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WHEELING – Turnovers can be game-changers. Unfortunately, such was the case for Wheeling Park at Wheeling Island Stadium Friday night.
The youthful Patriots appeared to be in solid shape, owning a 17-6 lead in the late stages of the third quarter. However, visiting Jefferson turned two Park fumbles into fourth-quarter touchdowns, providing the Cougars the momentum they needed en route to a 38-32 overtime win.
The loss was the fifth straight for Park as it dropped to 2-6 on the campaign.
It also spoiled a special night for Park as it celebrated the school's 50th Anniversary/Homecoming as the school was founded in 1976 – a consolidation of Wheeling, Triadelphia and Warwood high schools.
At halftime, Joeyana Kalleyan Milan Strothers was crowned Wheeling Park's Homecoming Queen.
Park will attempt to get back to winning ways next week as it travels to Oak Hill. That is followed by a bye week before the Patriots close regular season play by hosting rival John Marshall.
Park entered the contest sitting 11th in the Class AAAA playoff poll. Jefferson earned just its second win of the season.
The Patriots were holding a 24-20 advantage with less than two minutes left in regulation, only to fumble for the second time in the quarter. The Cougars recovered at the Park 15 with just 1:45 remaining.
It took the visitors just one play to take the lead as Austin Bugbee bolted straight up the middle for the touchdown. The visitors had their PAT blocked, leaving the Eastern Panhandlers on top, 26-24.
Things quickly swung back Park's way as DJ Neal returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to the Jefferson four. Senior quarterbacking ace Jay Bordas ran it in for the TD. He subsequently connected with Preston Heatherington for the two-point conversion and a 32-26 lead.
Jefferson, however, with just more than a minute left, put together a 5-play drive, capped by a 40-yard scoring pass from Garrett Harrison to Kalen Yates to knot matters at 32-all. The Cougars opted to go for two, only to have the pass attempt fail.
Park had time for only two plays but came up empty, sending the game into overtime.
The Patriots had the first possession in the extra session, but misfired on a 30-yard field goal try. Jefferson made the most of Park's inability to score as it ended the game quickly. After a 17-yard run, Park was flagged for a facemask, placing the ball at the Patriots' one, from where Harrison carried it in.
"We kept shooting ourselves in the foot," Park head coach Chris Daugherty said. "The fumbles really hurt us. Jefferson took full advantage of them.
"Jefferson has some nice offensive weapons. They made some big plays," he added. "We are a really young team and our lines have all new starters. But we need to stop making the little mistakes that come back to bite us."
After Jefferson took a 6-0 lead, Park responded with two second-quarter touchdowns. Bordas and Liam Wetzel combined on a 52-yard aerial score before Hunter Miller scored from a yard out. Talented frosh Kallon Tipton added both PATs.
Tipton booted a 28-yard field goal at the 6:35 mark of the third period to give Park a 17-6 upper hand.
Park ended with 137 yards on the ground while Bordas completed 8-of-14 passes for 106 stripes. Miller picked up 97 rushing yards.
Jefferson passed for 157 yards and rushed for 215. The Cougars moved the sticks 14 times and were penalized 14 times for 107 yards.
Park registered 10 first downs and was flagged seven times, covering 74 yards.