Photo/KRISTIN MAZGAJ WEST VIRGINIA'S Kobe Hill is dragged down after making a catch by Ohio's Rocco Romeo (Conotton Valley)_during Saturday night's 75th OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Game. West Virginia prevailed in the game, 17-6.

WHEELING — The Wing-T offense can be extremely effective.

It’s not seen that frequently and it’s tough to prepare for in a week’s time during the course of a regular season.

On the flip side, it’s not mastered in a week’s time either.

That was clearly visible Saturday night at Wheeling Island Stadium during the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Game.

Ohio’s offense struggled for traction against an opportunistic and speedy West Virginia defense. All told, Ohio finished with 213 total yards, four fumbles and three turnovers in what resulted in a 17-6 victory by the Mountain State.

“They played the edge really well and they loaded up the box, so we had trouble running the ball as well we would have liked,” Ohio head coach Eric Huck said. “We just weren’t consistent enough through the air.”

It seemed like everything Ohio wanted to do, West Virginia had an answer.

Actually, both of the Mountaineer touchdowns came from the defensive unit.

Oak Glen product Kyler O’Conner scooped up a fumble midway through the second quarter and rumbled it back 32 yards for a touchdown.

“Scoring that touchdown was awesome,” O’Conner said. “I never dreamed I’d score a touchdown in this game.”

O’Conner got a perfect hop on the fumble and the next thing he knew, he was off to the races.

“I was just looking ahead and thought, ‘I am going to run,'” O’Conner explained. ”

And just 30 seconds into the second half, Wheeling Park grad Shaheed Jackson picked off a pass and raced it back 20 yards for a score, which proved to be the final score of the night.

Jackson used the extraordinarily long halftime to clear his mind after a first half in which he didn’t feel like he played well. By his own admission, he left some plays that could have provided a lift to his team on the field.

“I needed to get my head right because I was getting frustrated with myself and everything around me,” Jackson said. “I needed a second to myself and I got that at halftime, and I came back out and showed how I play the game.”

On top of those plays, which were obviously, huge, West Virginia produced a goal line stand in the third quarter, which helped to keep the momentum solely on its side of the field.

West Virginia head coach B.J. Depew spent most of the week raving about his offensive unit. “The game didn’t go nearly the way I expected it,” Depew smiled. “We made tons of mistakes and they made tons of mistakes. Our defense and special teams really came through. It was just a battle by these kids and I am amazed how it went.”

And actually challenged his unit to break the scoring record for a single game.

Instead, the Mountaineers finished with 205 yards, most of which came from Wheeling Park product Beau Heller and a short passing game. Actually, Ohio’s defense stuffed West Virginia’s running game, holding it to minus 47 yards.

“We were fired up for our offense, but it was our defense that came through for us in a big way,” Depew said.

On top of the defensive touchdowns, the Mountain State stuffed Ohio on the 2-yard line in the third quarter after they finally found a little bit of rhythm.

OVAC NOTES

• BARNESVILLE’S Alana Trigg was crowned the Queen of Queens of halftime.

• NEW PHILADELPHIA was represented in the game for the first time since it joined the OVAC. Mitchell Stokey and Justin Rimer both played well for Ohio. Neither had even attended the game prior to this, but both came away totally impressed with the entire week and experience.