By Nathan Johnson, Staff Writer

A Hail Mary completion on the final play of regulation helped West Liberty as they defeated Glenville State in double overtime 27-24.

In the first quarter, The Pioneers would strike first on the opening possession capped off with a touchdown pass from Sean Steele to Ralph Gordon for eight yards to make the score 7-0.

The Hilltoppers would answer later in the first quarter capped off by a one yard run by Jeremiah Ortiz to tie the game up at 7. Ortiz finished the game with 101 yards on 26 carries.

Late in the second, Glenville would score again, Steele connected with Antiwone Johnson for a 53 yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-7 going into the half.

In the third, West Liberty would answer with a 13 yard run by Braxton Gamble to tie the game again at 14. Last play in the third quarter, Glenville State would respond with a six yard touchdown run by Rahmann Lee to make the score 21-14 going into the fourth.

Late in the fourth quarter after the two teams trade field goals to make the score 24-17 with the pioneers leading, West Liberty would have to go 99 yards in 49 seconds to tie the game. Hilltopper quarterback Dakota Conwell connected with Anton McCallum to get in Glenville territory down at the 46 yard line. On the final play of the game, Conwell threw the Hail Mary to the end zone and Dylan Potts came down with it off a tip to tie the game at 24 and force overtime. Conwell completed 18 passes of 37 for 164 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

In the first overtime, both teams missed field goals, so it went into double overtime. In double overtime, Hilltopper kicker Josh Wilson kicked a 43 yard field goal to take a 27-24 lead. The Pioneers would have one more chance, and they would get down to the one yard line but fumbled the ball at the one and it went in the back of the end zone for a touchback that ended the game, and the Hilltoppers came away with the 27-24 victory.

West Liberty moves their record to 1-1 on the season and will host West Virginia State next Saturday at 1:00 at West Family Stadium. West Virginia State fell to Concord today 55-