Football | 11/1/2018 8:50:00 AM

    WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team will be saying hello to a number of new faces while honoring several familiar faces when the Hilltoppers host Bloomsburg (Pa.) on Saturday.
    Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at West Family Stadium.
    It's the only non-conference game of the season for the Black and Gold and the first meeting between WLU and the Huskies. It's also the final Saturday home game for Coach Roger Waialae's 19 Hilltopper seniors, who will be honored in Senior Day festivities during pre-game ceremony.
    "Since our last home game is on a Thursday this year, we moved Senior Day up to this Saturday to make it easier for the families of our seniors to be with us," Waialae said. "We honor our seniors and their families for their commitment to the program and their dedication to both sides of the student-athlete equation.
    "Every one of these guys is on track to graduate within the next two semesters. Some of them are in grad school already and several others will be there next year. The entire coaching staff congratulates them and thanks them for their hard work and dedication on and off the field."
    The Hilltopper seniors and their teammates will be facing a different sort of challenge when they kick it off against a perennial PSAC power that rides a couple of pretty impressive streaks into Saturday's game.
    Coached by former Temple University linebacker Paul Darragh, Bloomsburg (5-4) will be trying to clinch its 20^th consecutive winning season. The Huskies also boast one of the nation's longest consecutive-game scoring streaks, having hit the scoreboard in 182 straight games since a 21-loss to Shippensburg on Sept. 13, 2003.
    "It's a big challenge for our defense," Waialae said. "Bloomsburg is totally different from any team we've played. There's no spread formation, no 4-wide sets. They line up in a true I-formation and run the ball 75 percent of the time. It's old school football – power, counters, isos – that you never see anymore. If they win first down consistently, it will be a long day for our defense. We have to put them behind the sticks."
    West Liberty rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense at Concord last week but a season-high 4 turnovers and several special teams miscues resulted in a disappointing 46-33 loss.
    Junior QB Zach Phillips provided a bright spot, throwing for a career-high 398 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for 39 more yards and another score. Younger brother Nate Phillips, a true freshman WR seeing his first extended playing time on offense, responded with a game-high 96 receiving yards and 2 TDs on 6 catches.
    Injuries continue to be a challenge for the Hilltoppers, seriously depleting several spots on both sides of the ball, but Waialae and his coaches aren't dwelling on the issue.
    "I learned a long time ago that injuries are part of the game," Waialae said. "I can't focus on them because I don't want the kids to be focusing on them. We're going to take the guys who are healthy enough to play and get them ready to go on Saturday."     X West Liberty's 19 seniors will be recognized in a brief pre-game ceremony before Saturday's game
    X There are 9 seniors on defense and special teams: DLs Zach Heasley and William McKenzie-Baker; LBs Dylan Anderson, Clifford Clark, Zach Connor, Patrick Frey and Joseph Ierulli, DB Brandon Gaither and P Christian Morris
    X They're joined by 10 seniors on offense: OLs Gavin Harrell, Ezekiel May, Austin Whipkey and Austin Yackey; QBs Brenton Colabella and Lukas O'Connor; WRs Michael McLean, Shane Phillips and Osman Kargbo and RB Charles Westbrook
    X Zach Phillips' 437 yards of total offense at Concord last week are the most by a West Liberty player since Dakota Conwell had 489 yards of total offense in a 59-51 loss to Notre Dame on Oct. 22, 2015
    X Phillips' 398 passing yards are the most by a WLU quarterback since Conwell threw for 435 yards against W.Va. State on Nov. 12, 2016