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Wheeling Park’s Clark Runs Wild Against Allderdice

Patriots overcome Allderdice, 24-15

Photo by Alex Kozlowski / Wheeling Park’s Lorenzo Clark (25) runs the ball during Friday’s contest against Allderdice.

WHEELING — Even if some throughout West Virginia do not, Wheeling Park coach Chris Daugherty knows what Allderdice brings to the table, which on most nights is plenty to deal with. Friday night at Wheeling Island Stadium the Patriots not only had to deal with the Dragons, but also an offense that was out of sync in part to monsoon-like conditions during the first half.

But bouncing back from a loss a week ago, Wheeling Park rectified the situation in the second half. Rennie Clark ran for 247 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries as the Patriots (2-1) earned a 24-15 victory.

”We dealt with some adversity in the first half — both things we could control and things we couldn’t — and I didn’t think we handled it well,” Daugherty admitted. ”We came back out after halftime and I thought we handled it well.

”We calmed down and executed, and I thought our line did an incredible job in the second half … just shoring up some things and creating some lanes for our running back, which helps out our quarterback.”

Wheeling Park found itself on the wrong side of a 7-6 score at halftime, though the way it got to that point was unusual to say the least. Backed up in their end zone, Dragons (0-2) punter Brandon Mauder dropped the snap. He picked the ball up, cut across the field and raced 94 yards to the Park 1. A play later Jeremiah Hardrick (14 carries, 86 yards) went in and Mauder’s extra point made it 7-6.

”I think we only gave up two first downs (it was actually three) in the first half and one was on that punt,” Daugherty said.

Allderdice did a good job of making life tough on Patriots quarterback Cross Wilkinson in the first half, as he was 3-for-17. Daugherty felt good though, because his club had left some points on the board and the defense was playing well. At one point Park took over at the Dragons 2 but turned it over on the next play.

”They’re one of the few teams that can come in here, man you up and then bring the house,” Daugherty said. ”We’ve got kids who will make plays. But (Wilkinson) definitely knew, ‘OK, there’s seven in the box and they are manning up, so I know what is coming.

”We were a hair away, where we didn’t run the play that was called and they were flat-out man-beaters.”

Park held Allderdice, which was 2 of 13 on third down, to a three-and-out on its first drive of the second half. Clark completed the ensuing seven-play, 31-yard — all his runs — drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Patriots ahead to stay at 12-7.

The Dragons returned the kickoff to the Park 16 but were turned away when a 34-yard Mauder field-goal attempt was short and way left.

”And I give credit to Matt Porter for keeping that play alive and running down there and making that tackle (on the kickoff),” Daugherty said. ”Because you don’t know what’s going to happen.

”Our defense was able to hold.”

The Patriots went 80 yards, 35 of which came on three Allderdice penalties, in six plays. Clark ran for 17 and Wilkinson, who finished 9 of 25 for 127 yards, scrambled out of the pocket and threw a strike to a sliding Logan Tucker for a 19-yard gain on third-and-7. Clark scored his second touchdown, this one from the 6, on the next play.

The Dragons turned it over on downs at the Park 37 on their next drive. Not long after the game was put on ice.

Wilkinson hit Clark for 12, then Nate Phillips — five catches, 71 yards — for 21. Phillips hauled in a 13-yarder on the first play of the fourth quarter before Clark ran for 7. The Wilkinson-to-Phillips connection worked again for a 9-yard score.

”I think we grew more in this game than if it would have been 42-7 or something like that,” Daugherty said.

Hardrick capped the scoring with a 37-yard burst.

The Dragons completed 2 of 13 passes for 12 yards, partly because of the pressure being applied by the Patriots. Senior end Jack Bence was in the Allderdice backfield all night.

”Jack Bence had a sneaky good year last year but kind of got overshadowed because we had so many stars,” Daugherty said. ”He has played really good football the last two weeks and I think that is what you are going to see all year.”

Tyler Consolidated 28, Webster County 0

COWEN — Tyler Consolidated’s Jace Reed and Tyler Anderson each ran for a pair of scores and Colby Buchanan and Anderson hauled in interceptions on defense to shut out host Webster County.

