WEST LIBERTY – The West Liberty University football team heads north on Saturday looking to bounce back from an 0-2 start as the Hilltoppers face Division I FCS foe Robert Morris in the Colonials’ home opener. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Joe Walton Stadium.

It’s a rare matchup for West Liberty against a Division I opponent. The Hilltoppers are 3-12-2 all-time in such games, with their last win coming in 1950 against Morehead State. Their most recent meeting against an FCS opponent came in 2014 at Duquesne, a 39-13 setback.

Both teams will be hungry for a win after tough starts to their 2025 campaigns. The Hilltoppers dropped contests to Walsh (38-10) and Seton Hill (42-21), while Robert Morris fell to West Virginia (45-3) and Youngstown State (56-17).

West Liberty’s offense has shown flashes through two games, averaging 332 yards per outing, but turnovers and inconsistency have slowed progress. Quarterback Kohl Meisman has thrown for 478 yards and two scores, highlighted by an early connection with wideout Trey Singleton, who ranks among the MEC leaders with 255 receiving yards and a 31.9 yards-per-catch average. On the ground, Rashid Sesay (80 yards, 7.3 ypc) and Hunter Patterson(68 yards, 1 TD) have handled most of the rushing duties.

Defensively, the Hilltoppers have been tested early, surrendering 40 points per game. Linebacker Nolan Shimp leads the unit with 15 tackles, while defensive end Grant Thompson has tallied four tackles for loss and two sacks.

The Colonials, meanwhile, have struggled to find rhythm offensively, managing just 10 points per game and averaging only 178 yards of total offense. Running the ball has been particularly difficult, as RMU has netted just 94 rushing yards through two games. Quarterback Zach Tanner has thrown for 262 yards and two touchdowns, with Thomas Lee (97 yards, 1 TD) his top target.

West Liberty head coach Roger Waialae said his focus this week is on his own team’s execution.

“We have to be more consistent,” Waialae said. “I think our struggles right now are more mental than physical. Our players need to react instead of overthinking. My biggest concern this week is us–taking care of our assignments, doing our roles, and being prepared for whatever Robert Morris presents.”

Waialae also acknowledged the challenge of stepping into FCS territory.

“There are obviously different levels in the NCAA, and this week is a step up,” he said. “We’ll find out how we stack up, but it still comes down to how well we execute our game plan.”

Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs.