tre saunders
Urbana Athletics
21
Urbana URBANA 0-1 , 0-1
24
Winner West Liberty WLU 1-0 , 1-0
Urbana URBANA
0-1 , 0-1
21
Final
24
West Liberty WLU
1-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
URBANA Urbana 0 6 7 8 21
WLU West Liberty 10 0 7 7 24

Game Recap: Football | | @UrbanaU_Sports

Blue Knights Fall in Season Opener, 24-21

WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – Urbana football dropped Thursday night's season opener 24-21 to West Liberty inside West Family Stadium.

Two mistakes cost Urbana a chance to capture its first victory of the season, including a punt return touchdown by Trevon Saunders negated by a UU penalty in the first half.

A Hilltopper pick-six also proved costly, which extended WLU's lead to 11 with eight minutes left in the game, 24-13. Both teams executed long, sustained drives out of halftime before that momentum shifter. UU had scored on a three-yard run by senior quarterback Tajuan Green; a drive that lasted over six minutes on 11 plays for 80 yards to make the score 17-13.

Fortunately, UU (0-1, 0-1 MEC) fought back within three points, 24-21, following another short scamper from Green with 5:12 remaining.

Then, the Blue Knight defense answered the call and forced a three-and-out. Following a poor punt, UU gained possession at their own 42 with plenty of time but failed to convert and turned the ball back over on downs.

UU trailed 10-6 at the break after Saunders hauled down a 27-yard toss from Green near the end of the half. It was the senior's 25th career touchdown reception, bringing him closer to the school record of 30. He finished with three catches for 52 yards.

Green powered the offense, combining for three touchdowns and team-high 104 rushing yards on 23 carries. He went 10 of 19 through the air for 161 yards, but had two interceptions.

In his first collegiate outing, redshirt sophomore running back Maurice Warren Jr. flashed his speed and produced 147 all-purpose yards. The redshirt sophomore racked up 92 yards on 18 carries and caught a team-high four receptions for 55 yards.

A vastly improved Blue Knight defense was on display, led by linebacker Duray Hall's 13 tackles, one sack and fumble recovery. Sophomore transfer Mikal Toliver broke out with a pair of sacks while safety Chris Richardson recorded 10 tackles and defensive end Onajai Davenport collected a sack.

The Blue Knights outgained the Hilltoppers 379-305 while averaging nearly six yards per play.

Stat of the game:
UU recorded four sacks, including three in the first half, while not allowing a sack for the first time since the last meeting in West Liberty two years ago – a stretch of 18 games.

Turning point:
West Liberty's Terrance Baldwin returned an interception for a 63-yard score with 8:52 left in the game to put the hosts ahead 24-13.

It was over when…
Coming out of a timeout on the final drive, Green misfired across the middle to a wide-open Saunders on third-and-five. An incompletion followed which forced the turnover on downs and sealed the game for West Liberty.

They said it:
Head coach Tyler Haines post-game reaction to the hard-fought loss:

"It was a very up and down game. There were a lot of positives and we need to grow and eliminate those mistakes that cost us the game.

You know, what I take from this game is number one – this team has a lot of heart. I told the guys I don't feel bad for them, we were the better team and we lost this game. Now it is on to next week."

What's next:
Urbana will host Fairmont State (0-1) a week from Saturday in the home opener at UU Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET.


 
 
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