West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team saw big plays in all three phases of the game on Saturday night under the lights of West Family Stadium, however they were unable to slow down the Notre Dame rushing attack that led to a 40-35 Falcon win. The loss marked the Hilltoppers' first since September 23 against UNC Pembroke and ended the team's 3-game win streak.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 35, Notre Dame 40
Team Records: West Liberty 3-5 (3-4 MEC), Notre Dame 5-3 (4-3 MEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a three and out by the offense on the offense's opening drive of the game, the West Liberty defense made the first big play of the game. On Notre Dame's first offensive play of the game, quarterback Isaiah Murphy mishandled the snap and Bre'Andre Horsley recovered the unforced fumble at the NDC eight yard line. The Hilltopper offense capitalized on turnover as Khadeem Richards took the handoff on the first play of the game and found an open hole to the left side of the line to the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. Tyler Waddell's extra point made the score 7-0 with 13:03 remaining in the first quarter.
• On the second drive of the game for the Falcons was extended by a running into the kicker penalty on a punt on 4^th and 2. They immediately took advantage as Murphy scrambled out of the pocket for a 43 yard run to move the ball into Hilltopper territory. The drive ultimately stalled at the WLU 18 yard line, where Cameron Shirkey came on to make a 35 yard field goal and cut the lead to 7-3 with 9:28 remaining in the opening quarter.
• The Hilltoppers opened the next drive with some trickery, as Chris Charles came across the field in motion to take the handoff from Rudy Garcia, and then found Rashawn Harvey open behind the defense for a 58 yard pass to set up 1^st and Goal from the ten yard line. Richards ended the drive by finding the end zone for the second time in as many possessions on a pitch out to the left. Waddell's PAT was good to extend the lead to 14-3 with 7:41 remaining in the first quarter.
• NDC running back Jay Sharp took the ensuing kickoff 78 yards to the WLU one yard line, setting up a one yard touchdown rush from Krys Riley-Richardson. Shirkey's extra point was good to make the score 14-10 in favor of the Hilltoppers with 7:26 still remaining in the first quarter.
• Following a West Liberty punt by Brennan Secrist after the offense got behind the chains due to a penalty, the Notre Dame offense used a 31 yard pass from Murphy to James Faulkner to set up another Shirkey field goal. With 46 seconds remaining in the period, Shirkey cut the Hilltopper lead to one with a 34 yard field goal splitting the uprights.
• The special teams unit made their first big play of the game for the Black & Gold in the early minutes of the second quarter. With NDC's Dominic Buttazzoni standing at his own 11 yard line to punt, Secrist was able to get pressure and get a hand on the ball for the block, and DaJuan Jones came in to scoop the ball up at the seven yard line and return it for a touchdown. Waddell's PAT made the score 21-13 with 11:51 remaining in the second quarter.
• With less than two minutes remaining in the first half and the Notre Dame offense in the red zone, Chris Wilson made his presence known on defense, delivering a big hit to break-up a pass in the left flats, and intercepting a pass from Deshawn Evans at the WLU five yard line.
• Notre Dame took possession of the ball one final time with 32 seconds remaining till halftime. A 19 yard pass from Evans to Andre Allen Jr. set up Shirkey for his third field goal of the half, as he made the 42 yard attempt as the clock hit zeros, bringing the halftime score to 21-16 in favor of West Liberty.
• The Falcons received the second half kickoff and a 15 yard return by Abe Nyang gave them opening field position near midfield at the NDC 47 yard line. Only two plays later Idris Lawrence found the end zone on a 26 yard rush to give Notre Dame their first lead of the game. Shirkey's PAT extended the lead to 23-21 with 13:29 remaining in the third quarter.
• The West Liberty offense had an immediate response on their first drive of the second half as they opened the possession with four first downs on four plays. The Hilltoppers then capped the drive with a one yard rushing touchdown by Garcia who took the snap under center and scored on the QB sneak. Waddell added the extra point to make the score 28-23 in favor of WLU with 10:07 left in the third quarter.
• After back-to-back plays of 26 and 21 yards to move the ball into West Liberty territory, the ensuing Falcon drive stalled at the WLU 10 yard line. Shirkey was called on and made his fourth field goal of the game, this time from 27 yards out to cut the Hilltopper lead to 28-26 with 4:33 left in the quarter.
• The WLU offense was backed up behind the chains on their next drive due to a holding penalty, and things continued to turn when Garcia's screen pass was tipped and intercepted by Emarion Perkins to set Notre Dame's offense up with the ball in the red zone. On the first play of the Falcon drive Lawrence found a hole up the middle for a 16 yard rushing touchdown up the middle, giving NDC the lead for good. Shirkey's extra point pushed the lead to 33-28 with 4:04 left in the third.
• Notre Dame continued to look to the ground game in the fourth quarter as the Falcons ate up over six minutes of possession to drive the ball 86 yards in nine plays, with Lawrence finding the end zone for the third time in the second half on a one yard touchdown run with 6:37 remaining in the game. Shirkey's extra point extended the lead to 40-28 following the PAT.
• The Hilltopper offense kept their composure facing a double digit deficit in the fourth quarter as Garcia found Charles for the toe-tap touchdown catch (13 yard reception) just inside the pylon on the near side of the field. Waddell knocked through his fifth extra point of the game to cut the deficit to 40-35 with 3:13 left in the game.
• The special teams made their second key play of the game on the following kickoff with a perfectly executed onside kick by Waddell. As the ball traveled exactly the needed ten yards, Jaleel Powell made the recovery off the deflection of a Falcon player at the WLU 45 yard line.
• A critical pass interference penalty by the NDC defense gave WLU a second life on a 3^rd & 18 play from the NDC 38 yard line, however on the the next play Garcia's pass would be intercepted by Christian Taylor at the NDC 15 yard line and returned 20 yards to the NDC 35 yard line with 57 seconds remaining in the game.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rudy Garcia: 22-of-43 passing, 225 passing yards, 26 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns (1 passing, 1 rushing)
Khadeem Richards: 51 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
Rashawn Harvey: 8 receptions, 125 receiving yards
Chris Charles: 1-of-1 passing, 58 passing yards, 6 receptions, 66 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Chris Wilson: 11 total tackles, 1 interception
Delano Marcelus: 8 total tackles
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will be off next weekend as their next game will be Thursday, November 2 at Charleston. The Hilltoppers and Golden Eagles are set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the University of Charleston Stadium.