WEST LIBERTY — The West Liberty-Salem Tigers have already shown this season that they are more than capable of winning football games in a variety of ways.

Now, they will look to carry that resilience into another important Friday night matchup when the Tigers welcome the Northeastern Jets to Tiger Stadium on Oct. 2.

After an up-and-down start to the season, West Liberty-Salem enters the matchup with confidence following a thrilling double-overtime victory over Fairbanks last Friday.

The Tigers battled through a game that came down to the final possessions before ultimately securing the win in the second overtime, giving the team another hard-earned victory heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

The offensive effort was led by Silas Krabill, who continued his strong season with 17 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

Krabill was not the only Tiger to find the end zone.

Zade Bieleski added a rushing touchdown, while the WLS defense provided two of the game's biggest plays. Grant Krabill and Sam Kidd each returned an interception for a touchdown, turning defensive takeaways into points and giving the Tigers the spark they needed in a game that ultimately went to overtime.

That ability to make plays on both sides of the football will be important once again against Northeastern.

A Tiger team finding its identity

West Liberty-Salem's recent stretch has demonstrated the type of team the Tigers can be when all three phases are clicking.

The Tigers scored 47 points against Greenon in Week 5, with Sam Kidd and Brandel Sullivan each recording kickoff-return touchdowns. Silas Krabill and Bieleski also contributed rushing touchdowns, while quarterback Beckett Sullivan added a touchdown through the air and another on the ground.

A week later, the Tigers found themselves in an entirely different type of game against Fairbanks.

Rather than relying on a high-scoring offensive performance, WLS had to battle through a back-and-forth contest and find a way to finish when the game reached overtime.

The Tigers did exactly that.

Those two victories have given West Liberty-Salem momentum heading into Friday night, but Northeastern will provide another challenge as the Jets make the trip to Tiger Stadium.

The matchup

For WLS, the formula will once again begin with creating opportunities on offense while limiting the mistakes that can change the direction of a football game.

Krabill has emerged as one of the Tigers' key offensive weapons, and his ability to establish the running game will be something to watch against the Jets. Bieleski has also provided another option in the backfield, giving WLS multiple ways to attack opposing defenses.

Through the air, Sullivan has shown the ability to make plays when the Tigers need them. His performance against Greenon demonstrated the potential of the WLS offense when the running and passing games work together.

Defensively, the Tigers have also shown an ability to change a game.

The two interception returns for touchdowns against Fairbanks were the most obvious examples, but creating turnovers and turning those opportunities into points has become an important part of the Tigers' recent success.

Against Northeastern, WLS will look to continue that trend while avoiding the type of mistakes that can give an opponent extra possessions. If they can do that, they should have a good opportunity on Friday night to display all three phases of the Tiger team working together, as they play a Jets team that has never found its footing this season.

Another Friday night at Tiger Stadium

As the calendar turns to October, every game carries additional weight.

The Tigers have already experienced the highs and lows of the 2026 campaign, but the recent victories have given them an opportunity to build something heading into the final weeks of the regular season.

Northeastern now stands in the way.

The Jets will arrive in West Liberty looking to slow down a Tigers squad that has found ways to win its last two games, including a dramatic double-overtime finish.

For WLS, the challenge is simple: take the lessons learned from those games, execute for four quarters and find a way to finish once again.

Kickoff is set for Friday, Oct. 2, at Tiger Stadium, with the Tigers and Jets set to square off under the lights.