BOX SCORE

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team took another heartbreaking loss on Saturday when Seton Hill picked off a Hilltopper pass inside the SHU 20 with less than 90 seconds remaining, preserving a 26-22 win for the Griffins in the 16th annual Alumni Scholarship Bowl.

Facing a crucial 4th-and-1 from the Seton Hill 23, West Liberty (1-8, 1-6) followed a Seton Hill (1-8, 1-6) timeout with one of its own.

“We knew if they came with pressure, the narrow slant was going to be there,” head coach Roger Waialae said. “They defended it the same way they had all day but we just didn't execute.”

Hilltopper QB L.D. Crow had hit a number of big plays on similar calls earlier in the game but this time his quick toss wound up in the hands of Seton Hill linebacker Rodney McMath, who dropped to the turf with the interception at his own 18 with just 1:29 remaining.

The Griffins couldn't move the sticks on the ensuing possession but with just 4 seconds showing on the clock, QB D.J. Lenehan took the fourth-down snap and ran out of the end zone for a safety as time expired.

“It's the same story,” an obviously-frustrated Waialae said. “We hurt ourselves with turnovers and we make too many mistakes. I said last week we have to be a smarter football team and we weren't a very smart football team today.”

West Liberty had snapped a 13-13 tie early in the fourth quarter when Crow capped a 9-play, 73-yard drive with his third TD pass of the day, a perfectly-thrown 7-yard fade to a leaping Marvin Murray for a 20-13 Hilltopper lead at the 10:05 mark.

Seton Hill answered with Lenehan picking up all but the final yard of a 70-yard march through the air as Daniel Butler slammed in from a yard out on the 8th snap of the drive to knot the score at 20-20 with 6:14 to play.

A good kickoff return gave the WLU offense good field position but Crow coughed up the ball on a blind-side sack by blitzing Griffin linebacker Daniel Bautista, who recovered the ball at the West Liberty 32.

Lenehan finished off a short scoring drive with a 9-yard touchdown scamper but the Hilltoppers' Marco Ricchetti blocked the PAT, keeping the deficit at 26-20 with 3:09 remaining.

A couple of quick completions by Crow moved the ball into Seton Hill territory and a roughing-the-passer penalty on 4th-and-10 from the 47 kept the drive alive and put the ball at the SHU 32, setting up the decisive final series.

Crow completed 25-of-42 passes for a 322 yards and 3 touchdowns while Schroeder had a career afternoon, hauling in 13 tosses for 180 yards – both career-highs – to lead all receivers.

Lenehan completed 20-of-30 passes for 322 yards with a touchdown and an interception. WR Jeorge Valdovinos had 5 catches for 144 yards, including a 78-yard TD bomb at the end of the third quarter.

“Consistency was our biggest problem in preseason camp and that's still the case,” Waialae said. “We need all 11 players doing what they're coached to do on every snap. If 10 players do what they're supposed to do but one player doesn't, it's just not going to work. Football is a team game and all 11 guys have to work together.

“Ultimately, that's my fault. I'm not going to blame the kids. We have to keep working and get this fixed.”

The Hilltoppers host Concord Saturday in the final home game of the season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Russek Field.

GAME NOTES

X The WLU Alumni Association recognized its six scholarship recipients at halftime. Melanie McFadden, Ryan Aston, Sadie Atkinson, Kylie Bolden and Kayla Pace were awarded a total of $4,000.

X Former Hilltopper All-American Zach Amedro was honored at halftime. The leading passer in NCAA Division II history was presented with a framed West Liberty jersey and a proclamation was read proclaiming Saturday as “Zach Amedro Day” on the hilltop.

X The Hilltoppers set a season-high with 25 first downs and tied a season-high with 388 yards of total offense

X L.D. Crow's 322 passing yards and 3 TD passes were each career-highs

X This was Seton Hill's first win against West Liberty in seven tries

Seton Hill 26

West Liberty 22

Seton Hill 7  0  6  13 – 26

West Liberty 0  6  7    9 – 22

First Quarter

SHU: Lenehan 5 run (Cavalier kick), 4:20

Second Quarter

WLU: Schroeder 16 pass from Crow (kick failed), 12:51

Third Quarter

WLU: Carver 34 pass from Crow (Hoak kick), 9:36

SHU: Valdovinos 78 pass from Lenehan (kick blocked), :16

Fourth Quarter

WLU: Murray 7 pass from Crow (Hoak kick), 10:05

SHU: Butler 1 run (Cavalier kick), 6:14

SHU: Lenehan 9 run (kick failed), 3:09

WLU: Safety, Lenehan ran out of end zone, :00

A-401

Game Statistics

RUSHING: Seton Hill 31-27, Lenehan 8-21, Butler 13-8, Miller 9-0, Randall 1-(-2). West Liberty 34-66, Burress 16-65, Davis 6-24, Crow 12-(-23)

PASSING: Seton Hill 20-30-322-1td-1x (all by Lenehan). West Liberty 25-43-322-3td-1x (Crow 25-42-322-3td-1x, Tucci 0-1-0-0-0)

RECEIVING: Seton Hill 20-322, Valdovinos 5-144, Randall 3-78, Delo 3-25, McIntosh 2-30, Galadyk 2-17, Miller 2-14, Chappelear 1-12, Butler 1-2, Armstead 1-0. West Liberty 25-322, Schroeder 13-180, Carver 3-68, Devers 3-23, Tucci 2-17, Murray 2-16, Burress 1-14, Victorio 1-4.

First downs: Seton Hill 17, West Liberty 25

Fumbles: Seton Hill 2-1, West Liberty 4-2

Penalties: Seton Hill 12-113, West Liberty 11-109

Time of Possession: Seton Hill 25:56, West Liberty 34:04