WEST LIBERTY – It was a Thursday night well spent on the hilltop.

One of the best moves, in my opinion, the Mountain East Conference has done since its inception is play more Thursday evening games.

It’s a great option for football junkies.

Since there are very rarely Thursday prep games on the card, fans of the sport can make the short drive up Route 88 to see some good, Division II football.

Because, let’s be honest. On Saturday – the normal day for college football – is consumed by the big boys. Most people who don’t have a direct reason for going are probably going to bypass the Hilltoppers and other Division II and III games for Ohio State, West Virginia, Notre Dame, etc.

As I’ve written in past columns, I’d like to see an Ohio Valley High School Game of the Week on Thursday. But, if that’s not going to happen, more college games the better.

West Liberty played last Thursday at Fairmont State. It played last night at home against Urbana and has home games down the road against Notre Dame College (Oct. 22) and Glenville State (Nov. 5) still to come.

Here’s a look at other area products:

DIVISION I FBS

DAN MONTEROSO, Purdue – Junior wide receiver appeared in the Boilermakers’ loss to Virginia Tech.

NAJEE MURRAY, Kent State – Steubenville grad recorded three tackles and a pass break up in the Flashes’ 10-7 loss at Minnesota.

JERRID MARHEFKA, Ohio – St. Clairsville product appeared in the Bobcats’ win against SE Louisianna.

CONNOR ARLIA, Kent State – Madonna grad caught two passes for 12 yards in the loss at Minnesota.

DIVISION I FCS

AKIL BLOUNT, Florida A&M – Linsly School grad shared the team lead in tackles with eight during the Rattlers’ loss to South Carolina State.

MARK DODD, Lafayette – Senior linebacker recorded 11 tackles and a sack in a loss to Princeton.

DIVISION II

COREY ERNEST, West Liberty – St. Clairsville grad started once again at left guard in the Hilltoppers’ loss last Thursday.

MIKE BERARDI, West Liberty – John Marshall grad started at center in the loss to Fairmont State.

BRENTON COLABELLA, West Liberty – Steubenville Central grad came on in relief at quarterback last week. He completed 7-of-14 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.

MARCUS SCHUMACHER, West Liberty – Monroe Central grad recorded five tackles from his linebacker spot in the loss to Fairmont State.

STEPHEN ROGALSKI, West Virginia Wesleyan – Magnolia grad caught 5 passes for 50 yards in a loss to West Virginia State.

TANNER WRIGHT, Glenville State – River product punted three times for 43 yard average and had two drop inside the 20.

ROBERT VARGO, Ohio Dominican – Martins Ferry grad played in the Panthers’ loss to nationally ranked Ashland.

MATT PETRELLA, Ohio Dominican – Steubenville grad appeared in the loss to Ashland.

ZACH PHILLIPS, Gannon – Wheeling Park product has appeared in all three games as a back-up quarterback.

GEREMY PAIGE, Gannon – Red-shirt freshman has recorded eight tackles this season. He had three last week against South Connecticut State.

DIVISION III

DALTON SECREST, Marietta – Sophomore defensive tackle, who is from Beallsville, checked in with 9 tackles and 1.5 sacks in last week’s game.

JACOB CLARK, Muskingum – Shadyside grad started at center in the Muskies’ loss to Mount Union.

JONATHAN CARLIER, Waynesburg – Martins Ferry grad recorded a team-high eight tackles in a loss to Geneva.

LESHAWN LUKE, Mt. Union – Steubenville grad posted 6 tackles, 1 for loss and a fumble recovery in the Purple Raiders’ win last week.

DASHON REDMAN, Mt. Union – Steubenville product was in on one tackle last week.

ELLIOTT NERO, Mt. Union – Madonna product had four carries for 31 yards in last week’s victory.

MIKE FURDA, Mt. Union – Indian Creek grad had three tackles and a sack last week.

NICK ASTURI, Muskingum – River grad had two tackles in the loss to Mount.

BRETT ROSEN, Muskingum – River grad had four tackles in the loss to Mount.

BRENT WALTON, Capital – Pickerington Central grad, whose parents are Ohio Valley natives and his grandparents still reside in the area, rushed for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns last week.

CROSS COUNTRY

ANDY THORNBURG, UNC-Asheville – Senior was sixth at the UNC-Asheville Invite with a 26:09. He was second on his team.

JAMIE TRUCHAN, West Liberty – Martins Ferry product was eighth in the MEC Preview meet with a time of 29:45.

LAUREN TAROVISKY, Florida Gulf Coast – Wheeling Park product was 11th at the Florida Mountain Dew Invitational. She ran a 18:19.

TARA TOLLETT, Ohio – Shadyside product turned in a 22:31 to finish 25th at the Virginia Tech Alumni meet.

KELSEY CHAMBERS, Wheeling Jesuit – Oak Glen product was 32nd at the Notre Dame Catholic Invitational. She was MEC Runner of the Week with a time of 19:20.

FALLON DOYLE, Wheeling Jesuit – St. John Central grad was 35th in a time of 19:29 at the ND Catholic Invite.

SAM FOSTER, Wheeling Jesuit – St. John Central grad was 45th at ND with a 27:25.

ALBERT SCRHRIMP, Wheeling Jesuit – Wheeling Park product was 18th at Notre Dame in 26:32.

GOLF

THADD OBECNY, Coastal Carolina – Wheeling native’s debut saw him finish tied for 37th with a three-round score of 233. He shot a 76 in the final round.

ADAM JEFFRIES, Alderson-Broaddus – St. Clairsville grad plays in the NCAA Chicago Regional early next week.

SETH VANNOY, Alderson-Broaddus – St. Clairsville grad plays in the NCAA Chicago Regional early next week.