From six wins in their first three years of existence to six wins without a loss going into their showdown of nationally ranked teams last night, the Seton Hill Griffins have become the Cinderella story in Division II college football.

With a 35-28 come-from-behind win against West Virginia State at Offutt Field in Greensburg, the Griffins continue to be the "feel good" story in only their second season of full-fledged membership in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Antwarn Jones scored on a 12-yard run with 10 seconds left as the Griffins erased a 14-point second-half deficit.

"I'm so proud of these guys because they never quit," Seton Hill coach Joel Dolinski said. "...This kept our championship dreams alive."

Seton Hill is in the driver's seat, not only for top honors in the WVIAC this season, but for an NCAA Division II playoff berth. Seton Hill (7-0, 4-0) entered the game ranked No. 24 in the American Football Coaches Association poll and third in Super Regional One (composed of the Atlantic and East divisions). West Virginia State was No. 19 nationally and No. 9 in the region. The top eight from the region qualify for the NCAA.

West Virginia State (5-1, 3-1) got on the board first by driving the ball 96 yards. The scoring drive was set up by a 76-yard run by Brian Mitchell to the Seton Hill 20. Mitchell, with 140 yards rushing in the first quarter, finished with 228, but did not play the final 22 minutes of the game due to an ankle injury. Mitchell scored three touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets, who led, 14-7, at halftime.

Seton Hill's only touchdown of the first half was David Wess' pass of 40 yards to Derek Thompson late in the first quarter.

Trailing, 21-7, midway in the third quarter, Seton Hill caught a spark and break when receiver Calvin Stephens ripped the ball out of the arms of West Virginia State's Steven Bumpus, who had just intercepted a Wess pass. The fluke play started at the Yellow Jackets' 42 and finished at the 4, setting up Antwarn Jones' touchdown run on the next play to cut the deficit in half.

Seton Hill tied the score when Wess hit Sammy Tranks with a screen pass from 34 yards out. After the visitors scored on a pass on their next possession for a 28-21 lead, the Griffins forged another deadlock when Jones scored on a 5-yard run with 6:44 left. Jones finished with 104 yards on 23 carries.

"Our offense woke up [in the second half]. They set their alarms late," Dolinski said.