Glenville, W.Va. –The GSC Pioneer football team fell on the road Thursday evening to the West Liberty University Hilltoppers, 43-20, dropping their second conference contest of the season.  

Glenville State (2-2, 1-2 MEC) fell behind early to West Liberty (2-2, 2-2 MEC) 23-7 and never recovered. The Pioneers tallied just 148 total offensive yards on 53 plays while the Hilltoppers ran 71 plays and racked up 402 total yards.

The Hilltoppers struck first in the contest as they drove 62 yards on nine plays with Zach Phillips carrying the ball into the endzone from 10 yards out at the 10:35 minute mark of quarter number one.

The Pioneers  retaliated, answering back as Austin Ratliff took the ensuing kickoff 98 yards to the house as GSC knotted things up at 7-7 with 10:23 to play.

West Liberty broke the tie at the 5:35 minute mark as Owen Rozanc connected on a 25 yard field goal as they led, 10-7. That drive would consist of 10 plays as they drove 69 yards to add three points.

Quincy Wimbish then put the Hilltoppers up by 10 points on a 15 yard rushing touchdown, 17-10 with 9:02 to play in the second quarter. West Liberty added another score before the half. This time as Zach Phillips hit Thomas Cole for a 20 yard pitch and catch as the Pioneers went into halftime trailing, 23-7.

In the opening possession of the third quarter the Pioneers settled for three points as Justin Watts hit a 23 yard field goal making it, 23-10.

After the field goal the Pioneers defense would then come up big.  On the Hilltoppers next possession GSC's Dane Lynch would intercept Zach Phillips and take it 22 yards for the score as the Pioneers trailed, 23-17, entering the fourth quarter.

Glenville State struck first in the fourth as the Pioneers drove 58 yards on 10 plays as Justin Watts connected on a 39 yard field goal at the 11:21 mark pulling within three, 23-20.

However that field goal would be the last points for the Pioneers in the contest. West Liberty answered with a D.J. Frisby one yard touchdown run as the Hilltoppers now led, 30-20.

At the 5:48 minute mark the Hilltoppers added an additional seven points as Quincy Wimbish scored on an eight yard run as WLU led 37-20.

The Pioneers offense then proceeded to turn the ball over on their next possession as Lupeni  Fonua scooped and scored on a  Timothy Heltzel fumble as the Hilltoppers went on to defeat GSC, 43-20.

Glenville State's rushing offense really struggled on the evening running for just 22 yards on 30 carriers while West Liberty rushed for 117 yards on 38 carriers.

In the air, GSC threw for 126 yards while the Hilltoppers went for 285 yards.

The Pioneers were 0-of-13 on third downs in the contest while the Hilltoppers went 7-for-16.

Mario Pender toted the ball nine times for 29 yards while Austin Ratliff had one rush for 25 yards.

Jaylen McNair went just 7-for-15 for 89 yards. His favorite target on the night was Mario Pender hauling in five passes for 46 yards. Caleb Wynn, the former Clay County Panther, caught two passes for 60 yards.

Defensively Dominic Cizauskas led the Pioneers with a game-high 16 total tackles along with a sack and a tackle for loss. Delonte Hood chipped in with six tackles while Wil Mayes also racked up six tackles.

Dane Lynch finished the night with five tackles and an interception for a touchdown.

West Liberty was led by Quincy Wimbish on the ground rushing for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

Zach Phillips went 22-for-33 for 285 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Glenville State (2-2, 1-2 MEC) will return home to Morris Stadium next Thursday, October 3^rd as they host the Fairmont State University Fighting Falcons in the Annual "Battle for the Bit" rivalry game. Kickoff is slated for 7:10 p.m.