NORTH CANTON, Ohio - The Walsh Cavaliers football team carried the momentum from the tail end of the Spring 2021 season to the season opener on the road at West Liberty on Thursday (Sept. 2) night at West Family Stadium. The Cavaliers led wire-to-wire in a 27-6 win over the Hilltoppers, the first season opening win since 2014. 

GAME DETAILS

• Score: Walsh 27, West Liberty 6
• Records: Walsh 1-0, West Liberty 0-1
• Place: West Liberty, West Virginia (West Family Stadium)

SCORING RECAP

• Walsh scored the first points of the game on their second drive of the game as Mason Brown converted a 31-yard field goal. Walsh led 3-0 with 3:09 left in the first quarter. 
• After a three-and-out by West Liberty, the Cavaliers capped a seven play, 61-yard drive with a 18-yard touchdown pass from Jeremy Hodge to Tyre Gray. The passing touchdown put Walsh up 10-0 with 13:25 left in the first half. 
• Preston Hodges set a NCAA program record for an interception return as he returned a pick six 97 yards to the house with 6:56 left in the second quarter. Walsh's lead was extended to 17-0.
  • Hodges' return was the third longest in program history but the longest in the NCAA era. 
• Brown added a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter, the only scoring play of the quarter. 
• Chris Meadows recovered a muffed punt return at the outset of the fourth quarter. On a short field, Hodge found paydirt with Jaden Gresham on a 13-yard touchdown pass. The Cavaliers led 27-0 with 11:40 left.
• The Hilltoppers scored with 25 seconds left on a three-yard touchdown pass, reaching the final score of 27-6. 

CAVALIER TOTALS

• Walsh totaled 11 first downs with 218 yards of total offense. The passing attack totaled 131 yards while the rushing game added 87 yards. 
• Hodge completed nine of 22 passes for 131 yards with two touchdowns. 
• Devin Kenerly led the Cavaliers rushers with 53 yards on 11 carries. 
• Gray caught four passes for 99 yards with one touchdown scored. 
• The Cavalier defense totaled five sacks of West Liberty quarterbacks. Marcus Shellenbarger and Alex Oaks each had 1.5 sacks while Noah Caston contributed one sack. The duo of Sal Sidebotham and Trent Harrell combined on one sack. 
• Sidebotham led all tacklers with 12 tackles, including five solo tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. 
• Matt Amison was next in line for seven tackles. 

HILLTOPPER TOTALS

• West Liberty finished with 219 yards of total offense despite being held to -3 yards rushing. 
• Jack Allison went 17-of-34 passing with 142 yards and one interception. 
• Tyler Moler was the leading rusher with 30 yards on ten carries. 
• Isaiah Robinson made seven catches for 70 yards as the leading wideout. 
• Shyoun Petteway had a team-high ten tackles. 

NOTABLE 

• Walsh evened the series with West Liberty 7-7 and snapped a four-game losing streak at the hands of the Hilltoppers. 
• Trey Crockett moved into second place in program history with 179 punts and 6,585 yards. 
• Walsh's six points allowed was the third-lowest point total in the Division II era. 

UP NEXT

• Walsh will host Davenport next Saturday (Sept. 11) at Bob Commings Field at Canton GlenOak High School. Kickoff is set for 12:00 PM. 

-WC-