photo by: Kim North

Wheeling Central’s Kade Koroneos (26) carries the ball behind the blocking of Dom Paesani (74) while Carver Bolon (55) looks for a block during Friday night’s W.Va. Class A semifinal contest against Pendleton County on the artificial surface at Wheeling University’s Bishop Schmitt Field. Koroneos ran for 281 yards and five touchdowns in a 43-20 victory.

WHEELING – Pendleton County gave Wheeling Central all it wanted for three quarters Friday night in a W.Va. Class A state semifinal, but Kade Koroneos took over in the fourth quarter.

After the fourth-seeded Wildcat (10-3) pulled to within 21-20 near the midway point of the third quarter, the Maroon Knights senior tailback answered with three consecutive touchdown runs as the top seeds (11-2) pulled away for a 43-20 win on the artificial surface at Wheeling University’s chill-filled Bishop Schmitt Field.

With the victory, Wheeling Central punched its ticket to next Friday’s state championship game at Charleston’s Laidley Field against the winner of Saturday’s other semifinal between No. 7 Cameron (8-3) and Clay-Battelle (11-1). The title tilt has a 7 o’clock kickoff slated.

“It’s a great feeling for these kids and their families,” veteran Wheeling Central head coach Mike Young said. “To have a big win a day after Thanksgiving is tremendous. That was a really good team we just beat. They played hard and battled, but so did we.”

Pendleton County took the second-half kickoff and marched 81 yards on 14 plays with sophomore quarterback Colton Roberson finding Travis Owens for a 11-yard TD strike. However, Niko Kusdic busted through the middle of the line and blocked the all-important PAT, leaving the Maroon Knights ahead 21-20.

Wheeling Central would reach the end zone on its next three possessions, with the 5-10, 185-pound Koroneos during all of the damage.

He capped an 8-play, 68-yard march with a 15 yard run around left end and, after an offsides penalty against the Wildcat on the PAT, he bulled in for the two-point conversion and a 29-20 lead.

The Maroon Knights defense, which sacked and/or tackled Roberson for minus yardage on seven different occasions in the second half, forced a punt on Pendleton County’s next series.

Koroneos went into the end zone from 6 yards out to bump the count to 36-20 after Clay Petry’s point-after.

Following back-to-back sacks of Roberson by Brady Ernest and Dustin Sanner – both who missed most of the season with injuries – Koroneos capped his stellar performance when he took a pitch off the right side, broke a tackle and outran everyone to the promised land for a 79-yard scoring jaunt.

“We came out in the second half and took control,” Young said. “That is a testament to the kids’ endurance and the willingness to keep playing hard.”

Koroneos finished with 27 carries for 281 yards and five touchdowns as the Maroon Knights racked up 352 yards on the ground as a team. The yardage and touchdowns were career highs for Koroneos who now has 30 rushing touchdowns this season.

“That’s a pretty good night for a young man,” Young said of Koroneos’ effort. “We’re awfully proud of him and we just hope he plays the same way next Friday.”

Koroneos, like all good running backs do, praised the work of his offensive line, which includes center Olen Ames, guards Dom Paesani and Carver Bolon, tackles Brent Wear and Cooper Jones and tight end Troy Mortakis.

“My offensive line is amazing. They worked hard every day this summer to get better,” Koroneos praised. “They work so hard for me to be able to run the ball. I love them.”

Kusic finished with 64 yards on the ground and 86 through the air. He found Max Olejasz on a 53-yard scoring pitch-and-catch that knotted the game at 7 in the first quarter.

“Niko is getting better and better every week,” Young said of his junior quarterback. “He’s a quality quarterback and a quality athlete.”

Roberson completed 15 of 29 passes for 222 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Travis Owens caught six passes for 134 and a score, while Chase Owens had seven receptions for 62 yards and a TD.

GAME NOTES

– Wheeling Central remained perfect (9-0) in playoff games at Bishop Schmitt Field.

– The Maroon Knights are now 14-5 in semifinal contests.

– Wheeling Central is 12-1 in state championship contests – the lone setback coming in 2001 to Moorefield.

– The Maroon Knights last won a state title in 2019.