WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — Hunter Patterson rewrote the West Liberty University football record book Saturday, rushing for a school-record 359 yards and three touchdowns while becoming the program's all-time leader in career touchdowns and career scoring to lead the Hilltoppers to a 41-21 Homecoming victory over West Virginia Wesleyan at West Family Stadium.
The Hilltoppers (6-1, 4-0 MEC) scored 24 unanswered points across four scoring drives spanning the first and second quarters to seize control early. West Liberty rushed for 362 yards and three touchdowns, while its defense forced five turnovers, recovering four fumbles and recording an interception.
Patterson's 359 rushing yards on 26 carries broke the previous West Liberty single-game record of 348 yards, set by Derrick Stickles against West Virginia State on Nov. 8, 2003. Patterson also moved to the top of the program's career record book with 52 touchdowns and 314 points.
"I didn't think I had that much, but ... I was like, 'Oh, wow,'" Patterson said of his record-setting afternoon. "But that means nothing to me. It's on to next week, and hopefully we can do it again."
Head coach
Chad Salisbury credited the offensive line and the coaching staff's preparation for helping Patterson produce the historic performance.
"It's a credit to the O-line, too," Salisbury said. "Coach Hamilton's plan was really good, but our O-line blocked their butts off because they do know. ... If they put hands on somebody, this kid has a chance of doing something special."
West Liberty struck first after defensive pressure from
Kamar Perlote led to a fumble recovered by
Grant Neiswonger. Quarterback
Kohl Meisman capitalized on the takeaway, connecting with
Dominic Diaz-Ellis for a 45-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead. After Alexander Pate forced another fumble near the goal line and Perlote recovered at the West Liberty 2-yard line, Patterson broke free on the next play for a 98-yard touchdown run.
Patterson explained that the key to the explosive play was finding room and using his speed.
"I just hit it up and I really didn't see much," Patterson said. "I try to get yards and they didn't wrap me up, so I kind of just hit the edge, hit it with speed."
He added a 29-yard touchdown run with five seconds remaining in the first quarter, pushing the Hilltoppers' lead to 21-0.
Aidan Grella extended the advantage to 24-0 with a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter after
Chris Thompson recovered another West Virginia Wesleyan fumble.
Salisbury said the early production reflected a well-executed game plan on both sides of the ball.
"Our staff had a great plan," Salisbury said. "They had a really good run game plan, and then that plan matched the pass game and it hit early."
The Hilltoppers' defense continued to deliver in important situations, stopping the Bobcats on fourth down at the WLU 21-yard line to preserve the three-touchdown lead. West Virginia Wesleyan scored late in the first half, sending West Liberty into the break ahead 24-7.
West Liberty opened the second half with an 11-play, 62-yard drive that ended with Grella's 36-yard field goal, extending the lead to 27-7. Patterson helped move the offense with runs of 25, 11 and 9 yards. The Bobcats answered with two rushing touchdowns, including a 3-yard score by Reimello Hyde as time expired in the third quarter, trimming the Hilltoppers' advantage to 27-21.
The West Virginia Wesleyan comeback brought the game within one score, but West Liberty's defense answered when it needed to most. Thompson's sack led to another fumble, which Perlote recovered at the Bobcats' 8-yard line. Meisman then connected with Diaz-Ellis for a touchdown, extending the lead to 34-21.
After
Seamus Mahon intercepted a Bobcat pass at the WLU 32, Patterson capped a three-play drive with a 50-yard touchdown run. Grella's extra point made it 41-21 with 4:03 remaining. West Liberty's defense closed out the victory with another fourth-down stop, ending a West Virginia Wesleyan possession at the WLU 26-yard line.
Salisbury praised the defense's ability to create turnovers even when opponents manage to move the ball.
"The numbers aren't going to say it," Salisbury said. "Our guys play, our guys tackle, our guys try to make them fumble it. So we do give up some yards, but our guys tend to stand up and give us some turnovers."
Linebacker
Samuel Hobbs, who led West Liberty with 14 tackles, said the defense's approach starts with its preparation.
"We're a detailed and dialed-in-on-our-work type of team, so we go out there and choose violence every time," Hobbs said. "That's our mentality. Choose violence."
Hobbs added that the turnover production comes from the work done during the week.
"It comes from practice. We practice how we play," he said. "We're practicing peanut punching all day at practice. It shows up in the game."
Even when West Virginia Wesleyan cut into the lead, Hobbs said the Hilltoppers remained confident in their teammates on offense.
"I trust my offense 100%, so I'm never in doubt when we're down," Hobbs said. "I trust my offense."
Meisman completed 10 of 14 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Diaz-Ellis caught three passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns, while Patterson accounted for the bulk of West Liberty's offensive production. Thompson added six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Salisbury said he appreciates the effort his players have shown as the program continues to build momentum.
"I don't know if you enjoy it as a coach, but boy, do I appreciate what these kids are doing," Salisbury said. "These kids are working their butts off. ... So it's exciting, man. It really is."
Patterson echoed that focus on the team's progress, noting how important the victories have become after the challenges of recent seasons.
"It feels great," Patterson said. "It feels different this year that these wins are cool considering the last couple of years we had, but I just want to keep stacking them, stacking them, and hopefully we can bring home a conference championship."
The Hilltoppers now turn their attention to the closing stretch of the regular season, with three of their final four games scheduled on the road. West Liberty begins that stretch next Saturday with a Mountain East Conference matchup at Glenville State.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at
westliberty.edu.
