WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University football team opened Mountain East Conference play with a victory that will go down as one of the program's most memorable in years.
The Hilltoppers rallied from a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter, forced overtime and then defeated defending MEC champion Frostburg State, 30-24, Saturday afternoon at West Family Stadium.
The victory moved West Liberty to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in MEC play and snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Bobcats. It was West Liberty's first win over Frostburg since a 27-17 victory in 1983.
"This was just a really, really good football game," West Liberty head coach
Chad Salisbury said. "I think, by two good teams that played really hard. ... The thing that stands out the most is just the fight, just the never quit, the grit that the kids have."
The Hilltoppers trailed 24-21 with 1:19 remaining after Frostburg's KJ Smothers broke loose for a 33-yard touchdown run. West Liberty, however, had one more answer.
With the clock winding down, the Hilltoppers drove 63 yards in just over a minute, setting up freshman kicker
Aidan Grella for a 26-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining. Grella drilled the kick to tie the game at 24-24 and send the conference opener to overtime.
Salisbury said the Hilltoppers were still looking for a touchdown on the final drive before Grella ultimately provided the equalizer.
"We were trying to score," Salisbury said. "We still had three timeouts. Hunter had hit a big run and there was a penalty. ... Our freshman kicker went in there. Aiden ... he's kind of a pressure kid ... and man, he hit it good."
West Liberty's defense then took the field first in overtime and quickly delivered.
On Frostburg's second-down play, freshman defensive back
Seamus Mahon stepped in front of a Jordan Brooks pass for his first collegiate interception, giving the Hilltoppers possession and a chance to win the game.
Mahon's interception came after the Hilltoppers' defense had held Frostburg to just six points over the final 17 minutes of regulation.
"I was kind of like a robber player," Mahon said. "Everyone did their job and was on their man, and then I got to read the QB's intention when I saw it in there. I just went and got it."
West Liberty needed only three plays to finish the job.
Hunter Patterson carried twice during the overtime possession before breaking through for a 12-yard game-winning touchdown, sending the Hilltoppers into a celebration at midfield.
For Patterson, it was the finishing touch on another outstanding performance.
The senior running back carried 28 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 21 yards, finishing with 220 all-purpose yards.
Patterson's first touchdown gave West Liberty its first lead of the afternoon, a 21-17 advantage early in the fourth quarter. He scored on a 36-yard run with 12:38 remaining after the Hilltoppers had battled back from a 17-7 deficit.
"We felt like we were wearing them down," Patterson said. "Kept hitting them with the inside zone. ... We knew it was going to break eventually, so we just kept hitting it, hitting it, hitting it. A crease hit finally and we won the game."
The Hilltoppers finished with 337 yards of total offense, including 217 rushing yards on 41 attempts. West Liberty's ground game averaged 5.3 yards per carry against a Frostburg defense that had entered the afternoon with a physical reputation.
Quarterback
Kohl Meisman completed 13 of 26 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with
Levi Gullion for a 16-yard touchdown in the second quarter and
Jaylin Harcum for a 4-yard score in the third.
The Hilltoppers trailed 10-7 at halftime before matching Frostburg's seven points in the third quarter. West Liberty then scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
While the offense eventually found its rhythm, Salisbury credited the defense for repeatedly answering adversity.
The Bobcats opened the game with a short field after a West Liberty turnover, but the Hilltopper defense limited Frostburg to a field goal. The Bobcats also scored after halftime, but West Liberty consistently responded with stops when it needed them.
"I think they just continue to live by the mantra, just play the next play," Salisbury said. "It just does not matter what happens to these kids. They just play the next play."
West Liberty recorded four sacks and nine tackles for loss, with Dominic Maultsby leading the defense with eight tackles.
Luca Neal and Mahon each finished with seven tackles, while
Grant Neiswonger added six tackles, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Mahon also recorded two pass breakups to go with his overtime interception.
The Hilltoppers finished with a 217-152 advantage in rushing yards and held a narrow 337-333 edge in total offense. West Liberty also controlled the clock for 30:19.
For Salisbury, the result was about more than the final score.
"We've got effort, we've got grit, and we've got a team that's playing together," he said.
Patterson echoed that sentiment.
"We're all having a great time," Patterson said. "The coaches are doing a great job with us, and it just feels different this year. I'm loving it."
For Mahon, the overtime interception was another example of a young defense learning to trust one another.
"It's a unit. It's a complete unit," he said.
And on Saturday, that unit came through when the Hilltoppers needed it most.
The victory gives West Liberty its first 1-0 start in MEC play under Salisbury and extends the Hilltoppers' winning streak to three games. West Liberty will remain at home next Saturday, Sept. 26, when Concord visits West Family Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The game will serve as Champions Day, with West Liberty honoring former Hilltopper championship teams.
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.
