photo by: Kim North

Wheeling Central’s Troy Mortakis (43) nearly intercepts a Barnesville pass earlier this season. Looking on is teammate Joey Hall (21). The Maroon Knights welcome Brashear to Bishop Schmitt Field Friday night for Homecoming.

WHEELING – Wheeling Central will close out the regular season Friday night when Brashear visits Wheeling University’s Bishop Schmitt Field for Homecoming.

The Maroon Knights (5-2) are No. 2 in the latest West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission Class A ratings behind defending champion Wahama.

Due to some scheduling conflicts, Wheeling Central was only able to schedule eight contests this fall.

Senior Kade Koroneos has put together a fine season with more than 1,000 yards of total offense. He has run for 721 and 12 touchdowns while catching 22 passes for 377 and two more scores. He has five 100-yard games on the ground.

Junior quarterback Nico Kusic has completed 52 of 97 passes for 803 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He is also the second leading rusher with 344 yards and a pair of TDs.

Seniors Max Olejasz (10 catches, 177 yds., 2 tds) and Joey Hall (12-155-2) are also receiving threats.

Wheeling Central is coming off a 28-20 victory over Martins Ferry. It has won four of its last five, the setback coming at the hands of Barnesville.

The Bulls (1-8) lone victory came over Perry Traditional Academy (28-14). The Maroon Knights defeated the Commodore (41-8 ).

Both teams have one victory in the brief series which took place in 2008-09. According to fourseasonsfootball.com, Wheeling Central has 597 all-time wins.

Cameron at Bridgeport

BROOKSIDE – The Dragons (4-2) limp into their 26th all-time meeting with the Bulldogs (4-5) on Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium.

Cameron fell 28-6 at Monroe Central last week and has lost twice in the last three outings, also dropping a game to Tyler Consolidated (14-12), after a 3-0 start. It is seventh in the most recent WVSSAC Class A ratings.

Marshall Holland has run for 648 yards and six touchdowns on 97 for the Dragons. Quarterback Kason Angel is 35 of 61 for 589 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. Soier Reed has 18 catches for 290 yards and three touchdowns.

Bridgeport is 17th in Division VII, Region 27 and still has a shot of making the playoffs with a win. However, a loss ends its season.

Senior Jaki Threet has turned into one of the better running quarterbacks in the Ohio Valley with 1,417 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Cameron leads the all-time series, 12-11-2, and has won five of the last seven, including 62-7 last year.

Cambridge at St. Clairsville

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The Red Devils (6-3) are seeking a first-round bye in the Division V playoffs when the winless Bobcats (0-9) visit Red Devil Stadium on Friday for Senior Night. It will be the 50th all-time matchup, with St. Clairsville holding a 33-13-3 advantage, including the last four meetings.

After taking down undefeated Indian Creek, 28-21 in overtime, last week, the win vaulted St. Clairsville into the fifth spot. The top 4 receive a bye. Nos. 5-8 host first-round games.

Cambridge, meanwhile, is riding a 30-game losing streak.

Ollie Muhly has been the workhorse for the Red Devils. The senior is the leading rusher with 755 yards and 10 touchdowns on 118 carries. He is also the top receiver with 15 catches for 29 yards and three scores.

Sam McLean has passed for 1,165 yards and 15 touchdowns on 72 of 121. He has thrown five interceptions and rushed for 247 yards. Luke Shaffer (10-162-3tds); Niko Jacob (12-187-2) and Jaxon Starks (11-285-5) are also receiving options.

Indian Creek at Edison

RICHMOND – The ‘Route 43 Bowl’ continues Friday night at the Unified Sports Complex at Edison High School when the Redskins (8-1) face the host Wildcats (7-2). Both teams have already clinched Ohio Division IV and V playoff berths, respectively.

However, that shouldn’t hamper the intensity on the field.

Indian Creek holds a commanding 23-9 advantage.

Linsly at Parkersburg South

PARKERSBURG – The Cadets (2-5) are looking to build off of last week’s win over Dover when they visit the Erickson All-Sports Complex to meet the struggling Patriots (2-5).

This will be the fifth meeting between the two, with each program winning twice. Parkersburg South prevailed 35-28 last year in Wheeling.

Linsly, according to fourseasonsfootball.com, has accumulated 594 all-time victories.

IN OTHER games, Shadyside (2-7) heads to Woodsfield to face Monroe Central (3-6) at Monroe Park in the 58th all-time meeting that the Tigers lead, 31-26; John Marshall (5-2) looks to keep its W.Va. Class AAA playoff hopes alive when it ventures to Fairfield Union (5-4) in Lancaster; Harrison Central (3-6) welcomes Buckeye Local (2-7) to Wagner Field in Cadiz for the V.A.L.E.S. rivalry game; Oak Glen (6-2) crosses the Ohio River to meet East Liverpool (3-6) at Patterson Field; and River (5-4) heads south on Ohio 7 to Beavertown to clash with Frontier (3-6).