WEST LIBERTY - The West Liberty University football team has been lucky in regard to injuries for most of the season, but that luck ran out in a big way. First record-setting junior quarterback Zach Amedro suffered a badly bruised shoulder in a victory last week, and then Saturday on the opening kickoff of what turned out to be a 57-35 loss in an NCAA Division II national quarterfinal, highlight-reel receiver Kashif Walls went down with a head injury.

That, and of course a highly skilled California, Pa., team ultimately ended the best season in Hilltoppers football history.

''It changed the game plan a little bit (because) he was our vertical threat,'' Waialae said of Walls. ''He tried to go but we asked our trainers because he ran the wrong route a couple of times.

''Normally we don't make those type of mistakes - we don't run wrong routes and misread coverages.''

Harding Satisfied

Three-time All-West Virginia Conference linebacker Nick Harding just wanted a little honesty, and a place he could call home. Off all places, he found that at rural West Liberty.

''The coaches out of high school all lied to me,'' he said. ''I went down to (Appalachian State) and they didn't want me either.

''(West Liberty) gave me a home and I can't think Coach Waialae enough. I'm more than happy with my decision. I was the best decision I ever made in my entire life.''

Zach Attack

Amedro had a season to remember. One of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is the D-II equivalent of the Heisman, Amedro finished his junior season with 4,945 yards and 49 touchdown passes

''He is the first quarterback in NCAA history to throw for 300 yards every game,'' Waialae pointed out. ''And if people don't think that's an accomplishment, I don't know what to say.''

Unfortunately, the shoulder injury made things awfully difficult Saturday.

''I'm sore,'' he said of a strained trap muscle and a bruised AC joint. ''I don't want to use it as an excuse, (but) I wasn't close to 100 percent.

''But Cal's a good team and they deserved to win. They came out and played hard so I don't want to use it as an excuse.''

Leaders Wanted

It went virtually untalked about, but from the beginning West Liberty was pointing toward next season to truly take a step forward. With only 11 seniors graduating, things seem to be shaping up nicely.

But the one thing Waialae is worried about is leadership.

''What I'm afraid of for next year is, the leadership is the thing you can't replace when you lose that many seniors,'' he said. ''But with the system we run offensively we'll be able to replace the production, but we won't be able to replace the leadership and that's the hardest thing about coaching when you rely heavily on seniors for leadership.

''You've got to hope the juniors and sophomores, and even incoming freshmen and transfers step into leadership roles.''