Photo by Cody Nespor West Liberty’s Sam Cirksena (50) takes down Alderson-Broaddus running back O’Marion Taylor.

College football fans in the Ohio Valley hoping to attend a local game this weekend might find themselves disappointed as both Wheeling University and West Liberty will play on the road Saturday.

The Cardinals (1-1, 0-1 MEC) will travel to Philippi to play Alderson Broaddus while the Hilltoppers (2-0) head into Ohio to take on Notre Dame College.

Wheeling is looking to rebound after a 27-14 loss at Notre Dame last week. The setback was not without positives, however, as the Cardinals set a new single-game rushing record with 241 net yards. Junior Eli Young had a 74-yard touchdown as part of his record-setting 146-yard day.

They face a Battlers (0-2, 0-1) squad that hasn’t quite gotten its feet off the ground yet with a 45-28 loss to Mercyhurst and 30-17 loss to West Liberty already on the record.

The Cardinals will look for better play out of first-year starting quarterback Javon Davis. The Steubenville product has only completed 40% of his passes this season with two touchdowns and two interceptions, although he did run for 63 yards last week.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

West Liberty will put its 2-0 start (1-0 MEC) up against the nationally-ranked No. 17 Falcons (1-1, 1-0). NDC fell 31-14 to Ashland in its season-opener but rebounded to knock off Wheeling last week.

The Hilltoppers beat AB 30-17 last week thanks to breakout performances by cornerback Shon Stephens and back-up quarterback Rudy Garcia.

Stephens intercepted four passes, returning one for a touchdown, against the Battlers, earning him some much-deserved recognition this week. Stephens was named one of the MEC Players of the Week and the National D-II Defensive Player of the Week. Stephens has six picks and two pick-sixes through two WLU victories this season.

Garcia could make his first start this week after filling in for injured starter Jamie Diven last week. Garcia stepped in to lead three straight touchdowns drives to start the second half, finishing with 122 passing yards and three total touchdowns.

West Liberty and Notre Dame will kick off at noon.

Bethany College (1-1, 0-1 PAC) is idle this week and will resume PAC play next Saturday at Washington & Jefferson.