Reed paced the Silver Knights with 129 yards on 27 carries, while Anderson ran the ball 22 times for 104 yards. Anderson also caught three passes for 34 yards.

Linsly 34, Beaver Local 20

EAST LIVERPOOL — Linsly tallied 27 points in the second quarter and quarterback Luke Mueller passed for 268 yards on 22-for-35 accuracy to lead the Cadets past Beaver Local.

Gage Giovengo ran for three scores and 44 yards. Tom Curtain picked off a Beaver Local pass and returned it 40 yards for a Linsly score and Nick Falbo also scored from 1-yard out.

Indian Creek 56, Oak Glen 0

NEW CUMBERLAND — Indian Creek ran for seven touchdowns on its way to a dominant shutout victory against Oak Glen.

Greg Wade ran for 79 yards and scores of 49 and 4 yards, while throwing for 68 yards and a touchdown. Robert Coppa had touchdown runs of 3 and 19 yards, while rushing for 54 yards. Also scoring running touchdowns for the Redskins were Trey Harton, Mitch Wukelic and Jahik Scales, while Aaron Robinson hauled in the only receiving touchdown.

Michael Lemley completed four passes for 45 yards for Oak Glen.

Edison 36, Buckeye Local 12

RAYLAND — Edison rushed for 405 yards and five touchdowns on its way to a victory at Buckeye Local.

Seth Cade galloped for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries to lead the Wildcats, followed by Joe Nave who accumulated 137 yards and two touchdowns on 11 totes. River Pappas accounted for 80 yards and a score on 14 rushes. Mason Balzano garnered a sack in the endz one for a safety for Edison, as well.

Dan Callarik accounted for both Buckeye Local touchdowns on an 85-yard kick return and a 50-yard run. Panthers quarterback Jared Moore threw for 123 yards on seven completions and was intercepted three times.

Newcomerstown 34, Shenandoah 28, OT

NEWCOMERSTOWN — Newcomerstown’s Chris Lengyel delivered a 1-yard touchdown in overtime and the defense forced a Shenandoah turnover on downs on its last possession.

Lengyel’s game-winning score capped a 192-yard, four-touchdown performance on 30 carries.

Christian Bond tossed four touchdowns for Shenandoah and passed for 81 yards, while Boone Jones connected on 10 of 18 passes for 102 yards and Nick Miller added 95 yards on 14 totes and two scores in defeat.

Valley, Cameron Re-scheduled

CAMERON — The Valley at Cameron football game slated for Friday night was postponed due to a power outage before kickoff. The game has been re-scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at Cameron High School.

Wheeling Park 24, Allderdice 15

Allderdice           0  7    0  8 — 15

Wheeling Park    0 6  12  6 — 24

W — Clark 49 run (kick failed), 11:50

A — Hardrick 1 run (Mauder kick), 14.9

W — Clark 3 run (run failed), 6:26

W — Clark 6 run (pas failed), 2:7

W — Phillips 9 pass from Wilkinson (pass failed), 10:40

A — Hardrick 37 run (Williams pass from Martin Jr.), 8:22

Rushing: Allderdice 34-180-2td (Mauder 1-94, Hardrick 14-86-2td, Minnifield 10-12, Caldwell 3-12, Jackson-Allen 3-0, Hurt 4-(-11). Wheeling Park 39-230-3td (Clark 34-247-3td, Hlad 1-(-1), Wilkinson 1-(-4), Team 3-(-12).

Passing: Allderdice 2-13-12 (Hurt 2-12-12, Humber 0-1). Wheeling Park 9-25-127-td (all by Wilkinson).

Receiving: Allderdice 2-12 (Hardy 1-5, Humber 1-7). Wheeling Park 9-127-td (Phillips 5-71-td, Muffeny 2-25, Tucker 1-19, Clark 1-12).

First Downs: Allderdice 8, Wheeling Park 20.

Penalties: Allderdice 11-75, Wheeling Park 10-85.

Fumbles: Allderdice 2-1, Wheeling Park 2-2.

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