×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

WP’s Bell Is Making An Instant Impact

Elijah Bell authored a tremendous football career at Wheeling Park. The exclamation point being the Patriots’ first gridiron state championship.

Bell didn’t skip a beat upon taking his immense talents to the next level. The athletic wide receiver just completed his freshman season at North Carolina A&T, a campaign of impressive proportions for the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder.

Bell helped the Aggies capture the MEAC title and earn a Division I FCS playoff berth. He was an impact performer for the A&T offense, so much so he was chosen the MEAC Rookie of the Year while being named second-team all conference.

Bell hauled in a freshman school-record eight touchdown passes. Those eight scores ranked second in the conference and 33rd in the nation. He caught 35 passes for 631 yards and averaged 18.0 yards per reception.

Bell becomes only one of four players to lead the Aggies in receiving as a freshman. He also led the conference in yards per reception and ranked third in receiving yards.

“Being named the conference’s rookie of the year means a lot. It is very gratifying,” Bell said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “It is an award made possible by my great teammates and coaches.”

Despite his glowing success as a freshman, the big-play gridder admits the move to big-time college football was not an easy one.

“It was a hard transition. Camp was tough. They brought me in early and helped me learn very quickly. We have really good coaches here,” he noted. “There was a lot of competition but my training at Wheeling Park really helped me. Once I got my chance, I made the most of it.”

Despite his breakout inaugural season, Bell has no intentions of becoming complacent.

“We had a very good season as a team. We have a lot of starters returning and we have our quarterback back for two more years,” Bell said. “So I think we can be very good again next season.

“I have some things to work on. I want to get better and better and keep improving. We start winter workouts as soon as we return from holiday break. I can’t wait to start football work again.”

Bell produced a monster senior season for Coach Chris Daugherty’s state-champion Patriots. He recorded 50 receptions for 1,214 yards (24.3 yards per catch) and 17 touchdowns. Defensively, Bell added 57 tackles.

Those numbers resulted in Bell being selected as the winner of the Randy Moss Award, given annually by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association to the state’s best prep receiver. He also finished third in both the MetroNews Player of the Year and Kennedy Award voting, while being named USA Today’s Offensive Player of the Year in West Virginia.

“What most people don’t understand about Elijah is that he is a total team player,” Daugherty said. “He is the best blocking wide receiver that has ever played here at Wheeling Park.”

North Carolina A&T is located in Greensboro. Bell said it is about 6.5 hours away from Wheeling.

PROSSER CLASSIC

The George Edward “Skip” Prosser Classic will be held Jan. 26, 2017 at Wheeling Central, pitting the Maroon Knights against Linsly.

Prosser enjoyed sparkling coaching careers at both local schools before embarking on a highly successful college career, encompassing three institutions. Unfortunately, the Carnegie, Pa. native died all too soon — July 26, 2007 at age 56, while head coach at Wake Forest, a position he held since 2001.

The inaugural event will feature all three boys’ teams — varsity, reserve and freshmen. Every player will receive a t-shirt which they may wear as their warmup shirt that night.

Two of Prosser’s former prep players will address the players from their alma maters, enlightening them on the qualities that made Prosser so special.

Mike Schuetz, a former Linsly prep standout, will address the Cadets after practice the day prior of the classic. Joe Blaha, a standout at Wheeling Central, will do the same with the current Maroon Knights.

On game night, Wheeling Central officials will be displaying various signs recognizing Prosser while also penning a short biography to be read prior to the start of the game.

The home table will feature some memorabilia of Prosser, including some pictures and perhaps a small program.

Former Bishop Donahue and Shadyside coach John Stanko is one of the driving forces in making the contest a reality. Earlier in his career, Stanko and Prosser were both assistants at Linsly to Don Woodward. Stanko was the reserve coach and Prosser guided the frosh.

The classic is designed to cultivate scholarship funds for students at both Linsly and Wheeling Central.

Scholarship donations can be sent c/0 Lee Ann Harris, Wheeling Central, 75-14th St., Wheeling, W.Va. 26003 for Central players or Terry Depew, Linsly Institute, Knox Lane, Wheeling, W.Va. 26003

Scholarship forms will be sent to the schools’ guidance offices after the game.

CRC CLASSIC

The annual Cancer Research Classic is less than a month away. Tickets for the prep extravaganza are now available.

Reserved seating, general admission and group packages are currently on sale. Reserved seating is $50 for both days (11 games).  Reserved seating is $20 for Friday only and $40 for Saturday only.  The group package is $90 for both days for 20 attendees and this is focused at sport teams of all levels (up to 4 coaches the remainder as players). The general admission pricing is as follows:

General Admission: Friday, Jan. 6 – $5 student, $10 Adult; Saturday, Jan. 7 – $6 student, $14 adult; weekend pass – $10 student, $18 adult; reserved seating – Friday, Jan. 6 – $20; Saturday, Jan. 7 – $40; weekend pass – $50.

BUBBA’S BITS

∫ Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Bob Phillips. The former successful Beallsville High girls’ basketball coach died Monday. He was 74.

∫ Lamar Jackson of Louisville was my choice for the Heisman Trophy. I do however, have an issue with two Oklahoma Sooners making the final five.

∫ The College Football Selection Committee got it right. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington, in that order, deserved their rightful slots. The Buckeyes semifinal against the Tigers should be a dandy. The Crimson Tide will have no problem with the Huskies.

∫ DP Harris is enjoying another fine campaign coaching the Saint Vincent (Pa.) men’s basketball team. The former Wheeling Park High standout has his squad standing at 6-3 so far this season. He has guided Saint Vincent to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bearcats have claimed the last four straight Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles. Harris, a graduate of Saint Vincent, was inducted into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame in October of 2014.

∫ The Wheeling Jesuit University women’s volleyball team is nothing short of amazing — winning six straight regionals, a national championship last year followed by this season’s return to the Elite Eight. Coach Christy Benner’s charges ended with a brilliant 41-3 mark this season.

∫ I am predicting a Cleveland Browns victory today.

Bubba Kapral can be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today