Wheeling Central Hangs On To Defeat Linsly
Cadets stopped on do-or-die 2-point try
WHEELING — Linsly coach B.J. Depew’s game plan was simple — put the ball in the hands of his senior playmaker.
Gage Giovengo, who played most of Friday’s game against Wheeling Central lined up at quarterback, almost made Depew look like a genius.
His dazzling touchdown run with no time left on the clock gave the Cadets a chance to knock off their city rival. Instead, it was all for naught as Nick Falbo was stopped short of the goal line on the ensuing 2-point conversion try and the Maroon Knights (5-1) hung on for a dramatic 7-6 victory at Bishop Schmitt Field.
“I have been in battles like this for 45 years and have been on the other end of it,” Wheeling Central coach Mike Young said. “This time we happened to be on the good end of it. I am proud of our kids and we are very fortunate to get out of dodge with a win. Our kids showed a lot of character. Linsly’s kids made some plays and did a good job of taking away a lot of what we do.
“It’s always a battle. I don’t care what the records are.”
Down 7-0, Linsly got the ball one last time with three minutes remaining.
The Cadets (2-4) converted a third-and-10 and a fourth-and-10 on the possession and advanced the ball to the Wheeling Central 1-yard line before penalties backed them up to the 19.
Giovengo, who shared time with Wyatt Hirt at quarterback, took the final snap of regulation. The senior couldn’t find an open receiver and the Wheeling Central defense quickly closed on him. He was able to break a number of tackles and finally found some open space, beating a Wheeling Central defender to the pylon with zeros on the scoreboard.
“We thought Gage was our best bet to execute our game plan,” Depew said. “He is a senior and he is our leader and putting the ball in his hands is never a bad move.
“That was just a great football player wanting the ball and making something out of nothing. The play fell apart on us and his desire took him into the end zone.”
Unfortunately for Depew, Giovengo was shaken up and unable to play on the conversion attempt. The Cadets coach still rolled the dice and went for the win.
Falbo took the handoff and was quickly swarmed by a host of Wheeling Central defenders.
“In that moment, scoring with no time left on the clock, all that energy and momentum, that made that an easy decision and I don’t regret that decision,” Depew said of going for two. “We basically were going to use our offensive line, drive the ball across the goal line, just man up and do it, but they got through the gap and stopped us short.”
Added Young: “I am very proud of how our kids stopped them at the end. Give Giovengo so much credit. He is a heckuva an athlete, gutsy kid who played his tail off. We were very fortunate to get away with a win.”
For three quarters of play, neither team did much on offense. The lone red zone attempt for either team in the first 36 minutes belonged to Wheeling Central, and although Bray Price looked like he was going to break the scoreless tie before halftime, he instead fumbled into the end zone.
Price, who finished with a game-high 110 yards rushing, finally put Wheeling Central on the board with 6:11 to go as he reversed field and outran the Linsly defense from 31 yards out. Kicker Jack Stryker tacked on what turned out to be the deciding point.
Price’s run came one play after John Burkhalter, on fourth-and-6, did his own Price impression, reversing field and alluding Linsly defenders to come up with 7 yards on a fake punt to keep the drive alive.
“Gutsy, gutsy play by John,” Young said. “He wasn’t going to give up and wasn’t going to quit. Then, also the touchdown run by Price. He danced around, danced around, turned directions a couple times and just hung in there and did a tremendous job.”
Wheeling Central 7, Linsly 6
Linsly 0 0 0 6 — 6
Wheeling Central 0 0 0 7 — 7
W — Price 31 run (Stryker kick)
L — G.Giovengo 19 run (run failed)
Rushing: Linsly 24-88-td (G. Giovengo 15-72-td, Falbo 6-23, Tush 2-(-3), Lockhart 1-(-4)); Wheeling Central 40-218-td (Price 16-110-td, Rine 16-84, Stevenson 2-11, Jackson 4-6, Wear 3-4, Burkhalter 2-3)
Passing: Linsly 9-25-90 (Hirt 5-15-84, G.Giovengo 3-10-12, Tush 1-(-6)); Wheeling Central 6-15-51-x (all by Rine).
Receiving: Linsly 9-90 (Curtin 5-79, Minor 2-19, G.Giovengo 2-(-10); Wheeling Central 6-51 (Burkhalter 3-36, Jackson 2-11, Fahey 1-4).
First Downs: Linsly 7, Wheeling Central 14.
Penalties: Linsly 14-90, Wheeling Central 8-60.
Fumbles-Lost: Linsly 0-0, Wheeling Central 3-1.
Magnolia 19
Monroe Central 14
WOODSFIELD — Nick Priem threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, while also running for a score as Magnolia and Coach Dave Chapman their first victory.
Leo Herrick caught three passes for 108 yards for the Blue Eagles, while Brooks Parsons and Chase Street each caught a touchdown pass. Street’s score proved to be the game-winner with 3:27 left.
Jarett Hooper paced the Seminoles with 117 yards passing with a touchdown strike to Ryan LaFollette. Hooper also ran for a score.
Edison 19, Oak Glen 14
RICHMOND — River Pappas scored from 39 yards out as Edison rallied to beat Oak Glen.
Pappas finished with 82 yards. Seth Cade paced the Wildcats with 157 yards and a touchdown. Chris Kosegi also scored.
Sloan Mueller caught a touchdown pass from Lance Collins, who rushed for a score, in a losing effort for the Golden Bears.
Bishop Rosecrans 45
Caldwell 14
ZANESVILLE — Dalton Ivey finished with 278 yards rushing on 25 carries, including touchdown runs of 50 and 2 yards, but Caldwell was hammered by Bishop Rosecrans.
Fort Frye 53, Frontier 0
BEVERLY — Casey Lewis rushed 10 times for 121 yards and a touchdown, while teammate Garrett Lochary scored three times as Fort Frye blanked Frontier.
Tate Engle threw for 112 yards and a touchdown pass to Lewis.
Mathews 30
Madonna 14
VIENNA, Ohio — Dustin Brown threw for 146 yards and a touchdown pass to Tavon Jeter, while also rushing for a score, but it wasn’t enough as Madonna fell to 0-5 with a loss to Mathews.
Indian Creek 21
Brooke 14
WELLSBURG — Robert Coppa rushed 32 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns as Indian Creek kept Brooke winless.
Alex Edgell scored both touchdowns for the Bruins, one on a 7-yard pass from Logan Williams and the other on a 47-yard interception return.
Martins Ferry 14
East Liverpool 7
EAST LIVERPOOL — Dalton Hoover rushed for 107 yards and a score, while Jacob Johnson added a touchdown run as Martins Ferry topped East Liverpool.
The Purple Riders sealed a victory late with a fake punt on 4th-and-2 and 1:16 left to go.
Barnesville 54
Bridgeport 8
BARNESVILLE — Cade Bunfill, the Ohio Valley’s leading rusher, didn’t have much work — six carries — but turned it into 129 and two touchdowns as Barnesville cruised past Bridgeport.
He also caught a touchdown pass, bring his total touchdowns to 22 — a school record.
Butch Holskey added 92 yards rushing and two scores for the Shamrocks (5-1). Kaelan Hannahs, Brady Treherne and Braydn Strouss also scored.
Thomas Coyne had the lone score for the Bulldogs (1-5).
Lutheran East 61 Beallsville 7
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Dakkota Milosavljevic scored on an 85-yard kickoff return but Beallsville was no match for Lutheran East.
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