WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University football team heads into the final week of the regular season with a Mountain East Conference championship and a potential NCAA Division II playoff berth still within reach as the Hilltoppers travel to rival Wheeling on Saturday, Nov. 14.

West Liberty enters the regular-season finale at 7-3 overall and 5-2 in MEC play, while Wheeling is 5-5 overall and 4-3 in conference action. A victory would guarantee the Hilltoppers at least a share of the MEC championship, with the possibility of claiming the title outright depending on the outcome of Saturday's matchup between Charleston and West Virginia State.

Head coach Chad Salisbury said the team has responded well in practice following last week's double-overtime loss to Charleston.

"The guys have bounced back from, obviously, a very disappointing Saturday," Salisbury said. "Our guys, they play hard. They continue to play hard. They continue to play to the last second and even more. But we make the mistakes that put us into overtime, and the goal is to try to stop making those mistakes so that we can get the result that we want."

The Hilltoppers will have plenty at stake in their final game, and Salisbury said the opportunity to play meaningful football in November has been evident throughout the week.

"You can see that the practice is a team that's practicing for their lives," Salisbury said. "They're a team that's practicing like they have a chance to play longer, and those practices have been sharp. They've been physical at times, but we've also taken care of our teammates."

West Liberty's championship scenarios are straightforward. If the Hilltoppers defeat Wheeling and Charleston defeats West Virginia State, West Liberty and Charleston will share the MEC championship at 6-2. Charleston would earn the conference's NCAA Division II automatic qualifier by virtue of its 41-35 double-overtime win over West Liberty on Nov. 7.

If West Liberty defeats Wheeling and West Virginia State defeats Charleston, the Hilltoppers would claim the MEC championship outright at 6-2 and earn the conference's automatic qualifier.

A West Liberty loss combined with a Charleston victory would give the Golden Eagles the outright championship. If West Liberty loses and West Virginia State defeats Charleston, West Liberty, Wheeling, Concord and Charleston would share the title at 5-3. Charleston would receive the automatic qualifier after going 3-0 against the other teams in the tie.

Despite the postseason implications, Salisbury said the focus remains on the team's preparation and execution.

"We always go back to just being us," Salisbury said. "It's constantly trying to develop and build and hoping that the process is going to be what you want it to be."

Senior running back Hunter Patterson made history in the loss, rushing for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries to become West Liberty's all-time career rushing leader. Patterson now has 3,878 career rushing yards, surpassing Derrick Stickles' previous record of 3,690, set from 2002-05.

Patterson continues to lead the MEC and rank among the nation's top Division II running backs. Through 10 games, he has rushed for 1,801 yards and 20 touchdowns on 229 carries, averaging 180.1 yards per game. He ranks second nationally in rushing yards and rushing yards per game and is tied for second in rushing touchdowns. Patterson also leads NCAA Division II in all-purpose yards per game at 218.8, with 387 receiving yards to go along with his rushing production.

The Hilltoppers rank third in the MEC in both scoring offense (34.1 points per game) and total offense (415.4 yards per game). Quarterback Kohl Meisman has thrown for 2,017 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 63.7% of his passes. Dominic Diaz-Ellis leads the receiving corps with 378 yards and six touchdowns, while Levi Gullion and Jaylin Harcum have each contributed 361 receiving yards.

West Liberty's defense has also been a strength, ranking second in the MEC in total defense at 370.5 yards allowed per game and fourth in scoring defense at 29.0 points per game.

Wheeling presents a challenging matchup on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals average 27.3 points and 398 yards of total offense per game, including 220.4 passing yards and 177.6 rushing yards. Quarterback Landon Lutz has thrown for 2,204 yards and 12 touchdowns, while running back Ayden McKinstry has added 663 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Sajari Love leads the receiving corps with 672 yards.

The Cardinals' biggest strength, however, comes on the defensive side. Wheeling leads the MEC in scoring defense, allowing just 25.3 points per game, and ranks third in total defense at 371.0 yards per contest. The Cardinals have also recorded 22 sacks and 10 interceptions.

Salisbury said he has a great deal of respect for Wheeling head coach Zac Bruni and his staff, pointing to the Cardinals' offensive versatility and defensive aggressiveness.

"Offensively, they are multiple. They're going to do a lot of things to try to put you in conflict, and Coach does a good job of that," Salisbury said. "He's got a really good quarterback, a kid that commands the field and commands the huddle."

Defensively, Salisbury expects Wheeling to bring pressure.

"I would call them an aggressive defense," Salisbury said. "I feel like they're probably going to pressure us a lot, and it's who they are, so we need to be ready for that."

For West Liberty, the key will be playing a complete game from the opening kickoff. The Hilltoppers have shown an ability to rally late and compete in close contests, but Salisbury wants to see that same urgency throughout all four quarters.

"We're the underdogs. We need to get into that 15-round fight. It's the only way we can win," Salisbury said. "But what we really need to do is just do it right the whole time, the whole game, and see what that result is at the end of the game. We're not trying to win an overtime game or score late or come back on a two-minute drill. I'd just like to see us do it right for 15 rounds."

Saturday's contest will mark the eighth meeting between the programs since their first matchup in 2019. Wheeling holds a 4-3 advantage in the series, although West Liberty claimed the most recent meeting, a wild 68-67 victory at West Family Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025.

Salisbury said he is looking forward to experiencing the rivalry for the first time as West Liberty's head coach.

"I understand it's a rivalry game, and I'm looking forward to getting my first taste of it," Salisbury said.

Kickoff is scheduled for Noon Saturday, at Wheeling.



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.