Young Playmakers Step Up for Cameron
Neely, Ball spark Dragons in Week 1 Triumph
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CAMERON -- A quarterback's life is always less stressful when he knows there are receivers and backs on the team that will take the load off his shoulders.
Sophomore QB Colson Wichterman of Cameron has that luxury.
Senior running back Isaac Ball and junior receiver Payton Neely supplied stellar playmaking abilities in Friday's 26-20 win over West Greene to start the regular season.
Ball racked up 109 total yards, while Neely tallied 44 total yards and hauled in a stellar 40-yard reception along the sideline as he got a foot down in bounds and secured the football in mid-air.
Both athletes also delivered several big punt and kickoff returns into enemy territory, which also gave Wichterman and the offense a boost.
"It's the best feeling in the world," Wichterman said of having playmakers like Ball and Neely to count on. "Those playmakers on this team make my job 10-times easier.
"Kudos to the line, too. I love those kids and I love everybody on this team."
The catch by Neely was a momentum changer in the drive and also set up his own 7-yard touchdown run later in the march.
"I just went up for it and was glad it was there and got my foot down," Neely said. "It's great having a talented quarterback who can throw the ball like that."
Although only one of the big punt/kickoff returns ended with six points, Neely likes how the Dragons' special teams line up.
"Our fastest three guys are in the back and everybody on the team can block," Neely said. "And I'm sure glad they can block."
Wichterman fired for 182 yards, while rushing and throwing for a touchdown but he even had some weight lifted off of his shoulders from the defense in what proved to be a true team victory.
"It was a stressful game to the end," Wichterman said. "But, once we got them pinned deep late, we knew that our defense was going to stop them."
And that is exactly what happened as the Dragons started the 2021 campaign 1-0.
Offensive Player of the Week
Kabel Isaly, River
A night to remember -- Isaly lit up the sky for 329 yards and four touchdowns in a win.
Defensive Player of the Week
Kaden Johnson, Magnolia
Led the Blue Eagles with 14 tackles, three TFL, two forced fumbles and a pick six. He also scored on offense and delivered 40 receiving yards.
Ground Gainers
∫ Marcus Barnes, Magnolia: Running back ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
∫ Jace Campinelli, Brooke: Rumbled for 110 yards on 17 rushes in a Bruins victory.
∫ AJ Sanders, Alex Taylor, Luca DiLorenzo, Linsly: A rushing outburst, Sanders trotted for 75 yards and a score, Taylor tallied 97 yards and a TD and DiLorenzo -- at QB -- galloped for 108 yards and a touchdown.
∫ Jacob Jordan, St. Clairsville: Jordan raced for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 14 attempts.
∫ Braxton Anderson, Wheeling Central: Anderson tallied 82 yards and a touchdown on 12 touches.
∫ Brayden Roth, Bellaire: On only eight touches, Roth ran for 105 yards and a touchdown.
∫ Rodney James, Steubenville: James led the Big Red rushing attack with 148 yards and two scores on 14 carries.
Aerial Attack
∫ Brett Phillips, Wheeling Park: In his first start for Park, Phillips threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns on 9 of 11 passing in a victory over St. Clairsville.
∫ Drew Sefsick, St. Clairsville: Red Devils' QB threw for 141 yards on 10 of 17 passing.
∫ Rhys Francis, Shadyside: The Tigers' QB fired for 166 yards and two TDs on 9 of 11 passing.
∫ Hayden Cassidy, Harrison Central: On 14 of 23 passing, Cassidy threw for 139 yards and a TD.
∫ Jake Heatherington, Bellaire: As many incompletions as touchdowns -- Heatherington went 10-for-12 for 132 yards and two scores.
∫ Colin Jackson, Bridgeport: The junior threw for 151 yards and a touchdown.
∫ Phaeton Hill, Steubenville: Big Red QB threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns on 12 of 20 passing.
Good Hands Team
∫ Jerrae Hawkins, Wheeling Park: The speedster used a game-long 61-yard reception to spark a 134-yard night and a touchdown on five grabs.
∫ Anthony Bachinski, Brooke: The receiver hauled in four passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
∫ Brody Lollathin, Brody Longwell, River: The duo of Brodys were unstoppable as Lollathin charted seven grabs for 190 yards and three touchdowns, while Longwell added eight catches for 94 yards and a TD.
∫ Brenton Jones, Steubenville: Two of Jones' three catches went for touchdowns and he tallied 110 yards.
Mr. Everything
∫ Braelyn Sperringer, Brooke: Through the air, Sperringer threw for 108 yards and two scores and on the ground he ran for 116 yards and two more touchdowns in a victory.
∫ Cody Martos, Wheeling Central: On nine carries, Martos ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns, while making 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks on defense.
∫ Malachi Rose-Burton, Monroe Central: Rose-Burton ran for 179 yards and a pair of scores, while throwing for 115 yards and two more touchdowns.
Wrecking Crew
∫ Nate Shelek, Colton Thomas, Erick Brothers Jr., Wheeling Park: Shelek amassed 15 stops and two TFL, Thomas made 13 tackles and one TFL and Brothers Jr. garnered 11 stops and one TFL.
∫ Braden Whitelatch, Wheeling Central: Whitelatch finished the game with eight stops and 2.5 sacks.
∫ Liam Lyck, Brodie Selmon, Linsly: Lyck generated seven stops and three sacks, while Selmon charted seven tackles and one TFL.
Big Boot
∫ Bailey Serevicz, Brooke: Serevicz drilled all four extra points in Brooke's victory.