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Goals never change at Wheeling Central

WHEELING — The last three years at Wheeling Central have been a whirlwind.

The Maroon Knights had to overcome obstacle after obstacle but yet here they are, entering the 2020 football season in search of their fourth straight state championship trophy.

Three years ago, the Knights began the season 0-2 before winning the crown. Last year, all-state quarterback Curtis McGhee was lost for the season with a leg injury and they had to go on the road for every postseason game. No problem.

So, how will the valiant Knights deal with the unpredictability of the upcoming football season?

“Just like everything else in this game,” Central coach Mike Young said. “If you run the option in football, you have to read, react and run. It’s the same thing in this pandemic. We are going to read, react and run and we are running forward. We’re moving forward because that is what we do at Wheeling Central. Whether we lose our starting quarterback or we lose two games to start the season and rally back, we’re going to rally during this pandemic the best we can and come up with as much positivity in terms of our programs, our kids, our parents, our coaches and our student body. We’re going to do as much as we possibly can to overcome these adversities.

“We know the health department, the WVSSAC and politicians are in charge of this and we have to follow their lead and do what we are asked to do in the interest of everyone involved.”

Young and his coaching staff will also be tasked with filling key roles left behind key graduates such McGhee, three-time Huff Award winner and two-time Howley Award winner Adam Murray at linebacker, all-state wide receiver Jalen Creighton and clutch, state-champion quarterback Jacob Rine, who came off the bench seven games into the season to lead the Knights to a three-peat.

“We lost some great kids,” Young said. “There’s no doubt about it. Losing McGhee and Murray, along with Jacob at quarterback and placekicker definitely leave some spots to fill.

“We lost Michael Horan (OL, DE), Hayden Manns (OL, DL) and Kyle Brown (OL, DL). They were all integral parts of our program.”

In seven games a year ago, McGhee threw for 546 yards and seven touchdowns, while rushing for 657 yards and six more scores.

After McGhee’s injury, Rine kept the train on the tracks with 904 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. He also added a monster performance of 214 yards passing, four touchdowns and a 25-yard field goal in the state championship.

What can’t be said about Murray? He’ll go down as one of the greatest to put on a Central uniform. He finished his senior year with a team-high 158 tackles, a team-leading four sacks, a forced fumble and two recoveries.

He also ran for six touchdowns and hauled in a TD on offense.

Creighton paced the receiving corps with 48 catches, 784 yards and 13 touchdowns, including a miraculous 62-yard touchdown reception from Rine with 7 seconds left to defeat Tolsia in the first round of the playoffs last year.

Central lost a total of 11 seniors to graduation but for the Knights, it’s next man up.

“We do have some great kids coming back,” Young said “We know we can’t rest on our laurels, yet at the same time we can continue to build on those successes.

“This group of seniors we have this year, they have overcome obstacles each year and still played on a state championship team. They know the value of being able to overcome challenges and adversity and still come out on top. That’s what they’ve proven.

“Most of them were in back-up roles but they were part of the process and part of the program. They’ve been here with our coaching staff and our administration and they know the value of staying focused.”

Leading the team back is senior running back Jordan Waterhouse, who was named first team all-state on defense a year ago but led the Knights’ ground game with 1,345 yards and 12 touchdowns on 190 carries.

On defense, he finished with 60 tackles and three interceptions.

“We have some key ingredients back and one of the dynamics of our backfield is Jordan Waterhouse,” Young said. “He is a heckuva punter, too.”

Along with Waterhouse’s presence in the backfield, another big contributor and leader returning for his senior year is Vinnie High, who was second on the team in tackles with 121. He also had 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery a season ago. He is also expected to see time at tight end this year.

Perhaps the biggest spot to fill will be that of quarterback. With both McGhee and Rine gone, there will be a new battle for the signal caller position.

“They haven’t taken snaps under center yet but Payton Marling and Michael Toepfer are possible quarterbacks for us this year and Payton Hildebrand will be our backup quarterback,” Young said. “(Marling and Toepfer) are both vying for the position but we won’t know until you line up.

“Both are fine young men who are going to step up and contribute on both sides of the ball. Toepfer is a returning linebacker and Payton is a returning wide receiver, running back and linebacker. It says a lot to be able to have quality kids vying for positions.

“Hopefully we can just get this show on the road and have it last as long as we can.”

Other returning starters on the offensive side of the ball are Spencer Helms (OT), Andrew Burkle (OG), Trey Helms (WR) and Jude Cottrell (long snapper).

Riley Watkins, Braxton Anderson, NIgel Welsh and Eli Tucker are all making a push to see time at running back.

The receiving corps will also include Lorenzo Ferrera, Caleb Ratcliffe and Mason Smith.

Caden Yocum will see time at tight end and Paxton Marling, Ben Foster, Andrew Hartzell and Deante Suggs will battle for time on the offensive line.

Returning starters on defense are Spencer Helms (DT), Burkle (DT) High (LB), Waterhouse (DB), Trey Helms (DB), Payton Marling (LB) and Toepfer (LB).

Suggs, Foster, Jesse Angius, Cottrell and Grant McCabe could also see time at defensive tackle, while Yocum, Andrew Johnson and Paxton Marling are options at defensive end.

Joining Toepfer and High as Central’s linebacker spots could be Anderson, Smith, Walsh and Tucker.

Trey Helms and Ferrera are solid options to join Waterhouse and Payton Marling in the defensive backfield.

Seniors Haden Barickman and Michael Funka, juniors Shannon Looney, Cody Martos, and Jayvon Miller, sophomores Wyatt Bratton, Jonah Cottrell, Hayden Mueller, John Nickerson, Parker Watkins and Braden Whitelatch and freshmen Lucan Galbraith, Seth George, Noah Loy, Jeremy Ratcliffe, Jayden Redman, and J.J. White are also options as the Knights look to capture a fourth straight state title.

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