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West Virginia State University Athletics

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FB22 Riddick
Photo: Todd Griffith
32
West Liberty University WLU 4-6 , 3-6
42
Winner West Virginia State WVS 6-4 , 5-4
West Liberty University WLU
4-6 , 3-6
32
Final
42
West Virginia State WVS
6-4 , 5-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WLU West Liberty University 14 10 0 8 32
WVS West Virginia State 14 14 7 7 42

Game Recap: Football | | James Garcia, Sports Information Director

Yellow Jackets sting West Liberty with rushing attack, 42-32

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University football team (6-4, 5-4 MEC) ran away with a 42-32 victory over West Liberty (4-6, 3-6 MEC) on Saturday night under the lights of Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium. The Yellow Jackets took a four-point lead into halftime with an offensive showcase before the defense stunned the Hilltoppers in the second half to secure the win.

Senior quarterback Donovan Riddick was deadly accurate, completing 15-of-20 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. He also led the rushing attack with a career-high 126 yards on the ground and a score. Meanwhile, sophomore running back Joel Felder broke the 100-yard rushing mark for the third time this season and the second game in a row with 101 yards in the game. He also found the end zone a career-high three times.

Senior defensive back Jalen Jones led the Yellow Jackets with nine total tackles, including six solo tackles. Furthermore, he made three tackles in the backfield, including a sack, and hurried the quarterback once. Fellow defensive back Christian Thompson made his fourth interception of the season in the contest.

Sophomore Brennen Schmitt helped WVSU win the field position battle with two punts inside the 20 yard line, including a monstrous 69-yard punt that awed spectators.

West Virginia State scored on the second play of the opening drive with a 33-yard pass completion to Barry Hill on a streak route, 7-0.

After recovering a fumble at State's 34 yard line, West Liberty chewed nearly six minutes off the clock with a 10-play drive that resulted in a touchdown, 7-7. 

The Yellow Jackets responded with a long drive of their own on the next possession. They used 11 plays to march 72 yards down the field for a score. Running back Tavis McAdoo punched the ball into the end zone from four yards out, 14-7.

With just two-and-a-half-minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Hilltoppers took over and were able to tie the score at 14-14 with a 27-yard TD pass as time expired.

To start the second quarter, Riddick found a crease down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown scamper, 21-14. After a quick three-and-out by WLU, the Yellow Jackets gained favorable field position thanks to a shanked punt. Felder ended up scoring on a five-yard rush, 28-14.

On the second play of the next drive, West Liberty cut into the lead with a 65-yard bomb for a quick score, 28-21. The lead was cut into further by the Hilltoppers when they capped a 12-play, six-minute long drive with a 27-yard field goal, 28-24. The WVSU defense did an outstanding job preventing WLU from entering the end zone after facing a first-and-goal from the nine yard line.

In the remaining two minutes of the first half, neither team was able to score to leave a four-point advantage, 28-24, for State at the break.

Both offenses struggled in the third quarter. After another long West Liberty drive stalled at the WVSU 28 yard line, TJ Lomax blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt to regain the momentum.

The Yellow Jackets got the ball back with five minutes left in the third stanza and kept the drive alive with a 42-yard connection between Riddick and Javion Monroe on third-and-13. Felder did the rest of the work and crossed the goal line from 12 yards out to give State a 35-24 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Schmitt's 69-yard punt at the beginning of the final quarter placed the Hilltoppers on their own one yard line. A three-and-out followed and another shanked punt once again gave WVSU favorable field position. On the first play of the drive, Felder picked up his third touchdown of the night on a 28-yard run up the gut, 42-24.

West Liberty answered with a touchdown and a two-point conversion on the ensuing drive, 42-32. The long scoring drive took six minutes off the clock and left less than six minutes in the game.

An onside kick followed and was recovered by the Hilltoppers. The Yellow Jacket defense was up to the task and forced a turnover on downs after only four plays. West Virginia State was able to manage the clock after the turnover and Thompson intercepted the WLU quarterback on the penultimate possession of the contest to seal the victory for WVSU.

The Yellow Jackets ran for 319 yards while holding the Hilltoppers to 123 yards on the ground.

State will wrap up the 2022 season next Saturday, Nov. 12 with a short road trip to rivals Charleston. The kickoff is scheduled for noon.

 
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