BUCKHANNON— The West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football team showed flashes of grit and balance on both sides of the ball but couldn’t contain West Liberty’s rushing attack, falling 35–11 Saturday afternoon at Cebe Ross Field.
West Liberty’s running back Hunter Patterson rushed for 247 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries, including scoring runs of 84, 20, and 46 yards. The Hilltoppers (2–5, 2–2 MEC) piled up 342 rushing yards and averaged 7.1 yards per carry against the Bobcats (0–8, 0–5 MEC).
Wesleyan battled through early adversity, forcing a first-quarter safety when Keymon Jefferson and Elias Jeffries combined on a sack of quarterback Antevious Jackson in the end zone, cutting the deficit to 7–2.
Kicker Alexander DeHart added a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter, capping an eight-play, 40-yard drive that showcased improved offensive rhythm.
Trailing 21–5 entering the final quarter, the Bobcats found late momentum. Freshman quarterback Logan Landers engineered an impressive 85-yard drive, connecting twice with Joseph Triplett for completions of 32 and 43 yards before punching in a four-yard touchdown run to make it 28–11 midway through the fourth.
West Liberty sealed the win on its next possession, as Jaren Brickner found Trey Singleton for a 12-yard touchdown with 13 seconds remaining.
- Offensive Highlights
- Joseph Triplett led all Wesleyan receivers with five catches for 97 yards, including two explosive plays of over 40 yards.
- Jordan Heyward snagged seven receptions for 46 yards.
- Landers finished a perfect 4-for-4 passing for 104 yards in relief, while Jaylen Bragg went 14-for-24 for 82 yards.
- On the ground, Jayden Williams rushed for 47 yards on nine carries, and Mason White added 34 yards on just three attempts.
- The Bobcats totaled 288 yards of offense, including 186 passing.
- Defensive Standouts
- The Wesleyan defense tallied five sacks and eight tackles for loss, keeping the Hilltoppers’ passing game in check for much of the afternoon.
- Riley Slaughter led the charge with 11 total tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
- Marcelle Logan added seven tackles and a sack, while Jefferson and Jeffries each contributed to key backfield stops.
- DJ Freeman and Victor Georges anchored the middle with six tackles apiece.
- Eudean Dobson recovered a fumble in the second quarter and added a 47-yard kickoff return to ignite field position.
Wesleyan converted 3-of-12 third downs, while West Liberty went 6-of-14. Both teams struggled with penalties—Wesleyan was flagged nine times for 75 yards, West Liberty ten times for 84.
The Bobcats begin a two-game road tour next Saturday, Oct. 25 when the Concord University Mountain Lions are the host. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
