Football | 9/9/2010 10:56:09 PM
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 20-ranked West Liberty University football team are facing a “big” challenge here Saturday in every sense of the word.
Southern Connecticut State, which hosts the Hilltoppers in a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, has earned NCAA Division II playoff bids in four of the past five seasons and has been installed as the preseason favorite to defend its Northeast-10 conference championship.
As if that weren't a “big” enough test, the Owls themselves are huge. Southern Connecticut's starting offensive line averages 6-4, 324 pounds from tackle to tackle. The backups are even bigger – 6-4, 327 pounds.
“They're a very good football team and they have been for quite a while,” West Liberty head coach Roger Waialae said. “These are the games you have to play and the challenges you have to accept if you're going to compete at the highest level.”
Both teams are coming off disappointing offensive performances in last week's season opener. That adds even more urgency to the battle between the defending champions of the West Virginia Conference and the Northeast-10 as the loser of Saturday's game will be 0-2 and facing an uphill climb to return to the NCAA Division II postseason
The Hilltoppers rolled up nearly 300 yards of total offense to grab a 19-7 halftime lead against No. 24 Edinboro last week but turnovers, penalties and blown assignments kept West Liberty off the scoreboard over the final two quarters as Edinboro rallied to a 20-19 upset. It was the Hilltoppers' lowest point total in two seasons.
Southern Connecticut managed just 290 yards of total offense in a 16-6 loss at Indiana (Pa.). The Owls shot themselves in the foot with four turnovers and lost the time of possession battle by nearly 13 minutes. It was the first time SCSU had failed to score in double-figures in 54 games.
Despite the change from Edinboro's smaller, quicker squad to the Owls' bigger, stronger roster, Waialae and his staff focused much of their preparation on fine-tuning work the Hilltopper offense and defense.
“We're more concerned about our execution than anything else,” Waialae said. “Our offense is pretty unique so you can't really get a good picture of what the other team is going to do against us from tape. Our goal is to do what we do as well as we can do it and make them adjust to us.”
Senior quarterback Zach Amedro completed 35-of-52 passes for 330 yards and a touchdown against Edinboro but the Hilltopper rushing attack never got off the ground, showing just 56 rushing yards on the day. Senior tight end Ryan Travis continued to impress with 12 catches for 76 yards and a TD. Travis is five catches away from breaking the school's career receiving record.
The defense played well, recording 6 sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss while holding Edinboro to just 251 yards of total offense and 9 first downs. West Liberty came out of the game in good health but several players were banged up during a physical week of practice. Defensive end Nick Augustyn, who had 3 tackles and a sack in his Hilltopper debut, will likely miss the rest of the season with a leg injury.
Southern Connecticut features a 1-2 punch at tailback in senior John Wiechman and junior Rashaad Slowley. Wiechman had 75 yards on 10 carries against IUP while Slowley showed 40 yards on 12 carries and scored the team's lone touchdown. Quarterback Kevin Lynch completed 17-of-36 passes for 184 yards but was picked off three times.
The Owls defense held IUP to just 266 yards of total offense and only three plays of 20 yards or more. Indiana's longest drive of the day covered just 52 yards and the Hawks' only touchdown was a 34-yard run set up by a turnover deep in Owls territory.
The Hilltoppers are idle next week but return to action on Sept. 25 when they open West Virginia Conference play at home against West Virginia Wesleyan. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Hall of Fame Day at Russek Field.
