WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team hosts Frostburg State University on Saturday in a mutual Mountain East Conference opener. Kickoff for the annual WLU Hall of Fame Game is set for 1 p.m. at West Family Stadium.
 
GAME DETAILS
      Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
      Opponent: Frostburg State University (MEC)
      Location: West Liberty, W.Va. (West Family Stadium)
      Kickoff: 1 p.m.
 
WLU HALL OF FAME
      - The West Liberty University Athletic Department will hold its 43rd annual Hall of Fame induction on Saturday morning inside the ASRC. Joining the WLU Hall of Fame in 2024 are Don Clegg, Michael Frazier, Cedric Harris, Jim Monnot, Andy Schumacher, and David Shuler
 
WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES
      - West Liberty comes into Saturday's game at 0-2 (0-0 MEC) after dropping a 48-13 decision to SAC power Limestone (S.C.) on Sept. 4
      - The Hilltoppers are averaging 17.0 points per game on an average of 292.0 yards of total offense through the first two games with averages of 227.5 passing yards and 64.5 rushing yards per contest. The WLU offense has scored 4 touchdowns with 3 of them coming through the air
      - After two games, West Liberty has completed 44-of-88 passing attempts for 455 yards and 3 TDs with 4 INTs. Trevor Lagarde has accounted for the bulk of that production, completing 41-of-85 throws for 399 yards and 2 TDs with 4 INTs
      - Three Hilltoppers have amassed more than 100 receiving yards through the first two games. Marquez Hurst leads the way with 11 catches for 134 yards and one TD while Ben Turner has 8 grabs for 109 yards and a score. Ni'Keese Hodges-Demery is averaging a team-high 17.3 yards/catch with 6 receptions for 104 yards
      - The WLU rushing attack has struggled to get off the ground in the early going with 129 net yards and one TD on 57 attempts. Hunter Patterson is the leading rusher with 91 yards on 23 carries and one TD - a 28-yard touchdown burst against Walsh (Ohio)
      - Defensively, the Hilltoppers have recorded 136 tackles with 12.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 QB sacks. West Liberty has forced 5 turnovers, recovering 4 fumbles and picking off a pass. The 4 fumble recoveries are tops in the MEC
      - Jamair Tate is the team's leading tackler with 16.0 tackles to go along with a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. Trent Crawford has a team-high 3.5 TFLs among his 11.0 tackles while Taison Fa'Asuamanu has 11.0 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a team-high 2.0 QB sacks.
      - Kicker Tyler Waddell has made both of his field-goal opportunities this season - 30 and 39 yards - and is a perfect 4-for-4 on PATs
      - The Hilltoppers head into conference play having converted 8-of-34 (.235) of their third-down snaps compared to 16-of-30 (.533) for their opponents. West Liberty has been successful on 7-of-12 (.583) fourth-down attempts while holding the opponents to just 1-of-4 (.250) on fourth down
      - In the red zone, the Black and Gold are 4-of-6 on the season with 2 touchdowns and 2 field goals while the opponents are 5-of-6 with all 5 scores being touchdowns
      - The West Liberty offensive line has surrendered only 2 QB sacks with a net of just minus-8 yards. The Hilltopper defense has posted an MEC-leading 5 QB sacks for a net of minus-38 yards  
      - WLU was picked 8th in the 2024 MEC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
      - Roger Waialae is in his 20th season as head coach at West Liberty. His career record of 96-108 trails only Hall of Fame coaching legend Joe Bartell in career wins
 
FROSTBURG STATE STORYLINES
      - The Bobcats roll into Saturday's game with a 1-0 record (0-0 MEC) after throttling Millersville (Pa.), 23-6, on Sept. 4
      - Frostburg State held the Marauders to just 188 yards of total offense and shut Millersville out in the second half while pulling away for the win
      - The Bobcats ground out more than 400 yards of total offense, rushing for 215 yards while throwing for 188 more to finish with a 36:12-23:48 advantage in time of possession
      - Sophomore QB Fulton Myles impressed in his first career start, completing 17-of-25 passes for 188 yards and a TD while rushing for 56 more yards on just 4 carries, highlighted by a 43-yard run
      - Veteran TB Owen Doyle averaged nearly 6 yards per carry, rushing for 95 yards and 2 TDs on 16 attempts
      - WR Jordan Marcucci had 70 receiving yards on 3 catches, topped by a 47-yard touchdown grab
      - DL Yasir Holmes led a dominating defensive effort with a team-high 8.0 tackles and 3 QB Hurries as FSU finished with 50.0 tackles, 9.0 TFLs and 3.0 QB sacks
      - The Bobcats led the MEC in defense last fall, ranking No. 1 in Total Defense (275.5 yards/game), Scoring Defense (17.0 ppg.) and Touchdowns (21)
      - Frostburg State went 7-3 a year ago (6-3 MEC) and was ranked among the top 10 teams in the Atlantic Region. FSU's 3 losses came by a combined total of just 9 points
      - Frostburg State received one first-place vote and were picked 3^rd in the 2024 MEC Coaches' Preseason Poll
      - Eric Wagoner has a 16-6 record in his third season as the Bobcats' head coach
 
SERIES HISTORY
      - This is the 11^th meeting between the two programs
      - Frostburg State has won the last four meeting to take a 6-3-1 lead in the all-time series
      - The Bobcats handed WLU a 37-7 setback a year ago
 
UP NEXT
      - West Liberty hits the road for the first time next Saturday when the Hilltoppers head south to take on W.Va. State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Institute, W.Va. The Bobcats return home to host Concord in a 1 p.m. start