Buckhannon, WV -- The Bobcat faithful have had the gift of watching two outstanding football games at Cebe Ross Field two out of the last three Saturdays. The seniors closed the book on their home career in Buckhannon on Saturday, and they put together another fearless performance on the turf. West Liberty was able to escape with the victory, but the Bobcats certainly didn't leave a ounce of energy left on that field. The Hilltoppers made a field goal in the final seconds to win 23-20, in a game that was filled with possession changes and special defensive plays on both sides. 

The 7-7 halftime scoreline was indicative of the hard-nosed defense that each offense was up against. Wesleyan got on the board first with a Derek Drapen thirteen yard touchdown catch, but the the only big play in the first thirty minutes came from West Liberty on a 55-yard touchdown connection between Zach Phillips and Isaiah Robinson to tie up the game at seven. The game then changed from a defensive battle, to an unpredictable whirlwind of events in the second half. There were eight total turnovers in the final thirty minutes, five of which were fumbles. Wesleyan was able to break free of the sloppy play halfway through the fourth quarter; when Jarrett Northrop hit Derek Drapen again in stride, this time for an explosive 59-yard touchdown play down the right sideline. West Liberty would answer with their QB-WR connection, Phillips to Robinson again, tying up the game with a minute remaining. They would miss the ensuing extra point to leave the score knotted up. An incredible tip-drill interception by Brandon Morrison would give West Liberty the ball right back, and Owen Rozanc would end the game with a chip shot field goal. 

For the Bobcats, it was fun to watch the connection between Drapen and Northrop in their last game at Cebe Ross Field. The two were in sync when it mattered, and they collected 92 yards and two touchdowns together. Junior Kenny Lewis Jr. made a big field-position impact on the game with 99 yards on three kick returns, he is proving to be one of the most dynamic players in the Mountain East Conference with the football in his hands. Highlighted before the game, Aman Speed Jr. lived up to the hype by forcing pressure all over the West Liberty offense against the run and pass. The senior accounted for sixteen yards of defense on two sacks in his final home game. Linebacker Grant Safford had a nose for the ball on Saturday; he jarred two fumbles loose and made eight solo tackles. The star of the show for the Bobcats was again Sophomore John Merica. He arguably had the best game of his prestigious 2019 season, making two interceptions on opposite sides of the field, and recovering a fumble. He grabbed his first interception in the Bobcats own endzone at the start of the second quarter, as the Hilltoppers were looking to take the lead. His second was the most important, as he shifted momentum of the game by jumping in front of a Zach Phillips pass on the West Liberty twenty yard line, and proceeding to take it to the house for the lead early in the second half. 

West Liberty's offense was lead by WR Isaiah Robinson on Saturday. The 6'3 Junior tallied season-high totals with 153 yards and two touchdowns. He was a matchup nightmare all day for the Bobcats defense, as his size and athleticism was tough to defend. Phillips was adept at getting his favorite target the football, and the quarterback also added another touchdown pass to Christian Rita. Sophomore DE David Gilcreast was a strong force off the line, forcing two fumbles and collecting two sacks. Woodrow Hughes and Jack Davis also collected two sacks a piece, and each played a role in the fumble fest as well.

The win brought West Liberty back to .500 on the season at 5-5, and their last test will be a home matchup with Charleston.

Wesleyan will get a taste of Thursday Night Lights this week at Fairmont State. The short week will make it difficult to prepare for a team that just put a road clobbering on regionally ranked Urbana, but it will be a challenge that Coach Testa, his staff, and the players, will be ready for. Thursday will be the finale to many Bobcat careers, and a night win on the road would be a great way to send them out strong. Because of the short week, pre-game coverage will be released Wednesday on Twitter and on the official Wesleyan Athletics website. The game will be broadcasted live through Mountain East TV.