WHEELING — Chris Daugherty has elevated the Wheeling Park football program to a championship level.

He is also turning The Park into fertile recruiting ground for college recruiters. No less than 19 Patriots are currently playing at the next level.

“I am very proud that our program has 19 kids playing college football. I think it shows that there is more than just football going on,” Daugherty said. “You must be a good student if you want to become NCAA qualified and get recruited.”

One of Daugherty’s products turned in a remarkable season-opening performance under center.

Zach Phillips is a redshirt sophomore quarterback at Gannon University in Erie Pa. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder came up huge in the Golden Knights’ 31-9 season-opening win against Southern Connecticut State.

Phillips rushed 15 times for 181 yards and four touchdowns. He also completed 4 of 7 passes for 31 yards.

“We went into the game looking to establish the run. They had trouble stopping it so we didn’t feel the need to throw the ball,” Phillips said. “I read the defensive end and if he takes the back, I keep it. It was very effective Saturday. I would expect that we will have to throw more this Saturday against Shippensburg.”

Phillips is one of five Wheeling Park grads on the Gannon grid roster.

Matt Hackathorn helped clear the way for Phillips. The 6-5, 285-pounder is in his second year as a starting offensive tackle.

Geremy Paige is a starting and talented linebacker for the Golden Knights. The active sophomore recorded six tackles Saturday to go with two tackles for losses and one sack.

Two other Patriots are seeing time as backups. Clay McDonald is a linebacker while Jamez Coles saw time at defensive back.

“It is really nice having five Park players at Gannon. It is also eye-opening knowing that we have 19 players in college,” Phillips said. “We went 6-5 last year and graduated a lot of people. About 80 percent of our roster is made up of redshirt freshmen and redshirt sophomores.

“But I don’t consider this a rebuilding year,” the health care management major added. “We have a tough schedule but I think we can compete for a conference championship this year.”

Phillips’ dad is Keith Phillips, the highly regarded defensive coordinator at Wheeling Park.

Phillips played in all 11 games as a redshirt freshman. In game nine he passed for 156 yards and two touchdowns against California State. He also rushed for 67 yards on 17 carries against Cal.

While at Park, he established school records for career passing yards, single-season passing yards, single-season touchdown passes, career completion percentage, single-season completion percentage and single-game touchdown passes while earning all-state honors.

Gannon is not the only school making use of the Park grid talent pipeline.

North Carolina A&T has two stars from Park’s state title team on its roster. Wide receiver Elijah Bell saw action in A&T’s 62-0 romp over St. Augustine’s Saturday while running back Savion Johnson is being redshirted.

Vondell Bell is a junior returning starter at defensive back at California (Pa.) The Vulcans were idle last week.

Other Patriots gracing collegiate rosters this fall are: Austin Curnes, Liam Casey and Dustin Dominguez at Washington & Jefferson; Richard Blackwell and Chalmer Moffett at West Liberty; Theo Blackston, Mercyhurst; DC Banks, Fairmont; Bryce Ingram, Glenville State; Harrison Hartung and Jake Pedelose at Denison and Isaiah Myers at Waynesburg.

IN MEMORY OF MILLER

Craig Miller was a Bridgeport High athletic great. In addition to being a stellar football player, Miller was one of the greatest discus throwers in valley history. His athletic prowess earned him a spot in the OVAC Hall of Fame.

Miller and his wife, the former Pam Thomas and also a Bridgeport High grad, are staging the Kyle Miller 5K Run/Walk in memory of their son who died tragically on March 15, 2014.

Kyle was an athletic standout at Hilliard Davidson and Otterbein University. He died in a kayaking accident while attempting to save his dog in frigid lake waters.

Proceeds from the third annual Kyle Miller 5K Run/Walk will continue to fund an endowed scholarship at Otterbein for underclassmen sharing his passion for wildlife and conservation. The first two Kyle Miller 5K events have raised more than $76,000 in two years. The endowed scholarship has received $64,000, $7,000 went went to Otterbein to purchase hurdles while $5,000 was donated to the Ohio Wildlife Center.

This year’s event will be staged Sept. 25 at Hilliard Municipal Park beginning at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $15 for students and $25 for adults. registration is available race day from 8-9 a.m.

Online registration is available at www.kylemillermemorialfund.com. fees and entry forms mail be ailed to Pam Miller, 4977 Britton Farms Court, Hilliard, Ohio 43026. Checks should be made payable to Kyle Miller Memorial Fund.

Kyle’s grandparents — Bob and Jamie Thomas as well as Josephine Miller all still reside in Bridgeport. His paternal grandfather — Elmer Miller — is deceased.

BUBBA’S BITS

The Hannan at Bishop Donahue football game scheduled for Saturday has been rescheduled. The two teams will vie in Week 6.

The Steelers made a great move in grabbing Justin Gilbert from the Browns for a mere sixth-round draft pick. Gilbert, another first-round Browns’ flop, has big-time talent who just needs a change of scenery. He can fill a huge void in Pittsburgh.

Kudos to the Martins Ferry Hall of Fame Committee for staging another elegant Hall of Fame ceremony Friday. It marked the third class of honorees to be enshrined into the Purple HOF. This year’s class included: Cyril Letzelter, Bill Elias, Bob Plotz, Bill Almashy, Mike Lucas, Louis Keys, Steve Scipio, Jeff Sommer, Rich Heil, Keith Vrotsos, Jeff Kepreos, Chuck Allen, Babe Sidon, Cory DelGuzzo, Fred Thomas, Bob Bowen, Ken Kadar, Tony Collette, Ron Hill, Jay Wallace and J.R. Thomas.

It was good to cross paths with Rick Jones at the Wheeling Park football game Friday night. Rick is back with Ohio County schools as assistant superintendent. Hopefully, he helps with the Park girls’ hoop squad. He enjoyed great success as head coach with the Union Local Lady Jets many years ago.

Weirton Madonna’s Ross Comis acquitted himself quite nicely in “The Swamp” Saturday against the Florida Gators. The new UMass starting quarterback completed 9 of 17 passes for 141 yards while also rushing for his team’s lone TD in a 24-7 setback. The Minutemen face Boston College this week.

Prediction: Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano will be a head college football coach next fall.

Wheeling Central and Madonna square off Thursday night in prep football. It’s a great option playing on Thursdays — it’s a cash cow move and also enables grid junkies an extra prep game. It’s a trend that I hope escalates.