WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - The West Liberty University football team, Department of Athletics, and the WLU Foundation will commemorate the 50th anniversary of college football's first overtime game, played by West Liberty in 1972, at the home opening football game on Thursday night at West Family Stadium.

Former players who played in the game will be in attendance for recognition during this celebratory evening. 

In a mid-season meeting of the unbeaten on Oct. 7, 1972, the Hilltoppers and West Virginia State had battled to a 14-14 tie after four quarters on Homecoming at West Liberty. In previous years, that's how the game would have ended but the NAIA had adopted college football's first tiebreaker rule in 1972 – two years before the NFL went to overtime and more than 20 years before major college football embraced the concept. West Virginia State got the ball first in overtime and the West Liberty defense held.

A field goal was all the Hilltoppers needed to win but there was a problem. Hilltopper kicker Jeff Eppley had suffered a shoulder separation on the opening kickoff and been taken by ambulance to the hospital in Wheeling. Doctors placed Eppley's arm in a sling and he caught a ride back out to campus to watch the end of the game.

Starting at the State 30, West Liberty picked up a first down and drove inside the 15 before the drive stalled. On 4th-and-goal from the 12, there was a stir on the Hilltopper sidelines. A couple of teammates helped Eppley pull his helmet over his head and the injured kicker – sling and all – jogged painfully out onto the field. The snap came back, Eppley's right foot swung through and the football barely cleared the onrushing State linemen. For an agonizing second or two, it looked like the kick might fall short but the ball came down on top of the crossbar and bounced across to give West Liberty a 17-14 victory in college football's first overtime game.

Not only did that 29-yard field goal earn the Hilltoppers a place in college football history, Eppley's story gained national attention later that month when he was featured as one of Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd."

The photo in the graphic above pictures Eppley, with his left arm in a sling, booting the game-winning field goal.

The West Liberty family is excited to welcome members of the team back to campus for a night full of celebration. The WLU Foundation has partnered with the Dirty Dog Tavern to give current students the opportunity to recreate this historic event. An email will be sent out to students to sign up and three will be chosen at random to attempt a 29-yard FG at halftime. Each student who connects, will win a $50 gift card to the Dirty Dog Tavern. 

Kickoff for the home opener is set for 6 pm, as the 1-0 Hilltoppers play host to Alderson Broaddus.