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WLU Falls in Season-Ending Shootout

Football | 11/12/2016 4:59:00 PM

Box Score WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The football teams from West Liberty and West Virginia State combined for more than 1,000 yards of total offense here Saturday afternoon but when the smoke had cleared, it was the Yellow Jackets walking off the West Family Stadium turf with a 37-30 victory.
It was a frustrating end to a frustrating season for the Hilltoppers (4-7, 4-6), who came out on the short end of three one-point losses and had two other setbacks – including Saturday's season finale – go down to the last possession.
"This was by far the most frustrating season since I've been here," head coach Roger Waialae said. "I really hurt for every one of our seniors who played their hearts out all year and came up a play away or a point away so many times. They left it all out on the field."
The final home game for those 18 West Liberty seniors got off to a fast start as the Yellow Jackets (3-8, 3-7) scored on a 16-yard TD pass from QB Matt Kinnick to WR Quinton Gray at 12:41 of the first quarter only to see Hilltopper QB Dakota Conwell answer with a 48-yard scoring strike to WR Max Kapron just 71 seconds later.
The teams traded punts for the rest of the quarter but both offenses hit their stride in the second frame.
West Liberty answered a State touchdown with an 18-yard TD pass from Conwell to senior WR Dan Monteroso midway through the quarter. The Yellow Jackets made it 21-13 on a 1-yard Juawan Etheredge run with 2:35 on the clock but Conwell hit speedy senior WR Anton McCallum on a quick sideline route and McCallum got a key block from Monteroso to break into the clear on a 67-yard touchdown with just 48 seconds left in the half.
That turned out to be just enough time for Kinnick to lead WVSU back downfield for a 45-yard Anthony Herrera field goal and a 24-20 State lead at intermission.
The Hilltoppers had some chances to take the lead early in the third quarter but an open receiver couldn't hang onto a potential touchdown pass in the end zone and an apparent fumble return by the WLU defense was called back when the officials ruled the runner's forward progress had been stopped prior to the fumble.
"That's been our story all year," Waialae said. "When you look at our losses, it's not just one play, it's the combination of all those plays over the course of the season. There's a very fine line between winning and losing at this level and it's magnified when you're in a one-point or a one-possession game. You have to take advantage of your opportunities
The Yellow Jackets wrapped a pair of touchdowns around a 54-yard TD pass from Conwell to Monteroso to take a 37-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
West Liberty closed the gap to 37-30 on a 37-yard Christian Morris field goal with 12:53 remaining but turnovers and penalties kept the hosts from finding the end zone again and State held on for the win.
Conwell, playing his final game at WLU, went down with all guns blazing. The senior signalcaller completed 25-of-45 passes for 435 yards and 4 TDs despite playing through a host of injuries. Despite playing only three seasons after transferring from the University of Arizona, Conwell ranks No. 2 all-time at West Liberty in total offense, touchdown passes and completions.
"I've never coached a tougher player than Dakota," Waialae said, "and I can't thank him enough for what he's done for this program. He's out there playing with a torn PCL, doing whatever it takes to try to get a win for his teammates. Everybody sees the yards and touchdowns but his leadership, passion and love for the game is an example for everyone to emulate."
Monteroso had 145 yards and 2 TDs on eight catches while McCallum, playing with a broken wrist, caught 5 passes for 119 yards and a score. Monteroso finished the year with 57 catches for 944 yards and 14 TDs while McCallum added 40-catches for 665 yards and 7 scores despite missing a month due to injury. Kapron just missed hitting the century mark on Saturday with 4 catches for 99 yards.
Kinnick completed 30-of-38 passes for 367 yards and 3 TDs with Gray and Henderson doing most of the receiving damage, combining for 272 yards and 3 TDs on 18 catches. Etheredge was the game's leading rusher with 76 yards on 20 carries.
"I feel bad for our seniors that we couldn't help them get a win in their final home game," Waialae said, "but I'm proud that 17 of our 18 seniors are on course to graduate this year and the other one is coming back next year to finish up. As coaches, we all get judged by our wins and losses but our biggest win really comes on the day we see our players graduate and move on to a successful future."
W.Va. State 37
West Liberty 30
W.Va. State 7  17  13  0 – 37
West Liberty 6  14    7  3 – 30
First Quarter
WVS: Gray 16 pass from Kinnick (Herrera kick), 12:41
WLU: Kapron 48 pass from Conwell (kick blocked), 11:30
Second Quarter
WVS: Henderson 3 pass from Kinnick (Herrera kick), 12:16
WLU: Monteroso 18 pass from Conwell (Morris kick), 7:58
WVS: Etheredge 1 run (Herrera kick), 2:35
WLU: McCallum 67 pass from Conwell (Morris kick), :48
WVS: FG Herrera 45, :01
Third Quarter
WVS: Etheredge 2 run (Herrera kick), 7:11
WLU: Monteroso 54 pass from Conwell (Morris kick), 5:13
WVS: Henderson 16 pass from Kinnick (kick blocked), 1:34
Fourth Quarter
WLU: FG Morris 37, 12:53
A: 491
Game Statistics
RUSHING: W.Va. State 41-166; Etheredge 20-76; Kinnick 9-55; Brown 10-27; Barrette 1-13; Team 1-(-5). West Liberty 23-71; Ortiz 8-38; Peterson 8-26; Gamble 2-7; Kargbo 1-4; Conwell 4-(-4).
PASSING: W.Va. State 30-38-367-3td-0x (all by Kinnick). West Liberty 25-47-435-4td-0x (Conwell 25-45-435-4td-0x; Monteroso 0-2-0-0-0).
RECEIVING: W.Va. State 30-367; Gray 11-122; Henderson 7-150; Barrette 7-68; Cox 3-19; Brown 1-5; Romans 1-3. West Liberty 25-435; Monteroso 8-145; McCallum 5-119; Kapron 4-99; Kelly 3-24; Jones 2-38; Malara 1-10; Peterson 1-1; Kargbo 1(-1).
First downs: W.Va. State 27, West Liberty 22
Fumbles: W.Va. State 3-2, West Liberty 1-1
Penalties: W.Va. State 7-95, West Liberty 6-83
Time of Possession: W.Va. State 34:24, West Liberty 25:36
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Players Mentioned

Dakota Conwell

#11 Dakota Conwell

QB
6' 1"
Senior
Max Kapron

#12 Max Kapron

WR
6' 5"
Junior
Anton McCallum

#4 Anton McCallum

WR
6' 0"
Senior
Christian Morris

#14 Christian Morris

K/P
6' 1"
Sophomore
Dan Monteroso

#9 Dan Monteroso

WR
6' 3"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Dakota Conwell

#11 Dakota Conwell

6' 1"
Senior
QB
Max Kapron

#12 Max Kapron

6' 5"
Junior
WR
Anton McCallum

#4 Anton McCallum

6' 0"
Senior
WR
Christian Morris

#14 Christian Morris

6' 1"
Sophomore
K/P
Dan Monteroso

#9 Dan Monteroso

6' 3"
Senior
WR