The WVSU football players were hoping to give first year coach Jon Anderson a victory in the Yellow Jacket's home opener.

Unfortunately bad weather and muddy field conditions along with visiting West Liberty conspired against them as the Hilltoppers were able to produce just enough offense to slip by the Yellow Jackets 9-0.

Though he would have loved to pick up the win Coach Anderson was happy to be in front of the home State crowd for the first time.

"We would have rather had the sun at Lakin Field instead of the rain but it doesn't matter the conditions, when you can play at home, it is something special," Anderson said. "We look forward to our team progressing."

The WVSU (0-3) defense was up to the task all game long, holding the high powered West Liberty (2-1) offense to just three field goals.

Anderson couldn't have been much prouder of his defensive unit.

"The defense has improved week to week," Anderson said. "They are gaining in confidence."

As well as getting used to each other.

"They play well with each other, and that is great," Anderson said. "That is what defense is all about."

He sees good things ahead for the unit.

"Great defenses have confidence in each other, want to play side by side, and not let each other down," Anderson said. "We are starting to get that level, we are gaining."

Yellow Jacket defensive back William Merritt, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio, was all over the field, recording a game high 15 tackles, including five solo, and had an interception.

"William is a guy we will scheme off of defensively," Anderson said. "He just plays with so much passion."

Also for the Yellow Jackets, cornerback Romell Haley, a sophomore from Maryland, had quite a day in the defensive backfield intercepting a pass from West Liberty quarterback Dylan Legarde, and breaking up several others.

"Romell is a very talented corner," Anderson said. "He is going to draw the toughest assignment every week because he is so talented."

On the first play of the game, West LIberty quarterback Dylan Legarde completed a 45-yard pass to Javon Murphy against the Yellow Jackets, setting up great field position for the Hilltoppers.

However, the State defense held strong inside their own 10-yard line, holding West Liberty to a 29-yard field goal by Brian Arbes with 12:07 to play in the first quarter to give the Hilltoppers a 3-0 lead.

West Liberty looked to extend their lead late in the first quarter, driving inside the State 15-yard line but once again the Yellow Jackets held up against the HIlltopper offense.

Facing a fourth down and three from the State 14-yard line, West Liberty elected not to attempt another field goal, but instead went for it.

Legarde attempted a pass into the endzone, but Haley stepped up in one on one coverage, and broke up the pass, forcing a huge stop for State.

The Hilltoppers added another three-pointer on their next possession for a 6-0 lead.

West Liberty tacked on their third field goal of the game on the last play of the first half, this time a 30-yard field goal from Arbes, to give the Hilltoppers a 9-0 lead, but that would be the last points they would score the rest of the contest.

The second half was much the same for the stout State defense as the Yellow Jackets forced three more West Liberty turnovers in the third quarter alone to keep them in the game and give them a chance at victory.

Early in the third quarter, Haley intercepted Legarde. Later in the period, State linebacker Mitchell Rowell recovered a West Liberty fumble, and finally late in the third quarter, Yellow Jacket defensive lineman Sam Lester also recovered a fumble.

At least five different State defenders had at least seven tackles on the game. Besides Merritt's 15, senior Dominique Matthews recorded nine tackles, junior Ed Blair eight, and Rowell and sophomore Mark Guerin also earning seven tackles as well.

On the offensive side of the ball, despite terrible field conditions, State senior running back Le'Floyd Phillips was still able to churn out a tough 66 yards on 15 carries for a 4.4 yards per attempt average.

"Tough yards, without a doubt," Anderson said. "Le'Floyd is as tough as they come. He's a hard nosed kid and will continue to get the bulk of our carries. He has a chance to break them. We just need to get him to the next level."

With throwing the ball in such tough conditions extremely difficult, State was able to get a spark from backup quarterback Joe Thornton. The versatile sophomore from Maryland led the Yellow Jackets to several first downs, and finished the game with 25 yards on five carries.

"We had talked going into the game if the footing became bad and the ability to throw was negated because of the field, Joe could give us the ability to run from the quarterback spot," Anderson said. "

"We had that in mind when we saw the forecast knowing it would be wet and raining. Joe has that ability to run a little more and we needed a spark from him today."

The Yellow Jackets are back in action at Fairmont State next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. It will mark the Yellow Jacket's third road game in their first four contests.