WEST LIBERTY — The West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcat football team fell to 0-7 for the season Saturday when it lost to West Liberty University on the road, 21-9.
The Bobcats took the opening kickoff and marched 57 yards on 11 plays to set up the game’s first points. Cam Ceccotti hit a 38-yard field goal with 10:47 remaining in the first quarter.
At the 10:26 mark of the second quarter, West Liberty found the end zone on a deep pass from Levi Gullion to Ben Turner that went 81 yards to put the Hilltoppers up 7-3.
West Liberty added 14 unanswered points in the second half: one was a touchdown by Marquez Hurst on a three-yard reception from Gullion, following a 13-play, 82-yard drive with eight minutes left in the third; the second score was a 14-yard reception by Will Balgo from Gullion to cap a four-play, 68-yard drive at 12:49 in the fourth.
Wesleyan scored its only touchdown of the game with a little over three minutes remaining when Raphael Manning crossed the goal line from one yard out to end a Bobcat 11-play, 67-yard possession.
Wesleyan’s defense held much stronger than in recent games, forcing West Liberty to 17 first downs while the Bobcat offense recorded 20. Rushing on both sides of the ball was limited and Bobcat defenders had their best day of the year against the Hilltopper ground attack, allowing only 102 net yards. The average rushing yards gained on Wesleyan in 2024 before the Hilltoppers was 220 yards per game.
Nathan Payne and Quinton Pulley shared time for the Bobcats. Payne had 15-of-23 completion for 47 yards and no picks. Pulley was 3-of-4 for 53 yards and was sacked four times. Pullet also ran 19 net yards.
The Bobcats host Concord University on Saturday, Oct. 26 for an evening kickoff that starts at 6 p.m.
