INSTITUTE, W.Va. - The West Liberty University football team answered its season-low point total last week with its season high tonight, but it still was not enough as West Virginia State took the Saturday night battle, 42-32, at Dickerson Stadium.

The sides were all square after an action-packed opening 15 minutes. The Yellow Jackets got on the board just 29 seconds into the game with a 33-yard touchdown pass. After a three-and-out, West Liberty's Cameron Rice stepped up on the defensive side ripping the ball right off of the WVSU running back to set the Hilltoppers up at the Yellow Jacket 34-yard line.

It took 10 plays, but the Black and Gold punched it in the endzone ultimately with a Quincy Wimbish Jr. two-yard rush. The Wimbish score started a string of four straight touchdown drives combined by the two sides.

West Virginia State worked an 11-play, 72-yard drive to take the lead back for the moment at the 2:36 mark in the first. On the last play of the opening quarter, Rudy Garcia found Rashawn Harvey for a 27-yard touchdown to tie it for what would end up being the final time of the night.

The Yellow Jackets broke loose for a 75-yard score to open the second quarter and added another TD three minutes later to break it open 28-14. 

Garcia found freshman Ben Turner to narrow the margin with a 65-yard touchdown, the longest catch of the season for West Liberty, with 10 minutes to play in the half. Justin Kaplan added a 27-yard field goal before the half to send it to the break 28-24 Yellow Jackets.

The offenses slowed down in the second half. The Hilltoppers were vying for the first score out of the locker room, but the 45-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

West Virginia State marched down the field after the block and crossed the goal line with a 12-yard rush to cap off a 73-yard drive. The Yellow Jackets furthered their advantage early in the fourth quarter. A 69-yard punt pinned WLU at the one-yard line and the first play after a three-and-out WVSU fired off a 28-yard run into the endzone.

The Hilltoppers made a late push to get back in the game, Garcia snuck in for the score on the third play inside the five-yard line and then found Chris Charles for the two-point conversion making it a 10-point game with just under six minutes to play.

West Liberty recovered an onside kick after the score, but a three-and-out on the final two possessions ended the hopes.

Garcia ended with a season-high 316 passing yards on 22-of-41 passing with two touchdowns and an interception along with 47 rushing yards and a rushing score. Harvey was the go-to target all night, racking up 12 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.

David Gilcreast got to the State quarterback two times for a sack and totaled seven tackles in the game. Zach Dixon led the defense with 10 tackles.

West Liberty finishes the season next week at home against Frostburg State. Kickoff from West Family Stadium is scheduled for 1 pm.

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