Patriots, Monarchs Meet For Rivalry Match
Nick Henthorn Trending
MOUNDSVILLE - It's a throw the records out the window kind of game. It doesn't matter if one team is playing its best football of the season and the other is struggling. It's a long-time rivalry that both teams will be chomping at the bit to get started on Friday night. It's Wheeling Park and John Marshall butting heads at Monarch Stadium in a regular season finale.
There is plenty at stake for both teams, but in different ways. For coach Chris Daugherty, in his 14th year at the helm of the Patriots, its win and Wheeling Park is guaranteed a spot in next week's first round of the West Virginia Class AAA playoffs, even though the Red, White and Blue will probably have to travel. For Mark Cisar and his Monarchs it is all about pride and the opportunity to snap a four-game losing streak this year and break a 12-game skid in the series.
Since suffering a 23-16 loss to John Marshall in his first year as a head coach in 2009, Daugherty has watched his Patriots win the last 12 games against John Marshall by a whopping 528-174 margin, including last year's 70-10 drubbing at Wheeling Island Stadium.
The Patriots (6-2) are also playing their best football of 2023, coming off a surprisingly easy 64-14 thumping of highly rated Parkersburg South a week ago.
Wheeling Park is currently riding a four-game winning streak along with South including victories over Morgantown, St. Clairsville and Brooke. The average score of Park's six wins is 46-10.
"We are playing very well right now and played at a high level in all three phases of the game last week," Daugherty admitted. "Our defense, which I believe has played under the radar all year, was at its best against South. And our offense is continuing to grow and get better with the ability to spread the ball around to a bunch of different kids."
Meanwhile, the Monarchs are currently 1-8 and in the midst of a four-game losing streak. While their only win was a 30-20 decision over Warren Local, they have been outscored by an average of 46-16 in their eight losses.
"It has been a challenge for us to get wins all season," Cisar said. "But this is a rivalry game. The kids know each other, and they want this one.
"We have had a good week of practice and I believe they are focused and ready to go. It has been a tough season, but these kids have worked very hard the entire way."
Leading the way for the Patriots is junior quarterback Aiden Davis, who has thrown for 26 touchdowns, and has a variety of receivers at his beck and call. His two biggest threats in the passing attack are seniors Mykel Davis, who averages 83 yards a game and has found the end zone 11 times, and Keohn Stephens, Jr., who is at 81 yards a game with nine scores.
Sophomore Amare Johnson has turned into a major factor in the running game and averages just under 100 yards a game with 12 touchdowns.
Defensive Wheeling Park received a combined 22 tackles a contest from senior Jared Marsh and juniors Jameson Maynard and Malaki Washington. Marsh has also recorded five interceptions on the campaign.
"They are playing extremely well on both sides of the football right now," Cisar added. "Everything they do is working with running the ball, throwing the ball and playing defense. And they have the ability to force a lot of turnovers. This is definitely going to be the biggest challenge we have faced all season.
"But stranger things have happened. They put up a lot of points on us last year and our kids haven't forgotten that. We just need to try and control the clock, force some turnovers and be there with a chance at the end."
The Monarchs are led by 1,000-plus-yard rusher Maverick Lemasters with Kayden Knapp pulling the trigger under center and Dimario White a factor in the receiving corps. John Marshall also has one of the Valley's premier kicker in Conor Fitzpatrick.
"There is no question that they are going to come out and give us their best shot," Daugherty mentioned. "This is always, and will always, be a big game for both teams. They have a big offensive line and they like to mix it up a little bit. I know they will be working hard for this one.
"We just need to come out and do what we do. Everyone knew we had a tough middle of the schedule, but we have won the last four and we continue to improve every week. I am very happy with the growth of the kids. They came out and kept fighting when we were 2-2 with no one putting their heads down.
"When you play John Marshall you are playing a team that is 15 minutes away. There is no long bus ride, everyone knows each other and plays against each other in just about every sport and they see each other off the field a lot as well. It's a great rivalry."