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Blocked Field Goal Snaps WLU Win Streak

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Football | 10/15/2016 10:24:00 PM

Box Score
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team saw its three-game winning streak snapped Saturday afternoon when UVa-Wise blocked a potential game-winning field goal in the final minute to spoil WLU's Homecoming festivities with a  come-from-behind 28-27 victory at West Family Stadium.
The Hilltoppers (3-4, 3-3) carried a 27-21 lead into the fourth quarter but the Cavaliers (5-2, 4-2) took over at their own 29 following a WLU punt and marched 71 yards in 14 plays for the go-ahead score.
West Liberty appeared to have stopped the visitors when senior cornerback Solomon Dixon broke up a pass in the end zone on 4th-and-goal from the 4 but the play drew a pass interference penalty, giving UVa-Wise new life and a first down at the 2. Two snaps later, QB Jeremy Eubank threaded the needle to WR Jacob Cousins on a 4-yard slant for the touchdown. Trent Martin's PAT gave the Cavaliers a 28-27 lead with 8:38 to play.
Following an exchange of punts, West Liberty QB Dakota Conwell connected with WR Dan Monteroso on a pair of crucial third-down conversions to set up 1st-and-goal for the hosts at the Cavaliers 8 with just under a minute remaining.
A first-down run lost two yards and a pass to Monteroso in the back of the end zone sailed high to make it 3rd-and-goal from the 10. Monteroso made a circus catch in the left corner of the end zone for an apparent touchdown but was ruled out of bounds.
Christian Morris came on to attempt what turned out to be a 32-yard field goal after a motion penalty pushed the ball back to the 15 but UVa-Wise LB Zach Blair got a hand on the kick and the Cavaliers were able to run out the clock.
It was another game of frustration and missed opportunities for Coach Roger Waialae's hard-luck Hilltoppers (3-4, 3-3), who had led for most of the afternoon only to wind up with their third one-point loss of the season.
"It was a good snap and I didn't think the kick was low," Waialae said. "I'll have to look at film but it looked like they got penetration on the left side and that can't happen. You have to gut it up. You know they're going to be coming hard. You have to get low and dig in.
"Obviously, the plays at the end of the game stick out more but we had many opportunities to make plays in the middle of the game. It shouldn't have come down to that."
The game got off to a fast start with UVa-Wise TB Carlton Griffith bolting 55 yards for a touchdown less than a minute after the opening kickoff only to see Conwell sprint 70 yards on a keeper to the Cavalier 1, setting up a Tyler Peterson touchdown run at 12:58 of the opening frame.
West Liberty blocked the PAT following a 4-yard Griffith TD burst at the 10-minute mark and Conwell sent the Hilltoppers into the second quarter with a 21-13 lead with back-to-back touchdown throws of 22 yard to Monteroso and 17 yards to Shane Phillips.
Neither team scored again until midway through the third quarter when Conwell fumbled on a sack with UVa-Wise recovering at the West Liberty 48 to set up a 5-yard TD run by Javonte Latney. QB Brycen Lee then hit WR James Cousins for the 2-point conversion, forging a 21-21 tie with 5:12 left in the third quarter.
The deadlock proved to be short-lived as West Liberty's Osman Kargbo fielded a short kickoff at his own 16, found a seam and sailed 84 yards for the touchdown to put WLU back on top, 27-21. Morris' PAT sailed wide right, however, setting the stage for the Cavalier comeback.
"You have to have a strong kicking game," Waialae said. "When you have a field goal blocked and miss a PAT in a one-point loss, it gets magnified. They're not automatic but you have to make the PATs. We also had a chance to not let them get the 2-point conversion but we blew a coverage. It's all about putting yourself in position to make plays and then making them."
Conwell ran for 102 yards on 17 carries while completing 11-of-28 passes for 147 yards and 2 TDs with 2 interceptions. Monteroso led all receivers with 115 yards on 7 catches as West Liberty was held to 282 yards of total offense and 13 first downs. LB Cliff Clark had a game-high 9 tackles while DT Jevon Fripp had 8 stops, including 3 tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback sack.
Griffith ran for 156 yards and 2 TDs on 25 carries to pace the Cavaliers, who had 246 rushing yards on 51 carries and completed 22-of-38 passes for 254 more through the air. TE Jake Barnett had 9 catches for 97 yards.
The Hilltoppers hit the road next week for a noon kickoff at Notre Dame (Ohio).

UVa-Wise 28
West Liberty 27
UVa-Wise 13  0  8  7 – 28
West Liberty 21  0  6  0 – 27
First Quarter
Wise: Griffith 55 run (Martin kick), 14:08
WLU: Peterson 1 run (Morris kick), 12:58
Wise: Griffith 4 run (kick blocked), 10:00
WLU: Monteroso 22 pass from Conwell (Morris kick), 6:36
WLU: Phillips 17 pass from Conwell (Morris kick), 4:08
Third Quarter
Wise: Latney 5 run (Jm.Cousins pass from Lee), 5:12
WLU: Kargo 84 kickoff return (kick failed), 4:57
Fourth Quarter
Wise: Jc.Cousins pass from Eubank (Martin kick), 8:38
A: 716
Game Statistics
RUSHING: UVa-Wise 51-246; Griffith 25-156; Latney 12-48; Wright 4-19; Mitchell 3-15; Lee 3-6; Hilberath 3-2; Eubank 1-0. West Liberty 34-135; Conwell 17-102; Peterson 5-13; Gamble 5-9; Ortiz 3-6; Dorsett 4-5.
PASSING: UVa-Wise 22-38-254-1td-1x (Lee 20-34-236-0td-1x, Eubank 2-4-18-1td-0x). West Liberty 11-28-147-2td-2x (all by Conwell)
RECEIVING: UVa-Wise 22-254, Barnett 9-97; Jm.Cousins 5-83; Jc.Cousins 4-53; Griffith 2-20; Wright 1-1; VMitchell 1-0. West Liberty 11-147; Monteroso 7-115; Phillips 1-17; Mayo 1-8; Goff 1-5; Jones 1-2.
First downs: UVa-Wise 27, West Liberty 13
Fumbles: UVa-Wise 2-2, West Liberty 1-1
Penalties: UVa-Wise 5-40, West Liberty 7-64
Time of Possession: UVa-Wise 34:36, West Liberty 25:24
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Players Mentioned

Dakota Conwell

#11 Dakota Conwell

QB
6' 1"
Senior
Solomon Dixon

#3 Solomon Dixon

DB
5' 10"
Senior
Jevon Fripp

#51 Jevon Fripp

DL
6' 1"
Senior
Osman Kargbo

#8 Osman Kargbo

WR
5' 10"
Sophomore
Christian Morris

#14 Christian Morris

K/P
6' 1"
Sophomore
Tyler Peterson

#5 Tyler Peterson

RB
5' 11"
Senior
Dan Monteroso

#9 Dan Monteroso

WR
6' 3"
Senior
Shane Phillips

#1 Shane Phillips

WR
6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Dakota Conwell

#11 Dakota Conwell

6' 1"
Senior
QB
Solomon Dixon

#3 Solomon Dixon

5' 10"
Senior
DB
Jevon Fripp

#51 Jevon Fripp

6' 1"
Senior
DL
Osman Kargbo

#8 Osman Kargbo

5' 10"
Sophomore
WR
Christian Morris

#14 Christian Morris

6' 1"
Sophomore
K/P
Tyler Peterson

#5 Tyler Peterson

5' 11"
Senior
RB
Dan Monteroso

#9 Dan Monteroso

6' 3"
Senior
WR
Shane Phillips

#1 Shane Phillips

6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
WR