WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Regionally ranked Urbana built a big early lead but had to fend off a strong second half comeback from West Liberty and won 35-17 on a dark and stormy night at West Family Stadium.
The Blue Knights (7-2, 7-2), ranked No. 7 in this week's NCAA Division II Super Region One rankings, used a combination of big plays and time-consuming drives to take a commanding 28-3 lead into the halftime locker room but the Hilltoppers (4-5, 3-5) scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to make things interesting.
Urbana had over 300 yards of total offense and scored 28 points in the first half. The Blue Knights also piled up 15 first downs. A pair of Eddie Stockett TD passes and touchdown runs from Isaiah Young and WR Sanders helped give Urbana the sizable lead going into the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, West Liberty tacked on a touchdown with a run from Erick Taylor, and then added another shortly after when Taylor connected with Isaiah Robinson to make it 28-17 with over six minutes to play.
Urbana was in the midst of running out the clock when Sanders broke through for a 53-yard touchdown run to put the game away.
Stockett had a big night while doing most of his damage in the first half. Stockett completed 12-of-27 passes for 211 yards with first-half TD tosses of 81 yards to Jesse Bray and 13 yards to Kenneath Redd. Sanders finished with 131 rushing yards on 23 carries while Bray led all receivers with 110 yards on 4 catches.
Taylor completed 10-of-28 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Quincy Wimbish ran for 72 yards on 17 carries and Robinson was the team's leading receiver with 41 yards on 3 catches. Safeties Koty Hudson and Ty Holmes each finished with a season-high 11 tackles.
