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WEST LIBERTY -- Riding a seven-game winning streak and carrying national and regional rankings into the weekend, the West Liberty University football team travels to Fairmont State on Saturday for another chapter in the longest-running series in program history. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Duvall-Rosier Field.
The Hilltoppers enter the Mountain East Conference matchup at 7-1 overall and 5-0 in league play, sitting alone atop the MEC standings. West Liberty earned the No. 23 spot in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches Poll and D2Football.com Poll, released Monday, marking the program's first appearance in the AFCA national Top 25 since September 2010.
West Liberty also ranks sixth in Super Region 1 in the latest NCAA Division II Football Power Index (NPI), released Sunday. The Hilltoppers are the highest-ranked MEC team in the regional rankings as they continue their push toward postseason consideration.
Saturday's opponent, Fairmont State, enters at 2-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play after dropping a 52-49 decision at Charleston last weekend. Despite the difference in records, the Falcons have demonstrated their offensive potential, making the annual rivalry another important test for the Hilltoppers as they look to extend their winning streak.
West Liberty and Fairmont State have met 91 times, with the Hilltoppers holding a 40-46-5 record in the series. The matchup is the longest series in West Liberty football history, and recent meetings have produced some of the most competitive games in the rivalry.
Senior running back Hunter Patterson enters Saturday's game on the verge of a historic performance, needing just 16 rushing yards to break West Liberty's single-season rushing record, 100 yards to establish a new career rushing record and one rushing touchdown to claim sole possession of the program's career rushing touchdown record.
Patterson has rushed for 1,514 yards and 17 touchdowns on 177 carries through eight games, averaging 8.6 yards per attempt and 189.3 yards per game. The single-season rushing record stands at 1,529 yards, putting Patterson within reach of the mark as the Hilltoppers travel to Fairmont.
Patterson also has 3,591 career rushing yards, just 99 short of the school record of 3,690. In addition, he has scored 43 career rushing touchdowns, tying Kevon Calhoun (2007-10) for the most in program history. One more rushing touchdown would give Patterson sole possession of the career record.
Patterson leads the Mountain East Conference in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards per game. Nationally, he ranks second in both rushing yards and rushing yards per game and third in rushing touchdowns. He also leads NCAA Division II in all-purpose yards per game at 228.6, ranks second in scoring with 134 points and is tied for second nationally with 22 total touchdowns.
Fairmont State averages 26.4 points and 334.9 yards of total offense per game. Quarterback Nino Marzullo has thrown for 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 223 rushing yards and four rushing scores.
Head coach Chad Salisbury emphasized that the Hilltoppers must be prepared for a talented quarterback and a solid Fairmont defense.
"I think they got a really good quarterback," Salisbury said. "He's been player of the week, I think, a couple of times, and their defense is solid."
Salisbury also identified special teams as a major emphasis entering the road matchup. After studying Fairmont State's games, he noted that the Falcons returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in two of the performances his staff considered their best.
"I think where it's going to start is the kick game," Salisbury said. "We've watched every one of their games. And the two best games that we thought they've played, and that's our opinion, they've returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown."
The Hilltoppers' national ranking has provided welcome recognition for a team that has put together seven consecutive victories, but Salisbury does not want the attention to change its approach.
"I'm happy that these kids are getting recognition because they work hard," Salisbury said. "It doesn't mean that we work any less. It doesn't mean that we rest."
The Hilltoppers will aim to protect their unbeaten conference record, extend their winning streak to eight games and earn their first victory over Fairmont State since 2022 when the teams meet Saturday at 1 p.m. in Fairmont.