photo by: Kim North

Wheeling Central’s Kade Koroneos (26) runs through a gaping hole last week against Union Local. Koroneos and the Maroon Knights head to Beverly Friday night to face Fort Frye.

BEVERLY – After rallying past Union Local in its season-opener last Friday, Wheeling Central will hit the road Friday night when it treks to southern Ohio to meet Fort Frye at Cadets Stadium.

The Maroon Knights (1-0) posted a 25-19 as Nico Kusic found Max Olejasz all alone for a 21-yard touchdown with a little more than a minute to play at Wheeling University’s Bishop Schmitt Field.

The Cadets (1-1) bounced back from a week 1 loss to Barnesville (35-7) with a 36-7 thumping of host West Muskingum in Zanesville last week. This will be their home opener.

Kusic went 5-for-5 on the final drive for all 79 yards and the touchdown. He finished 10 of 18 for 167 yards and a pair of TDs, the other being a 64-yard pass-and-run to Kade Koroneos to open the scoring.

Koroneos caught six passes for 120 yards and ran for 74 more and a 7-yard touchdown on 12 carries.

Fort Frye had two 100-yard rushers against the Tornadoes. Gavin Rauch rushed for 165 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. Tyce Beardsley had 141 yards on 19 carries and two scores.

This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the Maroon Knights and Cadets, with Fort Frye holding a 3-1 advantage, including a 38-19 victory last fall. Wheeling Central prevailed 22-3 in 1980.

St. Clairsville at Beaver Local

LISBON – The Red Devils (1-1) righted their ship last week with a 49-13 rout of host Brownsville, Pa. That came after a 47-27 season-opening setback at Creston Norwayne.

Sam McLean threw four touchdown passes to three different receivers. He went 8 of 10 for 142 yards. Two of his scoring strikes went to Ollie Muhly, while Hunter Orum and Landen Serrano caught the others. Backup quarterback Luke Shafer also threw a TD pass to Jaxon Starks.

Muhly finished with four catches for 70 yards.

This is just the fourth time St. Clairsville and Beaver Local have met on the gridiron. The Red Devils lead the series 2-1, including 27-21 last year at Red Devil Stadium.

Wheeling Park at Spring Mills

MARTINSBURG – The Patriots, fresh off their 23-7 victory over visiting Parkersburg South at Wheeling Island Stadium, head to the eastern panhandle for their second meeting ever with the Cardinals, who posted a 27-0 triumph last season in Ohio County.

Reigning Kennedy Award winner Brennan Wack ran for 226 yards and three touchdowns to spark Wheeling Park last week against the Wood County Patriots. His scoring runs covered 8, 13 and 56 yards.

Quarterback Jay Bordas was 17 of 21 for 119 yards. Wideout Owen-Dobrzynski-Hines hauled in seven catches for 72 yards.

Spring Mills will be making its season debut.

Martins Ferry at Independence, W.Va.

COAL CITY – The Purple Riders (2-0) have run roughshod over their first two opponents – Expression Academy (55-0) and Malvern (35-6) – but will have their hands full Friday night when they make the nearly 4-hour trip to meet the Patriot, which are ranked No. 11 in W.Va. Class AA and have appeared in the state championship game twice (2021 and 2022). They won the state title in 2022.

Martins Ferry’s offensive line enabled its backs to rush for 310 yards against the Hornets last week. Sophomore Walkquem Cox was the workhorse as he carried 24 times for 201 yards and two TDs.

The Purple Rider defense was equally impressive as it limited Malvern to just 47 yards on the ground while also producing a six-pointer courtesy of a 52-yard pick six from Gavin Mulvey.

Independence (1-0) debuted with a 37-34 nod over Herbert Hoover in its opener.

This is the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Union Local at Indian Creek

WINTERSVILLE – The Jets and Redskins will meet for the 12th time Friday night at Kettlewell Memorial Stadium, with Indian Creek holding an 8-3 advantage in the series.

Union Local (1-1) fell to Wheeling Central 25-19 on a late TD pass after defeating Warren JFK (42-12) in its opener.

Colby Carpenter ran for 100 yards last week against the Maroon Knights. He scored on a 76-yard scamper. He also passed for 96 yards and a 21-yard scoring pass to Karson Grigatis that gave the Jets the lead late in the contest.

Ayden Graham returned a punt 65 yards for another UL score.

The Redskins (2-0) will be making their home debut after dispatching Cambridge (35-6) and East Liverpool (37-19).

Indian Creek rushed for 291 yards against the Potters, led by the tandem of quarterback Ian Starkey (eight carries for 144 yards and a touchdown) and Bruce Mazar (101 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns).

In other games of interest, Bridgeport (1-1) welcomes East Palestine (2-0) to Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium in Brookside; Harrison Central (0-2) travels to Malvern (1-1) and Expression Prep (0-2) visits Dragon Stadium to face Cameron (1-0).