MONTGOMERY — WVU Tech’s football squad opened up 2010 on the right foot Saturday afternoon, tripping up visiting Olivet Nazarene 31-9 on a weekend the Golden Bears also honored seven new Hall of Fame inductees.

Tech entered the game with question marks in some key spots but, after a slightly shaky start, the Bears settled in and rose to the occasion at Martin Field.

Tech struck early when freshman quarterback Michael Brumfield found receiver Kashif Walls streaking down the sideline with 5:12 to go in the first quarter for a 48-yard touchdown pass.

Then, at the 6:00 mark in the second quarter, freshman kicker Zach Christensen capped a 13-play, 56-yard drive with a 36-yard field goal to put the hosts up 10-0.

Olivet finally got onto the scoreboard with 1:53 remaining in the half with a 31-yard field goal, one of three on the afternoon from Andrew Muzljakovich.

Tech responded quickly, though, as A.J. Schmidt stepped in at QB and connected with Walls down the middle for a 59-yard scoring bomb to allow the Bears to carry a 17-3 margin into intermission.

On the afternoon, Walls hauled in four passes for 169 yards and the two scores. Teammate Rashard Gould had four catches for 53 yards.

The Tigers received the opening kick of the second half and constructed the game’s longest drive (12 plays, 57 yards), but Tech’s defense denied Olivet the end zone, instead yielding another field goal.

Tech was forced to punt on its ensuing possession, leading to another Olivet field goal to make it 17-9 at the 4:27 mark in the third quarter.

At that point, the Tech running game took control. Josh Culbertson’s efforts throughout the contest finally paid off with 3:06 to go in the third stanza, as he scampered 5 yards for a touchdown.

Culbertson, a senior, wound up with 24 carries for 149 yards. Anthony Greene added nine carries for 46 yards, including a late TD for the Bears.

Through the air, Schmidt was 3-of-3 for 118 yards and no interceptions, while Brumfield was 6-of-16 for 100 yards and one interception.

Tech has a short week to prepare for in-state rival Glenville State College, as the two teams collide in Glenville tomorrow at 7 p.m.

(Peltier is the WVU Tech sports information director).