West Liberty, W.Va. – Following a loss in the season opener the West Liberty University football team looks to right the ship in the home and MEC opener on Thursday night, welcoming Fairmont State to West Family Stadium. The Hilltoppers and Falcons are scheduled for a 7 p.m. kick-off.

GAME DETAILS

• Location: West Liberty, W.Va. (West Family Stadium)
• Kick-Off: 7 P.M.

WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES

• West Liberty enters Thursday night's game with a record of 0-1 on the season following a season opening 24-21 loss at Walsh.
• The West Liberty offense scored their 21 points in week one off 374 passing yards and 29 rushing yards, accumulating 403 yards of total offense. The Hilltopper offense scored three touchdowns this past Thursday, all as a result of the passing game.
• WLU had one of the top quarterback/wide receiver combos in all of NCAA Division II on the opening weekend of play. Rudy Garcia completed 35-of-59 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns while Rashawn Harvey hauled in 14 receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Garcia completed the third most passes and totaled the fifth most passing yards nationally by a QB in week one, while Harvey caught the second most passes by a WR and tallied the fifth most receiving yards nationally.
• Chris Charles added five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown of his own, joining Harvey as the first Hilltopper wide receiver duo to reach 100 or more yards in the same game since October 16, 2021 against Fairmont State. West Liberty was one of six schools in DII to have a pair of wide receivers both reach 100 yards receiving in the season opener, joining Indianapolis, Arkansas-Monticello, Central Missouri, Indiana (PA), and Fort Valley State.
• On the defensive side of the ball WLU accumulated 55.0 tackles with 7.0 tackles-for-loss. While they were unable to force a turnover in week one, they held the Cavaliers to 6-of-18 on third downs and forced four three-and-outs. The Hilltopper defense limited Walsh to only 20 fourth quarter yards and forced three three-and-outs to assist in the team's comeback efforts.
• With ten tackles in game number one, Trent Crawford was the lone West Liberty player to reach double figures. The game marked his second career double digit tackle game.
• The Hilltoppers were picked tenth in the 2023 MEC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Roger Waialae is in his 19^th season as the head coach at West Liberty with a career record of 92-101 with the Hilltoppers. Waialae is currently the longest tenured coach in the MEC and holds the second most wins all-time in WLU football history.

FAIRMONT STATE STORYLINES

• Fairmont State enters Thursday night's game with a record of 1-0 on the season following a season opening 34-30 win against Bloomsburg.
• The Falcons scored their 34 points in week one off 168 rushing yards and 156 passing yards, accumulating 324 yards of total offense. The Falcon offense scored all three of their touchdowns on the ground.
• At quarterback, Michael Floria completed 11-of-30 passes for 156 yards during the week one contest.
• A balanced FSU rushing attack resulted in three players scoring touchdowns against the Huskies, as Leonard Farrow totaled 61 yards and one touchdown, Dereik Crosby II recorded 48 yards and one touchdown, and Donovan Washington carried the ball for 19 yards and one touchdown.
• At wide receiver, Winston Page and Kobe Harris both hauled in three receptions, totaling 66 and 57 yards respectively.
• Defensively, Fairmont State accumulated 63 total tackles in game number one, with 4.0 tackles-for-loss, and 1.0 sack. FSU forced a pair of fumbles in the contest and recovered one for their lone takeaway.
• Tyrees Smith was the lone Falcon on defense to reach double figures in tackles in the season opener, recording 10.0 with 0.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble.
• The FSU special teams also played a key role in week one, blocking one punt and returning it for a touchdown.
• The Falcons were picked ninth in the 2023 MEC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Jason Woodman is in his 11^th season as the head coach at Fairmont State with a career record of 53-44 with the Falcons.

SERIES HISTORY

• Fairmont State holds the narrow 43-40-5 lead in the series all-time.
• Following five consecutive wins for the Falcons from 2015-2019, West Liberty has won two straight in the series.
• The Hilltoppers defeated the Falcons 27-24 in overtime last season, fending off a second half FSU rally in Fairmont.