Wheeling Park Patriots Back To Winning Ways
Torbett rushes for 137 yards, two TDs
WHEELING — It was a win that Wheeling Park desperately needed if the Patriots maintained hopes of defending their state title.
Coach Chris Daugherty’s charges, fresh off a bye week, entered Friday’s night’s rain-soaked contest with Princeton at Wheeling Island Stadium sporting a 4-3 mark, placing them 14th in the latest Class AAA playoff ratings. Another setback could prove fatal.
Such would not be, however, as Park played with offensive precision and defensive tenacity in splashing its way to a 28-14 triumph. The victory was extra sweet for Daugherty’s troops as Princeton entered the contest rated No. 11 in the playoff hunt on the strength of its 5-2 mark.
Park played minus the services of 1,000-yard rusher Rennie Clark, sidelined with a shoulder injury. His absence was cushioned by a stellar effort from Zach Torbett. The 185-pound senior slashed his way for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
While Torbett was supplying much of the offensive firepower, the Patriots defense was packing a scoring punch of its own, tallying two touchdowns, one via an interception and the other on a fumble recovery in the end zone.
“Zach did a great job of running the football. He gave us a big lift,” Daugherty said. “Our defense really stepped up. It’s a good night when your defense gives you two touchdowns.
“Coming off the bye week, I think we started a little slow. I feel we looked much better after halftime. I thought we were much more aggressive. I think we are a team that is getting better and better.”
Neither team could find the end zone in the first quarter.
Princeton broke the scoring ice on the initial play of the second quarter when fullback Zach Standifur broke loose on a 57-yard scoring jaunt. It capped an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Kristin Bales added the PAT for a 7-0 Tiger lead.
Park responded immediately following a short Princeton kickoff.
The Patriots needed six plays to navigate 55 yards to paydirt. After a pair of Cross Wilkinson completions, Torbett sprinted in from 30 yards out with 9:59 left in the second quarter. Chase Gheen adding the game-tying boot.
Park’s defense made its presence felt in emphatic fashion on the Tigers’ next possession. Talented junior defensive back Nathan Phillips intercepted a Princeton pass and raced 23 yards for a touchdown. The kick was blocked, leaving the hosts on top 13-7.
Park exerted control in the third quarter. The Patriots took the second-half kickoff and drove 66 yards on 10 plays, capped by a 4-yard Torbett run. Collin Hlad ran in the bonus points for a 21-7 Patriots advantage.
Following a Princeton punt, Park embarked on another impressive drive, advancing to the Tigers 2. The Patriots, however, fumbled into the end zone with the visitors covering for a touchback.
The Park defense subsequently rose to the occasion. Three plays after the fumble, the Patriots’ Dylan Wood knocked the ball loose and also recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown with 45 seconds showing in the third quarter. Gheen converted for a 28-7 lead.
Daugherty sprinkled in a lot of his younger players for much of the fourth quarter. The lone score of the quarter came on a 5-yard run by Standifur with less than three minutes to play.
“This was a big win for us. It was a nice way to bounce back from the Morgantown game and Princeton is a nice team,” Daugherty said. “Also, they were ahead of us in the standings so that will be a nice boost. If we can take care of business, we still have a shot to host a playoff game.”
Park travels to Parkersburg South on Friday.
“We just make too many mistakes. We can be our own worst enemies,” Princeton head coach Wesley Eddy, a Brooke grad, said. “We lost to a very good program but we made it too easy for them at times.”
Torbett’s rushing exploits were supported by another solid showing from Wilkinson. The 6-foot-2 junior completed 11 of 19 throws for 101 yards, teaming with six different receivers.
Standifur was impressive in defeat, gaining 147 yards on 19 attempts.
Wheeling Park 28, Princeton 14
P — Standifur 57 run (Bales kick).
W — Torbett 30 run (Gheen kick).
W — Phillips 23 INT return. (Kick blocked).
W — Torbett 4 run (Hlad run).
W — Wood fumble recovery in end zone (Gheen kick).
P — Standifur 5 run. (Bales kick).
Rushing: Princeton 31-159-2tds (Standifur 19-147-2tds, Hearn 5-18, Hamm 4-(-1), Shafer 3-(-5)); Wheeling Park 30-171 (Torbett 19-137-2tds, Snodgrass 5-11, Levelle 3-23, DeFazio 1-1).
Passing: Princeton 7-20-121-x (all by Shafer) Wheeling Park 11-19-101 (all by Wilkinson).
Receiving: Princeton 7-121 (Hamm 3-54, Cochran 2-54, Standifur 2-13); Wheeling Park 11-101 (Phillips 3-28, McWhorter 2-14, Muffeny 2-24, Reed 1-13; Tucker 1-7, Stakem 2-15).
First Downs: Princeton 9; Wheeling Park 11.
Fumbles: Princeton 0-0; Wheeling Park 0-0
Penalties: Princeton 9-60; Wheeling Park 5-35.
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