WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - - Dakota Conwell threw for 207 yards and four touchdowns as West Liberty University secured its eighth winning season in 10 years with a 35-20 win over UVa-Wise on Saturday. The Hilltoppers overcame Carlton Griffith's third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and a pair of interceptions from Jeff Parker to secure their sixth victory of 2014.

West Liberty (6-4, 6-3 MEC) scored the first points of the game when Conwell found Daree Goodwin on a 19-yard scoring strike with 8:33 to play in the opening quarter. The pass capped a seven-play 58-yard scoring drive. Josh Wilson's point after gave the Hilltoppers a 7-0 advantage.

UVa-Wise (1-9, 1-8 MEC) responded with one of its strongest offensive drives of the season. The Cavaliers marched 79 yards on 10 plays using 4:07 of game clock to knot the game. Griffith put the finishing touches on the drive when he raced around the left side for a five-yard touchdown. The big play on the drive came when quarterback Jeremy Eubank hooked up with Terrence Younger on a 33-yard completion on third down and six from the UVa-Wise 47.

The score would remain tied until 6:27 to play in the first half when Conwell fired his second passing touchdown of the game, a 45-yard connection to Anton McCallum.  Wilson's second extra point of the day put the 'Toppers in front 14-7.

A second 79-yard scoring drive of the half by UVa-Wise would tie the game. Eubank would eventually finish off the 10-play drive with a quarterback sneak for six on fourth and goal from inside the one-yard line. Coach Dewey Lusk relied heavily on the run in the long drive as he called for seven rushes.

After both sides failed to score in the final 2:29 of the first half and traded punts to start the third quarter, West Liberty went ahead for good with 6:05 to play in the period.  Tailback Isiah Moody appeared to be bottled up near the line of scrimmage but, the 5-7 senior back squirted free, eventually bouncing outside and finding the end zone from 33 yards out. Wilson added the extra point to give the 'Toppers a 21-14 advantage.

The Cavaliers would receive the ensuing kickoff and march to just inside 'Toppers territory at the 49. Facing a fourth down and one, UVa-Wise elected to try to pick up the first down; the West Liberty defense was up to the challenge as the unit threw Griffith for a two-yard loss.

Six plays later, Conwell found Goodwin for his second receiving touchdown of the day, a seven-yard strike. The extra point gave West Liberty a two touchdown lead at 28-14.

UVa-Wise would battle back to within one score as a pair of Martin field goals, the last of which was a 41-yarder with 4:47 to play, cut the lead to eight.

The 'Toppers put the game away when Conwell found McCallum for a 28-yard touchdown on a third and eight play with 1:52 to play. Wilson's final point after the day left the final margin of 35-20.

Griffith rushed for 105 yards and caught three passes for 28 yards in defeat. Chris Flood finished with a team-high nine stops for the Cavs and fellow linebacker Zack Blair added eight tackles.

Eubank completed 16 of 29 passes for 211 yards.  His favorite target was Juwaine Massenburg who caught seven passes for 99 yards. Senior Gil Lusk finished with a career-high five receptions for 46 yards in his final collegiate road game.

Moody rushed for 77 yards on 14 carries and teammate RJ Thomas gained 69 yards on 10 carries, Conwell added 39 yards on the ground for West Liberty.

UVa-Wise will complete its 2014 season at home next week when Fairmont State visits Smith Stadium for Senior Day 2014. Kickoff is set for 1 pm.