BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — The West Liberty University football team delivered a dominant performance on Saturday afternoon, rolling past West Virginia Wesleyan, 35-11, at Cebe Ross Field. The Hilltoppers' offense exploded for 342 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground, fueling a commanding road win that also marked head coach Roger Waialae's 100th career victory at the helm of the program.
West Liberty (2-5, 2-2 MEC) set the tone early with a balanced offensive attack and smothering defense. Hunter Patterson led the charge, rushing for a career-high 247 yards and three touchdowns on just 17 carries, including a dazzling 84-yard score in the second quarter that broke the game open.
The Hilltoppers struck first midway through the opening quarter when Antevious Jackson capped a quick drive with a 24-yard touchdown run, set up by Patterson's 20-yard burst. The defense quickly made its presence felt as Seth Poriah pounced on a muffed kickoff return to swing momentum firmly in West Liberty's favor. Despite a safety late in the quarter, WLU held a 7-2 advantage after a missed Wesleyan field goal attempt.
Patterson took over in the second quarter. His 84-yard touchdown run highlighted a dominant stretch for the Hilltopper offense, and he added another score from 20 yards out later in the half to extend the lead to 21-5. West Liberty's defense continued to apply pressure throughout, forcing multiple punts and capitalizing on Wesleyan penalties to keep the Bobcats off balance.
After a scoreless third quarter, Patterson struck again early in the fourth — this time breaking free for a 46-yard touchdown run to make it 28-5. The defense added to the fireworks when Charles Coy III intercepted a pass to set up another Hilltopper drive. With 13 seconds left, Jaren Brickner connected with Trey Singleton for a 12-yard touchdown strike, sealing the 35-11 victory and capping Waialae's milestone win in style.
In addition to Patterson's standout day, Singleton finished with four receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson contributed both through the air and on the ground. Defensively, Nolan Shimp led with six tackles, Bre'Andre Horsley tallied five tackles and a sack, and Coy added an interception and two tackles.
The victory was a special one for Coach Roger Waialae, who became just the second head coach in program history to reach 100 career wins.
West Liberty now turns its focus to Homecoming Week, as the Hilltoppers return to West Family Stadium next Saturday, October 25, to host Glenville State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
