Streaking Teams Duel As Maroon Knights Travel To Face Red Knights
Kristin Mazgaj Trending
TORONTO - Two teams will enter Friday streaking, and by game's end, one will be going full-sprint, while the other will come to a screeching halt.
Wheeling Central, will put their five-game winning streak on the line against Toronto, on a three-game streak of their own, within the confines of Red Knight Stadium on Friday.
Central (6-2) arrives Friday after beating down Carrick, Pa. 49-13, while Toronto (7-2) was last seen defeating Jefferson County rival Caldwell 28-21.
With both teams nearing the end of their respective regular seasons, and looking towards the postseason, neither wants to stumble across the finish line.
"It's a big game, without a doubt," Wheeling Central head coach Mike Young said. "We're in the playoffs, which is very good. 18 of the last 20 years we've made the playoffs and we're proud of the fact, and that we're there again.
"We'd like to make some noise but we've got to focus on Toronto first."
The Maroon Knights have been receiving reinforcements over the past few weeks, with early-season injuries healing across their roster.
All-state running back Braden McWreath made his season debut last week, rushing for 58 yards and snagging two interceptions on defense. In his absence, runners like Isaac Martins and Kade Koroneos asserted themselves, and now form a three-headed monster that can batter opponents. Martin had 78 rushing yards and three touchdowns last week while Koroneos had 60 and a score.
"We definitely feel positive about it," Young said of McWreath. "He's a senior, he's a captain, he brings leadership both offensively and defensively. He's a good running back. But we've got other kids coming back too, kids that were banged up a little bit, and they're getting stronger each game. We're building confidence with each win and now we've got to go out and play a real good football team, play four quarters, and play physical."
"We've got kids back healthy, which is helpful. It helps the chemistry of the team, it helps the attitudes, because these guys were hurt, and they're back healthy and strong. We're looking forward to them playing Friday night and having a good game."
Maxwell Olejasz continued to shine as a receiver with two touchdown catches, both from sophomore quarterback Nico Kusic.
For the Red Knights, Brady Fair is the top rusher on the team with 500 yards even and seven touchdowns.
Aiden Filby has had an impressive senior season out wide with 727 yards and seven touchdown grabs. Fellow senior Zebulin Kinsey has passed for 2,059 yards and 20 touchdowns to lead an offense that can rack up points.
"Toronto's a very good team, very explosive," Young said. "They score on big plays. We've got to play defense and take advantage offensively of any possessions we get, and not turn the ball over."
It will be the first meeting in quite some time between the two groups of Knights.
"We'd played them years ago, but we haven't played them since around 2007," Young said. "They had an opening, and we were both willing to play."
The two teams will do just that with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Red Knight Stadium.