WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team faces another tough challenge this week when the Hilltoppers close out their non-conference slate against South Atlantic Conference power Limestone (S.C.). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. under the Thursday Night Lights at West Family Stadium.
 
GAME DETAILS
      Date: Thursday, September 5, 2024
      Opponent: Limestone (S.C.) University (South Atlantic Conference)
      Location: West Liberty, W.Va. (West Family Stadium)
      Kickoff: 7 p.m.
 
WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES
      - West Liberty is looking to bounce back against Limestone on Thursday after dropping a 42-21 decision to Walsh (Ohio) in last week's season opener
      - Walsh scored two touchdowns on special teams to fuel a 21-0 first-quarter lead. The Hilltoppers matched the Cavaliers score for score the rest of the way but couldn't dig out of that early hole
      - West Liberty finished the night with a 275-266 yardage advantage in total offense but had three turnovers and committed 21 penalties for 139 yards
      - The 21 penalties were the most by a Hilltopper team since the 1990s. West Liberty was flagged 19 times for 185 yards in a 20-0 shutout of Fairmont State on Oct. 6, 2007
      - The 275 yards of total offense came primarily through the air. WLU ran for 68 yards and one TD while QBs Trevor Lagarde and Alex Dunlevy combined to complete 19-of-35 passes for 207 yards and two scores
      - Lagarde completed 16-of-32 throws for 151 yards with one TD and one INT. Dunlevy was 3-for-3 through the air for 56 yards and one TD
      - Tailback Hunter Patterson was the leading rusher with 11 carries for 50 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown run that was the longest run of the night for the Black and Gold
      - Ben Turner led all receivers with 5 catches for 83 yards, including a 52-yard TD toss from Lagarde that was WLU's longest offensive play of the game
      - The West Liberty defense was charted with 75 tackles, 8.0 TFLs and 3.0 QB sacks while forcing two turnovers on a fumble recovery and interception
      - Jamair Tate and Trent Crawford tied for the team lead with 9 tackles each. Each player had a pass break-up while Crawford added 2.5 TFLs to his defensive chart
      - Bre'Andre Horsley also had a big game with 6 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.5 QB sacks and a forced fumble
      - Xavier George had WLU's first interception of the season with a diving catch at the WLU 20 midway through the third quarter
      - The Hilltoppers were 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 96-107 trails only WLU Hall of Fame legend Joe Bartell in career coaching wins
 
LIMESTONE STORYLINES
      - This will be Limestone's season opener. The Saints return a strong nucleus from their 2023 squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second consecutive season
      - Limestone was 8-4 overall (8-1 SAC) in 2023, finishing tied for first place in the Piedmont Division of the SAC
      - The Saints were picked to finish 3^rd in the 2024 SAC Preseason Coaches Poll
      - Graduate QB Dustin Noller returns to lead the Limestone offense. Noller was a Harlon Hill Award finalist and the SAC Offensive Player of the Year last fall after passing for 2,966 yards and 31 TDs with just 4 interceptions
      - Noller (6-1, 205) was joined on the Preseason All-SAC Team by junior OL Charles Couch (6-2, 300), sophomore LB Ty Cade (6-1, 220), junior DB Jeremiah Lomax (6-0, 190) and junior punter Bryan Frey (6-2, 205)
      - The Limestone offense averaged 30.3 points, 160.9 rushing yards, and 281.1 passing yards per game in 2023. The high-powered Saints scored 51 touchdowns on the season (19 rushing, 32 passing)
      - The Limestone defense was charted with 95.0 tackles-for-loss, 35.0 sacks, and 19 takeaways (12 interceptions, 7 fumble recoveries)
      - The Saints stumbled out of the gates a year ago with back-to-back losses but caught fire down the stretch, winning their last 5 games to earn a second straight NCAA Division II playoff berth
      - After failing to win a single game in 2021, Limestone has posted a combined 16-8 record over the last two seasons
      - Head coach Mike Furrey stepped down over the winter to accept an assistant coaching position at FBS South Carolina
      - Former NFL wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was handed the Limestone reins in the spring. Cotchery, who had served as the Saints' wide receivers coach for the past two seasons, enjoyed a 12-year NFL career with the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers
 
SERIES HISTORY
      - This is the first meeting between the two programs. West Liberty has a 7-10 record all-time against current South Atlantic Conference members
      - WLU's most recent encounter with a current SAC member came on Sept. 22, 2018 when the Hilltoppers defeated UVa-Wise, 23-17. UVa-Wise was playing in its final season as an MEC member before making the move to the SAC
 
UP NEXT
      - The Hilltoppers will be back in action for their first Saturday afternoon game next week when they host Frostburg State in the annual Hall of Fame Game on Sept. 14. Kickoff for that mutual Mountain East Conference lid-lifter is set for 1 p.m.