WEST LIBERTY, W.Va.—After starting the season 0-4, the West Liberty football team found its footing in October. The Hilltoppers went 2-2 this month, putting their overall record at 2-6. On October 5, the Concord Mountain Lions came to town. Head Coach Roger Waialae would make a switch at the quarterback position, benching Trevor Lagarde for Levi Gullion. The move would pay off as Gullion would rush for a 2-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive.
With just under four minutes left in the first quarter, Gullion would find Hunter Patterson for a 13-yard pitch and catch. Tyler Waddell tacked on the extra point and West Liberty would lead 14-0 at the end of the first. Patterson punched it in from two yards out midway through the second quarter putting the Hilltoppers ahead 21-0.
Concord finally got on the board with 2:55 remaining before halftime when Josh Hutley split the uprights from 38 yards away.
Delano Marcelus would block a punt on the Mountain Lions first drive of the second half. This allowed Waddell to extend the Hilltopper lead after making a 40-yard field goal.
AJ Barmer capped off an 11-yard play, 68-yard drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown with just over four minutes to go in the game. In the 31-10 victory, Gullion would go 10-for-22 with 154 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Patterson led the rushing attack with 9 touches for 85 yards plus a touchdown. He added 52 receiving yards and a touchdown reception.
On October 12th, West Liberty would get blown out by the University of North Carolina Pembroke, 67-20. The Hilltoppers wouldn’t score their first points until the second quarter. Gullion connected with Marquez Hurst for a 14-yard touchdown. Before the half, Gullion threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Ben Turner. However, the break wouldn’t help as the Braves outscored the Hilltoppers 34-6 in the second half.
Gullion completed 18 of his 37 passes for 224 yards. He threw 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Ti’Lan McGee had 8 totes for 43 yards. After being held to just 56 yards against Concord, Turner exploded for 105 and a touchdown. DJ Johnson led the defense with 11 total tackles.
West Liberty welcomed West Virginia Wesleyan to West Family Stadium on October 19th for the Homecoming game. The first half was a defensive one, as the two teams scored 10 points each. The Hilltoppers would strike with 10:26 remaining in the second quarter when Gullion aired one out to Turner for an 81-yard touchdown.
Hurst caught his third touchdown of the 2024 campaign when Gullion tossed it to him from the three-yard line in the third quarter. Waddell made the point after allowing the black and gold to take a 14-3 lead. Will Balgo add some padding to the scoreboard after catching a 14-yard touchdown in the final frame. The Hilltoppers defeated the Bobcats 21-9.
Gullion went 17-33 with 248 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Patterson rushed for 78 yards over his 10 attempts and Turner finished with three catches for 94 yards plus a touchdown. Marcelus recorded a team-high 9 total tackles in the win.
To wrap up October, West Liberty would fall to Glenville State 37-14. Hilltopper defensive back Trent Crawford came up with an interception on Glenville State’s first drive and his 82-yard return set up West Liberty on the one-yard line. Patterson visited the paydirt on the next play.
The Hilttoper offense would stall out until the third quarter. Patterson would make an 11-yard touchdown grab with 8:28 left in the quarter. Glenville State was up 23-14 heading into the fourth. It would extend the lead after coming away with an interception. Markquan Rucker would get into the end zone on a 2-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Pioneers ahead 30-14.
West Liberty quarterback Alex Dunlevy would be intercepted a second time late in the fourth quarter and this time, it was returned for a pick-six. Dunlevy finished 10-of-16 with 114 yards, a touchdown, and two picks. Patterson ran for 76 yards and a touchdown. Turner would lead in receiving yards for the sixth straight game, this time with 66. Marcelus led in total tackles in back-to-back weeks. He had 7 against the Pioneers.
West Liberty has three games left. This Saturday, November 2, is the Senior Day game against Charleston. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. inside West Family Stadium. On November 9, the Hilltoppers will play at Fairmont State. It will be a noon kickoff at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont, West Virginia. West Liberty will wrap up its season on November 16, when it makes the trip to Bishop Schmitt Field to take on Wheeling in “The Battle for Wheeling.” A kickoff time has yet to be determined.
