WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — There was plenty to celebrate in Buckhannon last Saturday — from a record-breaking day by running back Hunter Patterson to a career milestone for head coach Roger Waialae. Now, with confidence growing and momentum building, the Hilltoppers return home this weekend to face Glenville State in their Homecoming Game at 1 p.m. Saturday at West Family Stadium.
Patterson, a junior from Chester, W.Va., was named the Mountain East Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week, presented by The Health Plan, after delivering one of the most dominant rushing performances in the league this season. The speedy back exploded for a career-high 247 yards and three touchdowns on just 17 carries, averaging an incredible 14.5 yards per attempt in the Hilltoppers' 35–11 win at West Virginia Wesleyan.
His touchdown runs of 84, 20, and 46 yards powered an offense that piled up 342 rushing yards and helped secure Waialae's 100th career win — a mark built over two decades of Hilltopper football.
"Really, I've never looked at it as my win," Waialae said. "I've never played a game here, so I've never won one. But I've lost a bunch," he joked. "The players and the coaches that have been here through the years are the ones who've earned those wins. That's how I've always felt — it's about the young men who have played football here."
That selfless approach has been the constant through 21 seasons, and it's reflected in how Waialae discusses Patterson's breakout performance.
"It's unbelievable what Hunter did," Waialae said. "They got him for 17 rushes, but it was really 16 because the first one lost 15 yards — he was just trying to make something happen. But that shows you what kind of player he is. When we get a hat on a hat up front, and he makes one guy miss, there's not many people who are going to catch him."
Patterson's 247-yard effort ranks second in single-game rushing totals in the MEC this season and third-most in a game in the WLU modern era. His 84-yard score in the second quarter flipped the momentum firmly in West Liberty's favor — the kind of spark that has fueled the Hilltoppers' two-game winning streak.
"He's an All-American-level track guy," Waialae added. "Once he gets the edge, he's gone. And what's impressed me lately is how our quarterbacks have helped him. On one of those touchdown runs, we had a pass called, but Tay [Jackson] saw the look, checked to the run, and Hunter broke it for six. That's players making good decisions, and that's what leads to big plays."
Now the Hilltoppers (2–5, 2–2 MEC) turn their attention to a Glenville State team (4–3, 3–1 MEC) that has quietly become one of the league's hottest. The Pioneers have won three straight and haven't played a home game all year, with renovations keeping them on the road for all 11 contests this season.
"They're really balanced," Waialae said. "They can run it and throw it, and they've got playmakers on both sides of the ball. Defensively, they'll give you a bunch of different fronts — odd, even, and everything in between. They're aggressive, they mix it up, and they make you guess who's coming. We've got to stay on the field and play responsible football."
Led by quarterback Anthony Garrett, who's thrown for 1,779 yards and 14 touchdowns through seven games, the Pioneers average over 430 yards of total offense per game. Running back Jeremiah King powers the ground attack with 642 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, while receiver Naseem Pacheco leads the way with 369 receiving yards and two scores. Glenville State is scoring nearly 28.5 points per game, fueled by explosive plays — including a 77-yard touchdown pass earlier this season — and a defense that's collected five interceptions and 38 tackles for loss.
The Hilltoppers' offensive surge has been powered by smart decision-making and ball security — something Waialae has emphasized all year.
"We've valued the football these last two games," he said. "You do that, and good things happen. You can't control the officials or the weather, but you can control turnovers and effort — and we've done that."
Saturday's Homecoming crowd will get its first chance to celebrate Waialae's milestone win in person, as the Hilltoppers look to keep their momentum rolling.
"For me, Homecoming is special because of the people," Waialae said. "It's about the players who come back, the pride in the program, and the fans who fill the parking lot. I always tell our guys — play so well that the people tailgating outside want to come in and watch it live. That's our goal every year."
By the Numbers:
Points Per Game: Glenville 28.4 | West Liberty 26.7
Total Offense (YPG): Glenville 430.1 | West Liberty 426.3
Rushing Yards Per Game: Glenville 176.0 | West Liberty 188.0
Passing Yards Per Game: Glenville 254.1 | West Liberty 238.3
Time of Possession: Glenville 31:49 | West Liberty 28:08
Turnover Margin: Glenville +4 | West Liberty +2
