West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team fell to UNC Pembroke 37-19 in front of packed West Family Stadium on Saturday afternoon. While the Hilltoppers ran 41 more plays than the Braves (93-52), UNCP averaged 7.2 yards per play and out-gained WLU 375-346 in the homecoming match-up.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 19, UNC Pembroke 37
Team Records: West Liberty 0-4 (0-3 MEC), UNC Pembroke 2-2 (1-2 MEC)
Attendance: 5,253
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• While being able to pick up a first down on the opening drive of the game, a penalty backed the Hilltoppers up and led to a punt. UNC Pembroke looked like they would be going three and out on their opening drive but a roughing the kicker penalty kept the drive alive and led to a 37 yard field goal from Ty Woods to put the Braves up 3-0.
• The Hilltopper defense held strong and forced turnover on downs for UNCP after having their back up against their own goal line, stuffing the rush on three plays from inside their own three yard line. A quarterback hurry by Cam Rice forced a quick pass by Pembroke's Colin Johnson and Gage Fiore broke up the pass in the end zone.
• The Braves took advantage of a short field from a WLU lost fumble and scored five seconds into the second quarter on a rush from Johnson to push the lead to 10-0.
• The Black & Gold cut the lead to three at 10-7 following a 23 yard touchdown run from Khadeem Richards, the longest rush of the season so far for West Liberty.
• UNCP extended their lead back to ten as they entered the halftime break, scoring on an 11 yard touchdown pass from Johnson to E.J. Gatling with only 34 seconds remaining in the half. A 67 yard touchdown run to open the second half by Sincere Baines pushed the lead to 24-7 following the PAT.
• The Hilltoppers responded with a ten play 79 yard drive that consumed four minutes and seven seconds of game time to score on their opening drive of the second half. The drive began with a 12 yard rush by Richards and a 16 yard pass and catch from Rudy Garcia to Braeden Mason, aided with a UNCP penalty, moved the ball inside the visitor's ten yard line. WLU capped the scoring drive with a five yard touchdown reception by Rashawn Harvey from Garcia.
• After forcing a UNC Pembroke punt, West Liberty began to drive the ball down the field again, however a 54 yard pick-six by Sean Hill swung the momentum back to UNCP as the PAT made the score 31-14 in their favor.
• Joshuah Clark returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards to the Braves' 28 yard line to start the next drive, however Pembroke's defense held and forced a field goal attempt. Justin Kaplan tacked on three points for the Hilltoppers as he sent the 30 yard field goal attempt through the uprights with 7:11 remaining in the third quarter.
• The Braves used a 59 yard pass and catch to set up an 11 yard receiving touchdown by JaQuan Kelly from Johnson. A false start pushed the PAT attempt five yards back before Delano Marcelus broke through the line to block the kick attempt and Jordan Demus scooped the ball up and took it 91 yards for two points, making the score 37-19 in favor of UNCP.
• West Liberty took eight minutes and ten seconds off the clock on their next drive, starting on their own four yard line before driving the ball 91 yards to the UNCP five yard line. This time it was Pembroke with the defensive stand with their backs against the wall as WLU turned the ball over on downs after not being able to move the ball any close to the goal line in four attempts from the visitor's five yard line.
• Harvey hauled in his sixth touchdown reception of the season, finding the end zone for the fourth consecutive game to start the season. Chris Charles has made five or more receptions in each game this season and has tallied at least 79 receiving yards in each contest, he tallied a game-high seven catches and 91 receiving yards in the game.
• Richards' 75 rushing yards are the most by a WLU running back this year.
• Chris Wilson made a season-high seven tackles in the game, while Marcelus made 1.5 team-high 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Demus, Rice, Jordyn Dickerson, and John Brown each tallied 1.0 tackle-for-loss. Marcelus and Rice also had 1.0 sack each.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rudy Garcia: 28-for-52, 269 passing yards, 1 touchdown
Khadeem Richards: 17 rushing attempts, 75 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
Chris Charles: 7 receptions, 91 receiving yards
Rashawn Harvey: 6 receptions, 1 touchdown
Chris Wilson: 7 tackles, 1 pass break-up
Delano Marcelus: 3 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack, 1 blocked kick
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will travel to Concord next weekend for a Saturday afternoon match-up at Callaghan Stadium. The Hilltoppers and Mountain Lions are scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff.