Zac Bruney

By KYLE LUTZ

For The Times Leader

WHEELING — Last year, a new era began on the campus of Wheeling University as football kicked off its exhibition season. The Cardinals, who suited 70 freshmen, completed an undefeated season and gained some valuable experience along the way that will transition into 2019.

“Last season was unique and different in the fact that we placed a jayvee-driven schedule,” Wheeling coach Zac Bruney said. “But I think competing helped us more than not competing. We could have just redshirted everybody and just practiced, but the fact that we competed, that helped out guys get game reps, get live reps, but the most important part of any young program is the practice. We learned how to practice, we got better with the tempo and the pace, the accountability level as the season went.

“We really saw a noticeable difference with spring ball and the way spring practices went with how we were able to practice and the ability to get more each and every time we were out there.”

With their exhibition games behind them, the Cardinals will kick off their inaugural season as a varsity program and as a member of the Mountain East Conference. Wheeling’s first opponent will be cross-county rival West Liberty. The Hilltoppers will make the trip to Bishop Schmitt Field with a kickoff at 1 p.m. on Sept. 7.

“The feel of it is probably a little more excitement surrounding the conference which is a good league top to bottom” Bruney said. “Very competitive. I think each coach touched on it at the MEC Media Day. The talent level within the conference and from program to program is high. The coaching is very good and on any given Thursday night or Saturday, probably every head coach thinks anybody can beat anybody. You better be ready to play each week because any team is capable of pretty much beating anybody week in and week out.”

Bruney and his coaches will have plenty of options of players from not only last year’s team, but a strong nucleus of freshmen coming in.

Sophomore Tucker Strachan, who took the majority of the snaps last year, returns under center at quarterback along with classmate Tyler Sprouse who also got quality playing time in 2018.

“Tucker got the majority of the reps and played well,” Bruney said. “In eight games, I think he was close to 2,000 yards passing and had over 20 touchdowns. Tyler got quality reps as well. Both of those guys are still competing.”

The Cardinals also brought in Indian Creek graduate and freshman Brennon Norris.

Bruney also said the Cardinals could use sophomore Max Baker as a ‘wildcat, change of pace guy.’

“He gives us an emergency situation type of guy or a guy that we can use in certain situations if we want to use his athleticism.”

With a lot of talent at quarterback, Bruney also likes his options in the backfield.

Returning for the Cardinals is Sy Alli IV and Cam’Ron McClain who both saw quality reps last season. A handful of freshmen also look to get into the mix including St. Clairsville’s Brady Kolb, Steubenville’s Caleb Mitchell, Elijah Young and Jarin Curtis.

“The running back position is probably the deepest we have on offense. We feel good about our depth,” Bruney said.

A pair of OVAC natives are some of the top returners coming back at receiver for their sophomore season. Monroe Central’s Ryan Lafollette and Toronto’s Jake Keenan both saw the field last season and look to build off their freshman campaigns.

“Both of those guys had really good offseasons,” Bruney said. “They got bigger, they got stronger and got a step or two faster. They’ll both be counted on.”

Senior and Martins Ferry native Jack Fitch and sophomore Juan Mendoza will also add a speed boost to the receiving corps as both were on the conference-winning and record setting 4×100 relay team in track.

Bruney will also count on JaQuaun Davidson and Ricardo Henry. Some freshmen include Jaylon Baylor, James Fulton and Chandler Downs.

“There’s a good crop of skill where a lot of guys will get to compete,” Bruney said. “And you got to be deep at receiver based on the way we play. You try to go fast, so we can’t have three guys play 70 plays ideally. We like to have five or six guys play 45 to 50 plays a game.”

On the offensive line, Bruney has a mixed bag with a couple of returners and some newcomers.

The Cardinals will have four returners who will start and rotate including sophomores Aaron Hess (center), Tim Trump (guard), Steubenville’s Zack Ekey (guard) and Jalen Dickerson (center/guard).

Redshirt sophomore Xavier Thomas and freshmen Keonte’ Holmes (Steubenville) will be in the mix at tackle along with Casey Bekemeier, Cade Raudebaugh and Eric Lyle.

“That’s always the elephant in the room on both sides of the ball. How well you can do up front. How competitive you can be up front will probably lead to how successful you can be program early in the mix.”

On the defensive line, Bruney has four guys returning in Brandon Munoz, Brody Lundeen and Myckel Brown. James Reese, according to Bruney, has the size to be a rush end, but also is athletic and fast enough to play linebacker. The Cardinals will use him as a rush end this fall.

At the linebacker position, sophomores Ryan Gorman, Jayvon Johnson and Sam Serrano are the three returners.

At at a depth standpoint, freshmen Kory Stress while Beaver Local’s Garrett Givens will be called on while sophomores Cody Anderson and Carlton Taylor will see time in the hybrid position.

Josiah Wright and Robert Curtis have also caught Bruney’s eye.

Four corners that are returning are sophomores Richard White and Aaron Finch. Redshirt sophomore Jermichael Isom and sophomore Jonny Hayden stepped foot into the program during the spring season.

At the safety position, the returners that are in the mix are sophomores Jermaine Flowers, Chris Canaday and Baker.

Redshirt sophomore Shaun Carroll and junior and Wheeling Central graduate Dylan Baker also return at the safety positions.

“Like running back on offense, we probably like our defense on the back end,” Bruney said. “Which is good based on this is a passing league. People throw the ball, they get the ball out in space and try to go as fast as possible. You have to have athletes that match up in space.”

Sophomore and St. Clairsville alum Matt Greenwood will be the kicker.

Fitch and Greenwood will compete for the punter position.

“Our expectations within our walls is to be better as people, as students and as athletes every day. You have to got to see some type of improvement,” Bruney said. “In the way we practice, the way we lift and the way we go about our business on campus, the way we go to the training room, study table, the way we handle all our classroom assignments and the time we spent in the classroom.

“Our expectations as a program are to embrace the process, that taking care of little things the right way all the time hopefully will lead to greater successes when the big things come to our plate. Do we want to win every game we have? Yeah. Do we want to be 1-0 each week? That’s the goal and that’s the mindset.

“Being young and having a young team, that really doesn’t matter when you lace it up and kick it off. There’s going to be freshmen and sophomores that will contribute for a lot of different teams we’re playing against. We can’t use being young or inexperienced as an excuse. A lot of our guys in our program have played a lot of quality football, whether it was at the high school level, prep school or junior college or at another four year program.

“I just want to see steady improvement, I want to see guys that are working hard. If we see steady improvement every day in all facets of what we’re trying to be and we stay true to our values as program, with our integrity and accountability, honesty, and be respectful people. If we stay true to those things, we’ll improve and get better and hopefully, not necessarily sneak up on people, but maybe the people outside of our walls that aren’t expecting too much can actually see we’re trying to do things the right way.”

Bruney is assisted by Brandon Robinson (co-offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator/offensive line), Mott Gaymon (defensive coordinator/defensive backs), Dom Clegg (special teams coordinator/linebackers), Thomas Corbett (outside linebackers), Dirk Fitch (running backs, director of football operations), Raphael Johnson (defensive line), Gary Krol (wide receivers), Justin Kropka (safeties) and James Moore (wide receivers).