PRINCETON, W.Va. – After leading West Liberty to a 52-19 victory at West Virginia State in his first collegiate start on Saturday, Hilltopper quarterback Dylan Lagarde has been honored as the West Virginia Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
A 6-0, 185-pound true freshman from Los Alamitos, Calif., Lagarde completed 25-of-42 passes for 302 yards and 5 touchdowns with just one interception.
The first-year signalcaller spread the ball around with 12 different players making at least one catch. Each of his 5 TD tosses was snagged by a different receiver. The elusive freshman also tacked on 11 rushing yards in 3 carries.
Lagarde’s 5 touchdown passes were a WVIAC season-high, matching the 5 scoring throws by Glenville State’s Darold Hughes in a season-opening loss at Carson-Newman (Tenn.).
It also marks the first time a West Liberty quarterback has thrown 5 touchdown passes in a game since Zach Amedro’s school-record 8 touchdown passes in an 82-36 rout of Seton Hill on Nov. 6, 2010.
Lagarde is the second Hilltopper to earn WVIAC Player of the Week laurels this season. Junior defensive back Marco Ricchetti was named the WVIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 10.
This week’s other WVIAC Players of the Week selections were Concord linebacker Jake Lilly (Defensive) and Charleston kicker Puma Nuredini (Special Teams).
Lagarde and his West Liberty teammates return to Russek Field this weekend to host league-leading Shepherd. Kickoff for the Hilltoppers’ annual Homecoming Game is set for 1 p.m.
