BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team scored nine points in the last 74 seconds here Saturday to rally past West Virginia Wesleyan, 23-20, in a Mountain East Conference thriller at Cebe Ross Field.
    Owen Rozanc's 22-yard field goal with just 3 seconds remaining completed the comeback for Coach Roger Waialae's Hilltoppers (5-5, 4-5), who overcame a staggering six turnovers to hand the Bobcats (1-9, 1-8) another heartbreaking loss.
    With the score tied 14-14 midway through the fourth quarter, Wesleyan's Jarrett Northrop hit Derek Drapen with a 59-yard touchdown pass to put the Bobcats on top. The PAT failed but the hosts had a 20-14 lead with just 6:44 remaining.
    Things went from bad to worse for the Hilltoppers when they coughed up another fumble – their sixth turnover of the game – at the WVWC 38 with just 3:52 to play but the West Liberty defense answered the challenge.
    A heavy hit on a first down run by the Bobcats' Kord Jenkins shook the ball loose and Brandon Morrison recovered for West Liberty at the WLU 49.
    Quarterback Zach Phillips, playing with a cast protecting his injured left wrist, completed a couple of clutch third-down passes to keep the drive alive before firing a 20-yard TD strike to Isaiah Robinson to tie the game with just 1:14 remaining.
    The drama continued as West Liberty also failed to convert the PAT, keeping the game deadlocked at 20-20.
    After an incompletion deep downfield on first down, Northrop tried to throw a sideline route to move the sticks but Morrison made a diving interception at the Bobcat 37 with exactly one minute to play.
    The Hilltoppers wound up going for it on fourth-and-12 from the 39 and caught a huge break when Wesleyan was called for defensive holding, giving the visitors a first down at the 29.
    Back to pass, Phillips avoided a heavy pass rush and ran to daylight down the left sideline, The senior QB darted out of bounds at the 10, stopping the clock and setting the stage for Rozanc's game-winning field goal two snaps later.
    Despite the injury, Phillips completed 25-of-44 passes for 272 yards with 3 TDs and a pair of interceptions. Robinson had a huge afternoon with 7 catches for 153 yards, including touchdowns of 55 and 20 yards. Senior WR Christian Rita added 6 receptions for 58 yards and a 16-yard TD.
    The West Liberty defense racked up an MEC season high 9 quarterback sacks while holding Wesleyan to minus-10 net rushing yards on 28 attempts. Northrop completed 21-of-42 passes for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns with 2 interceptions.
    Hilltopper safety Koty Hudson had 8 solo tackles with 3.0 tackles-for-loss while DE David Gilcreast was charted with 5 solo tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 quarterback sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
    West Liberty closes out the regular season at home against the University of Charleston on Nov. 16. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Senior Day and Hall of Fame Day at West Family Stadium.
  West Liberty                               7  0  7  9 – 23
W.Va. Wesleyan                          7  0  7  6 – 20      WVW: Drapen 13 pass from Northrop (Susman kick), 9:55
     WLU: Robinson 55 pass from Z.Phillips (Rozanc kick), 7:44      WVW: Merica 20 interception return (Susman kick), 9:21
     WLU: Rita 16 pass from Z.Phillips (Rozanc kick), 2:13      WVW: Drapen 59 pass from Northrop (kick failed), 6:44
     WLU: Robinson 20 pass from Z.Phillips (kick failed), 1:14
     WLU: FG Rozanc 22, :03
A: 1,150      RUSHING: West Liberty 33-76; Wimbish 13-37, Z.Phillips 8-23, Frisby 9-10, Farmer 3-6. W.Va. Wesleyan 28-(-10), Jenkins 7-37, Freeman-Parks 4-5, Brown 3-4, Northrop 13-(-38).
     PASSING: West Liberty 25-44-272-3td-2x (all by Z.Phillips). W.Va. Wesleyan 21-42-250-2td-2x (all by Northrop)
     RECEIVING: West Liberty 25-272, Robinson 7-153, Rita 6-58, Wimbish 4-25, Cole 5-24, Durbin 1-6, Jenkins 1-4, N.Phillips 1-2. W.Va. Wesleyan 21-250, Drapen 4-92, Lewis 3-50, Taylor 6-41, Jenkins 2-28, Washington 1-13, Brown 2-10, Hurt 2-10, Young 1-6.
     First downs: West Liberty 21, W.Va. Wesleyan 14
     Fumbles: West Liberty 4-4, W.Va. Wesleyan 6-2
     Penalties: West Liberty 1-15, W.Va. Wesleyan 5-45
     Time of Possession: West Liberty 30:28, W.Va. Wesleyan 29:32