WHEELING, W.Va. – Wheeling overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull out a 26-20 overtime victory against West Liberty on Saturday in Mountain East Conference action at Bishop Schmitt Field.
    Junior tailback Sy Alli's 1-yard touchdown run in overtime capped an improbable comeback for the host Cardinals (4-4, 4-3), who had never led at any point during the first four quarters.
    Leading 20-7 midway through the fourth quarter, the Hilltoppers (4-4, 4-3) were on the verge of padding that margin after marching into Wheeling territory when momentum suddenly switched sides.
    Quarterback Jamie Diven fired a quick out toward the Cardinal sideline only to see Wheeling LB Josiah Wright make a leaping interception at the WU 26 and sprint 74 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. The PAT failed but it was now a one-score game, 20-13, with 8:18 remaining.
    Pinned back deep in its own end after mishandling the kickoff, West Liberty had to punt the ball back to Wheeling and the Cardinals took over at their own 44 with 4:47 on the clock. Ten plays less than two minutes later, Alli darted into the end zone from four yards out. The PAT tied it, 20-20, with 2:26 to go.
    The Hilltoppers nearly pulled it out at the end of regulation. Diven led a late-game drive all the way to the Wheeling 25 but Owen Rozanc's attempt at a game-winning 42-yard field goal twisted just left of the uprights as time expired.
    The overtime session ended quickly. West Liberty's first possession ended on an interception at the 5 and Alli hit paydirt on his fourth straight carry after the Cardinals took over at the 25.
    Two Rozanc field goals and a short touchdown run by Diven had put the Hilltoppers up, 13-0, late in the second quarter. Wheeling cut the lead to 13-7 just 44 seconds before halftime when WR Jake Keenan fumbled into the end zone after being hit at the goal line on a 22-yard pass and the Cardinals recovered.
    Diven restored West Liberty's two-touchdown edge late in the third quarter when he capped a 70-yard, 13-play drive with a 5-yard TD toss to a leaping Isaiah Robinson in the back of the end zone, sending the visitors into the fourth quarter with a 20-7 lead.
    Workhorse Hilltopper tailback Tyler Moler had 41 carries for 150 rushing yards – both career-highs – and Diven completed 17-of-34 passes for 204 yards and a score while rushing 9 times for 28 yards and another touchdown. Kam Kruzelyak was the game's leading receiver with 4 catches for 65 yards.
    Alli finished with 87 yards and two touchdowns on 20 rushing attempts for Wheeling while QB Brennon Norris completed 17-of-33 passes for 176 yards and an interception.
    West Liberty returns home on Saturday to host UNC Pembroke in a special noon kickoff. The Hilltoppers' 1990 NAIA World Series baseball team will be honored at the game.
  West Liberty                        0  13  7    0  0 – 20
Wheeling                            0    7  0  13  6 – 26      WLU: FG Rozanc 31, 13:19
     WLU: FG Rozanc 34, 6:49
     WLU: Diven 2 run (Rozanc kick), 1:33
     WU: Dickerson recovered fumble in end zone (Greenwood kick), :44      WLU: Robinson 5 pass from Ja.Diven (Rozanc kick), 2:49      WU: Wright 74 interception return (kick failed), 8:18
     WU: Alli 4 run (Greenwood kick), 2:26      WU: Alli 1 run
A: 1,000      RUSHING: West Liberty 53-183, Moler 41-150; Ja.Diven 9-28, Wilson 3-5. Wheeling 30-102, Alli 20-87, Young 3-15, Norris 7-0.
     PASSING: West Liberty 17-34-204-1td-2x (all by Ja.Diven). Wheeling 17-33-176-0td-1x (all by Norris)
     RECEIVING: West Liberty 17-204, Kruzelyak 4-65, Harris, 1-41, Phillips 3-34, Robinson 5-29, Smoot 1-18, Moler 1-8, Williams 1-5, Jenkins 1-4. Wheeling 17-176, Patron 6-53, Ballard 4-38, Keenan 3-35, Davidson 1-20, Alli 2-20, Dickerson 0-13, LaFollette 1-(-3)
     First downs: West Liberty 21, Wheeling 18
     Fumbles: West Liberty 0-0, Wheeling 2-1
     Penalties: West Liberty 8-82, Wheeling 12-75
     Time of Possession: West Liberty 36:07, Wheeling 23:53