PRINCETON, W.Va. – West Liberty University defensive back Carl Hayles has been named the West Virginia Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after his game-breaking blocked field goal return in Saturday’s 28-20 victory against West Virginia State.
With the Hilltoppers clinging to a 21-20 lead, State drove nearly the length of the field to set up a 20-yard field goal attempt with less than 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter but a diving Marco Ricchetti darted in from the right side to block the kick.
Hayles, a 5-9, 181-pound senior from Solano, Calif., scooped up the bouncing ball on the dead run and won a 92-yard footrace to the end zone to the delight of a Homecoming crowd at Russek Field.
In addition to the blocked field goal return, Hayles was also charted with 3 tackles and a pass break-up in the WLU secondary.
Hayles is the second West Liberty player to earn WVIAC Player of the Week honors this season. Freshman punter Griffin Yocum was the WVIAC Special Teams Player of the Week for Sept. 12 in recognition of his performance during the Southern Connecticut game.
West Virginia Wesleyan quarterback Adam Neugebauer was this week’s WVIAC Offensive Player of the Week while Wesleyan defensive back John Maddox claimed Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The Hilltoppers go back on the West Virginia Conference road Saturday with a noon kickoff at Shepherd.
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