No starting quarterback or running back, no problem for West Virginia State.The Yellow Jackets received contributions across the board Saturday afternoon in rallying past West Liberty 34-24 in a West Virginia Conference matchup. A crowd of 541 attended at Lakin Field in Institute.
No starting quarterback or running back, no problem for West Virginia State.
The Yellow Jackets received contributions across the board Saturday afternoon in rallying past West Liberty 34-24 in a West Virginia Conference matchup. A crowd of 541 attended at Lakin Field in Institute.
State's top rusher, Brian Mitchell, who has gained 847 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in six games, didn't play because of an injury, and starting QB Kevin O'Brien was ejected just before halftime after getting consecutive personal-foul penalties. O'Brien had passed for 1,524 yards and 11 scores entering Saturday's play.
Yellow Jackets freshman tailback Fabian Payne, a former South Charleston High player, filled in nicely with 91 yards on 20 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Payne's second scoring run, a 1-yarder, put State up by two scores (34-24) with 5:46 to go in the game.
State freshman signal-caller Ryan Patrick, O'Brien's replacement, completed 5-of-7 passes for 57 yards with an interception and tossed a 5-yard score to sophomore Jermain King for the go-ahead TD with 7:24 left in the fourth quarter. The drive was kept alive when Yellow Jackets punter David Wissler sprinted 3 yards to pick up a first down on fourth-and-1.
"We've got some tough players, and we've got some back-ups that had to step up,'' said State coach Earl Monroe, who saw his team also overcome six 15-yard personal foul penalties. "We tell them in this game sooner or later your number will be called and you have to be ready.
"The guys were ready. I'm proud of the [back-ups]. They've been working hard and finally got a chance and they responded. You've got to be able to perform under adverse conditions and they did.''
The Yellow Jackets also received a pick-me-up after West Liberty took a 17-14 advantage on junior Billy Hager's 39-yard field goal following Patrick's interception. State freshman Landon Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a TD, shifting the momentum and a 21-17 lead back to State with 8:13 remaining in the third period.
The Yellow Jackets' defense also stood strong. After King and Patrick hooked up to put State in front 28-24 with 7:24 remaining in the game, Yellow Jackets junior linebacker Andrew Eggleton, a former St. Albans standout, intercepted a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage. The turnover, the third forced by State's defense, set up Payne's 1-yard plunge to essentially seal the deal.
No starting quarterback or running back, no problem for West Virginia State.
The Yellow Jackets received contributions across the board Saturday afternoon in rallying past West Liberty 34-24 in a West Virginia Conference matchup. A crowd of 541 attended at Lakin Field in Institute.
State's top rusher, Brian Mitchell, who has gained 847 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in six games, didn't play because of an injury, and starting QB Kevin O'Brien was ejected just before halftime after getting consecutive personal-foul penalties. O'Brien had passed for 1,524 yards and 11 scores entering Saturday's play.
Yellow Jackets freshman tailback Fabian Payne, a former South Charleston High player, filled in nicely with 91 yards on 20 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Payne's second scoring run, a 1-yarder, put State up by two scores (34-24) with 5:46 to go in the game.
State freshman signal-caller Ryan Patrick, O'Brien's replacement, completed 5-of-7 passes for 57 yards with an interception and tossed a 5-yard score to sophomore Jermain King for the go-ahead TD with 7:24 left in the fourth quarter. The drive was kept alive when Yellow Jackets punter David Wissler sprinted 3 yards to pick up a first down on fourth-and-1.
"We've got some tough players, and we've got some back-ups that had to step up,'' said State coach Earl Monroe, who saw his team also overcome six 15-yard personal foul penalties. "We tell them in this game sooner or later your number will be called and you have to be ready.
"The guys were ready. I'm proud of the [back-ups]. They've been working hard and finally got a chance and they responded. You've got to be able to perform under adverse conditions and they did.''
The Yellow Jackets also received a pick-me-up after West Liberty took a 17-14 advantage on junior Billy Hager's 39-yard field goal following Patrick's interception. State freshman Landon Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a TD, shifting the momentum and a 21-17 lead back to State with 8:13 remaining in the third period.
The Yellow Jackets' defense also stood strong. After King and Patrick hooked up to put State in front 28-24 with 7:24 remaining in the game, Yellow Jackets junior linebacker Andrew Eggleton, a former St. Albans standout, intercepted a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage. The turnover, the third forced by State's defense, set up Payne's 1-yard plunge to essentially seal the deal.
"We were fired up,'' said Payne of taking the field in the second half. "[We] just kept our heads [and] kept the faith. We have faith in Patrick and our running backs and went out there and finished. We've just got to keep on playing, finishing games and winning games, that's all we need to do.''
O'Brien completed 14-of-24 passes for 158 yards with a TD before his ejection. As a result of the ejection, he will be forced to sit out State's game at Glenville State Saturday.
West Liberty senior tailback Branden Ore gained 139 yards on 20 carries with two TDs before leaving early in the fourth quarter after taking a helmet to the kidneys. Ore is a former Virginia Tech player and All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer who transferred to West Liberty after getting dismissed by Tech coach Frank Beamer in March.
Sophomore QB Zach Amedro, a Moundsville native, completed 22-of-39 passes for 266 yards with a score and an interception for the Hilltoppers (4-4 overall, 3-2 WVC), which racked up 22 first downs and 419 total yards.
"Normally teams rally,'' said West Liberty coach Roger Waialae. "It's been that way ever since I can remember. They know they have to pick it up a notch. [State] made a big play on special teams [that] swung the momentum. We were unable to answer after that.''
State (6-1 overall), which is ranked No. 25 in both NCAA Division II polls, also stayed alive in the race for the WVC championship after the University of Charleston knocked off previously undefeated Seton Hill 44-21 Saturday. UC, which is 5-1 in WVC play, took a half-game lead over Seton Hill, State and Glenville, all of whom are 4-1 in conference play.
"A prayer's answered,'' said a smiling Monroe, who saw his squad give up a TD with 10 seconds to go at Seton Hill to fall 35-28 last week. "I told our guys all week we're still in this race. We have to take care of our business and win out.''
Reach Tommy R. Atkinson at 348-4811 or tatkin...@wvgazette.com.
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