WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team would like nothing better than to celebrate Senior Day with a win on Saturday when the Black and Gold host West Virginia State in the final home football game of the season.
    Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at West Family Stadium.
    Veteran head coach Roger Waialae and his staff will salute their 20-man senior class and their families in a brief ceremony prior to Saturday's game.
    "This has been a good group of guys who have been good for the program," Waialae said. "They've had to deal with some challenges, including losing the 2020 fall season to the pandemic, but they've stayed the course, helped each other through the process and got their education.
    "We talked to the team about taking care of business this week and playing for the seniors. Some of these guys are applying to grad school so they might be able to come back but for a lot of them, this will be their final game in this stadium. It would mean a lot for them to walk off this field for the last time on Saturday with a win."
    The Hilltoppers (4-5, 4-4) are looking to bounce back after UNC Pembroke reeled off 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 27-17 win last week. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets (5-4, 5-3) were scoring 21 fourth-quarter points in a come-from-behind 38-27 win against Glenville State.
    As is usually the case this late in the season, injuries are beginning to pile up for West Liberty.
    Redshirt freshman QB Jamie Diven is out for Saturday's game after several solid showings in place of injured senior starter Jack Allison. Waialae said Allison could be ready to return this weekend. If not, redshirt freshman Parker Sherry will get his first career start. Redshirt freshman TE Jesse Collins should also return, which would give a boost to the running game.
    West Virginia State is averaging nearly 400 yards of total offense per game behind a well-balanced attack. Tyrone Lyte and Barry Hill rank among the top 10 wide receivers in the MEC while QB Donovan Riddick has completed nearly 62 percent of his passes for 1,688 yards and 14 TDs with just 3 interceptions. Running backs Malik Newton and Dante Jones have averaged 5.4 yards per carry while combining for more than 1,200 rushing yards and 11 scores.
    "If you get high-level quarterback play, you can beat anybody," Waialae said, "and State has guys making plays at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. They like to establish the run but they also take deep shots when the opportunity presents itself. They very rarely throw intermediate passes; it's either a quick short throw or they go over the top."
    Workhorse TB Tyler Moler continues to lead the MEC in carries while ranking among the league's rushing leaders. The redshirt freshman enters Saturday's game with 764 yards on 199 attempts and leads the MEC with four 100-yard rushing games. Senior WR Isaiah Robinson's 44 catches rank second in the MEC. He leads the Black and Gold with 623 receiving yards and 8 TDs.
    The Hilltoppers close out the 2021 season on the road next week with a Thursday night game at No. 20-ranked Frostburg State.     X Head coach Roger Waialae and his staff will be recognizing a total of 20 West Liberty seniors and graduate students in a brief pre-game ceremony
    X There are 11 seniors on offense:  WRs Will Billeter, Joey Diven, Tariq Glenn, Wisdom Jenkins, Nate Phillips and Isaiah Robinson, RBs Jared Alphonso and Savion Johnson, OL Wyatt Gardner and Austyn Todd and QB Jack Allison,
    X They're joined by 9 defensive seniors: DLs Jack Davis, Kenyon Felder, Trevor Hoosier, TJ Lew, Deven Lewis and Devon McNutt, LBs Maceo Christmas and Donte Davenport and DB Jamaal Petteway