West Liberty, W.Va. - The University of Charleston football team delivered a resilient performance on Saturday afternoon, battling back to earn an exciting 41-35 double-overtime victory over West Liberty University on November 7. The Golden Eagles came through in the biggest moments, scoring twice in the second overtime to secure the road victory and improve to 5-5 overall and 5-2 in Mountain East Conference play.
The Basics:
Location: Russek Field
Score: UC 41, WLU 35 (2OT)
Records: Charleston 5-5 (5-2 MEC) West Liberty 7-3 (5-2 MEC)
How it Happened:
Charleston made an immediate impact in the opening quarter when Caleb Barringer returned a West Liberty punt 75 yards for a touchdown, giving the Golden Eagles an early 7-0 advantage. UC continued to find success offensively in the second quarter, with Zachariah Williams adding a one-yard rushing touchdown before Matt Frye connected with Wesley Sweeney for a 22-yard touchdown pass. The Golden Eagles carried a 21-14 lead into halftime.
After West Liberty battled back to even the score, Charleston continued to fight and regained the lead late in the fourth quarter. Steven Earnest powered his way into the end zone on a six-yard touchdown run with just 1:47 remaining, putting UC ahead 28-21. West Liberty answered with a late touchdown to force overtime, setting up a dramatic finish.
Both teams found the end zone in the first overtime period, keeping the contest tied at 35-35. Charleston took control in the second overtime, as Frye connected with Devin Hobbs for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Golden Eagles a 41-35 advantage. UC's defense then came up with a crucial fourth-down stop to seal the victory and complete the hard-fought road win.
Offensively, Frye completed 14 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, while Williams led the rushing attack with 61 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Sweeney provided a key receiving target, hauling in the 22-yard touchdown reception, while Hobbs delivered the decisive score in double overtime. Charleston's special teams also played a major role, with Barringer's 75-yard punt return providing an early spark.
The Golden Eagles showed determination and composure throughout the contest, finding a way to finish strong in a back-and-forth battle. Charleston's overtime performance capped an important conference road victory and provided a strong finish to the team's trip to West Liberty.
Up Next:
Charleston will play their final regular season game at home on Saturday, November 14th set for a 12:00PM kickoff against the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets.
