-Brown (Newport News, Va.) totaled nine catches for 140 yards in the losing effort.
Barton freshman running back
Jackson Parrish (Graham, N.C.) scored from one yard out and senior linebacker
Matt Smith (Raleigh, N.C.) led all tacklers with 15 as well.
Barton hits the road to take on Chowan next Saturday, September 14, at 6:00 p.m., in Murfreesboro, N.C., while West Virginia State hosts Carson-Newman on Thursday beginning at 6:00 p.m.
