Wheeling Park Hits Road to Face Elkins
Patriots have lost two games by 5 total points
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WHEELING -- After having its four-game winning streak snapped in a heartbreaking two-point loss at Musselman last Friday night, Wheeling Park looks to regain its magic this week with another long trip to face Elkins (2-5) at Wimer Stadium.
Coach Chris Daugherty's Patriots are 5-2 on the season and even with a pair of losses by five total points are sitting in good position to host a first-round playoff game in a few weeks.
"We have definitely done enough to put ourselves in position to host a playoff game down the line," Daugherty said. "But we still have to take it one game at a time and close the regular season out strong.
"With another road trip this week we have the opportunity to continue to get better and be an even more formattable team down the road."
Coming off a 26-24 loss to the Applemen last week, and following this week's trip to Elkins, Park still has unbeaten Parkersburg South coming to Wheeling Island Stadium next week before closing out the regular season in Moundsville against arch-rival John Marshall.
"We talked (Monday) about not looking ahead because every Friday effects our future," Daugherty said. "But we are well aware that every win gets us closer to our goals and that we have to show up every week to get those wins."
The Tigers had a modest two-game winning streak broken last week, after beginning the campaign with four consecutive losses. Elkins' 49-14 setback to Bridgeport (W.Va.) began a three-game gauntlet that also includes the Patriots and Class AA No. 1 Fairmont Senior.
Coach Evan Hott's squad found themselves in a 14-0 hole last week before the Indians had even run an offensive play. Just two minutes into the contest Bridgeport had returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and recovered a fumble in the end zone for another.
Tigers' quarterback Rodney Vandevender was the team's leading rusher last week with 40 yards, however, Elkins has capable runners in Dennard Wyche, T.J. Guire and Trevor Smith.
Wyche had a pair of big games in the Tigers' two wins, totaling 361 yards and five touchdowns. Guire had a 156-yard game during the streak while Smith had a 119-yard performance.
"It's been a while since we have seen them, but we know they run the Wing-T and do all the misdirection stuff that really makes you work on defense," Daugherty said. "It is also the first time this season we will see a 3-4 defense so there are going to be plenty of new looks.
As usual the Patriots will be led by senior quarterback, and Kennedy Award candidate, Alex Dunlevy, who has accounted for more than 2,000 total yards of offense. Through the air Dunlevy is 107 of 157 for 1,746 yards and 18 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He has also run 60 times for 342 yards and six more scores.
Rapheal Bradley is Wheeling Park's leading rusher with more than 400 yards and five touchdowns while the Patriots have a bevy of capable receivers in Carson Namack, Stevie Mitchell, Xavier Morris and Shaheed Jackson leading the way.
Namack has over 500 yards and three touchdowns while Mitchell had five grabs for 100 yards and a 53-yard score last week. Morris, Jackson and Namack all had over 50 receiving yards at Musselman.
The Patriots led only once last week, taking an early 7-2 advantage before a late touchdown cut the deficit to the final score.
"No question there are some things we would love to have back from last week," Daugherty said. "They were a good team with a great player and who knows, maybe we will see them down the road again.
"Our team is five points away from being undefeated and we are continuing to build and grow. One crazy thing is that I am a whole lot happier with how we played in the loss to Musselman than I am with how we played during the win a week earlier at Morgantown.
"We just looked a whole lot better last week, even in defeat."