Maroon Knights Comeback A Play Short vs. Generals
Photo by Nick Henthorn Wheeling Central's Dustin Sanner is tackled after a carry Friday against Ridgewood at Bishop Schmitt Field.
Photo by Nick Henthorn Wheeling Central's Dustin Sanner is tackled after a carry Friday against Ridgewood at Bishop Schmitt Field.
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WHEELING -- After falling behind 14-0, Wheeling Central was a play away from tying Friday's home matchup against Ridgewood late in the fourth quarter.
With 2:37 left in the game at Bishop Schmitt Field, Central senior receiver Levi Rine found himself all alone just a few yards from the goalline, and in-turn, Central senior quarterback Nico Kusic found Rine for an easy catch, turn, and score, a 23-yard touchdown reception in the books. The coverage lapse was a shock to see in what had to that point been a gritty defensive battle, but after the score, Central trailed by a scant two points, 14-12, and lined up for a two-point conversion attempt.
Kusic took the snap and rolled out to his right for a pass, but the pass was a bit strong and was out of reach from a receiver running to the corner of the end zone.
Ridgewood recovered the ensuing onside kick and picked up two first downs, the final one a 30-yard dash by Logan Israel, to salt away the clock as Central had run out of timeouts.
The Maroon Knights fell to 1-2 on the season with the heartbreaker, while Ridgewood moved to 3-1 in the two teams' first-ever meeting.
"I’m proud of these kids because they battled to the bitter end," Wheeling Central head coach Mike Young said after the game. "Breaks, we didn’t get too many, but we gave a couple too. And credit to their team, their coaches, their staff, but bigger credit to my kids and my coaches. We worked hard for this game, and it just didn’t end up with us having more points on the scoreboard. Proud of what we’re doing, proud of how we’re playing, and we’re only going to get better."
Ridgewood's only scoring came in the second quarter. After a scoreless opening quarter, the Generals needed little time to get on the board in the second frame.
Ridgewood quarterback Wyatt Marlatt found Logan Wince down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown streak with 11:40 on the clock 'till halftime.
The Generals' Myles Belt came down with an interception later in the quarter, and Ridgewood capitalized on their favorable field position, Bryce Tolliver punching in a one-yard score for a 14-0 lead with 1:27 left in the half.
Kusic and the Central offense orchestrated a drive down to the 30 yard-line with a few seconds remaining, and instead of a heave to the end zone, Young called upon senior kicker Clay Petry for a 47-yard field goal try.
One big boot later, the kick carried just over the posts, and Central ran to the locker rooms having put points on the board, 14-3.
Petry was in-action again midway through the fourth quarter, after a scoreless third, pounding through a 34-yarder that seemed bittersweet. Kusic had connected with Brady Ernest over the middle for a 50-yard reception that brought the Maroon to Ridgewood's 10 yard-line, but a false start penalty and a fumble on a handoff combined to squander the scoring chance.
Still, Petry's precision made Ridgewood's a one-possession lead.
"Clay brought us back," Young said. "I’m proud of how well he kicked. I’m proud of the snap. I’m proud of the hold. I’m proud of the blocking. It takes all those things to happen, and we were successful at that. And, you know, we’re gonna have that down the road to use for sure. Hopefully, rather than just causing us to lose by two, it’ll cause us to win by one, I don’t know."
Kusic completed 15 of 24 passes Friday for 173 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Dustin Sanner was Central's leading rusher, running for 44 yards on 11 totes. The Drake commit also made two tackles for loss Friday from the linebacker position.
Rine was his team's leading receiver, hauling in seven passes for 70 yards and a score. Ernest finished with three catches for 68 yards.
After stiff competition against Fort Frye and Ridgewood, Central will try their hand against another Ohio team, undefeated Union Local, who have outscored their four opponents 171-35 this year.
At halftime, Wheeling Central honored their 2026 Hall of Fame Class, which included their 1979 state championship football team.