Wheeling Central Rolls In Playoff Opener
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WHEELING – National Hall of Fame coach Mike Young couldn't have asked for a better start in a quest for a repeat state championship.
Wheeling Central launched the WVSSAC Class A playoffs with a resounding 55-14 triumph over Montcalm Friday night at chilly Bishop Schmitt Field on the campus of Wheeling University.
Making the win even more impressive is that the third-seeded Maroon Knights rolled without the services of quarterback Nico Kusic. The West Liberty University commit was injured in last week's win over previously unbeaten Williamstown.
Nonetheless, the reigning state kingpins dominated from the outset as freshman standout Wyatt Stephens filled the void at quarterback very nicely while senior ace Will Wear carved up the 14th-seeded Generals' secondary. Senior workhorse Dustin Sanner, a D-1 Drake University commit, also turned in his usual solid rushing effort as the winners totaled 316 yards on the ground.
The red-hot Knights, now 7-4 and winners of six of their last seven starts, will next host sixth-seeded Pendleton County, which defeated 11th-seeded St. Marys last night.
Stephens was exceptional, both throwing and running. He tossed three touchdown passes, all going to Wear. They covered 29, 18 and 53 yards, respectively. Stephens also rushed for 81 stripes and another TD. He ended with 121 aerial yards
Wear, meanwhile, got the Knights off to an electric start. He took a handoff on the first play of the game and raced 62 yards to the Generals' five. Wear carried it into the end zone on the next snap.
Sanner totaled 86 yards on the ground to go with two TDs.
"Wyatt handled himself very well in his first start at quarterback. He threw the ball very well," Young said. "Will did a great job of catching the ball. He had a special night scoring four touchdowns.
"I don't think we played particularly well. We were sloppy at times and need to clean some things up," added Young, who has guided Central to nine state championships as head coach during his ultra-successful tenure. "I was happy with our defense, holding them to 14 points. They had some athletes."
The 14th-seeded Generals, meanwhile, closed out the campaign at 6-5
Wear's initial touchdown run triggered a 41-point first-half for Central. His three receiving scores in the opening half were supported by Sanner and Stephens scoring runs.
Montcalm reached paydirt once in the opening half. That came on a 57-yard burst by Jerran Pendry.
Central added two touchdowns after intermission – a 39-yard Sanner jaunt and a 36-yard run by Kylar Koroneos.
The Knights' ground game was the beneficiary of the dominating play of the Maroon offensive line. That group consisted of Olen Ames, Dominic Paesani, Cooper Jones, Trent Lander, Luca Benson and Seth Wodusky.
Central held the Generals to 180 total yards, 97 of which came on the ground.
The Knights' suffocating defense received sparkling efforts, spearheaded by Sanner, Brady Ernest, Paesani and Joey Jerome.
"We can play better than we showed tonight," Young said. "But the big thing is we are advancing. We also got out of this game mostly healthy.
"Pendleton County is a team that likes to throw it. They have a potent offense," he added. "It is nice that we will be hosting again. We will be ready to play for sure."
Wheeling Central 55, Montcalm 14
Montcalm 0 6 8 0 — 14
W.Central 21 20 8 6 — 55
WC – Wear, 5 run. Petry kick.
WC – Wear, 29 pass from Stephens. Petry kick.
WC – Sanner, 1 run. Petry kick.
WC – Wear, 18 pass from Stephens. Petry kick.
M – Pendry, 57 run. Pass failed.
WC – Wear, 53 pass from Stephens. Petry kick.
WC – Stephens, 5 run. Kick failed.
M – Reed, 55 pass from Allen. Pendry run.
WC – Sanner, 39 run. Stephens pass
WC – Koroneos, 36 run. Run failed.
RUSHING: Montcalm 39-97-td (Pendry 15-93-td, Reed 2-5, Hudgins7-5, 8-minus 4) Central 22-316-5 tds (Wear 3-74-td, Sanner 8-86-2tds, Stephens 6-81-td, Czapp 2-4, Koroneos 2-41-td, Kuchinski 1-2, Jones 1-30).
PASSING: Montcalm 5-7-td-83 yards (All by B. Allen) Central 4-8-3tds-121 yards (All by Stephens).
RECEIVING: Montcalm 5-83-td ( Reed 1-35-td, A. Allen 2-14, Thomason 2-13) Central 4-3tds-121 (Wear 3-101-3tds, Rine 1-20).
FIRST DOWNS: Montcalm 3; Central 13
FUMBLES/LOST: Montcalm1/0; Central 2-2
PENALTIES: Montcalm 5-30; Central 7-55