Wheeling University Storms By Thomas More In Second Half

Cardinals Make Saints March Back To Kentucky With 27-10 Loss

WHEELING - The old adage that it's not how you start, but how you finish came into play Saturday afternoon for the Wheeling University football team.

Trailing visiting Thomas More 7-0 at the half, the Cardinals made some adjustments and dominated the second half in posting a 27-10 victory on sun-splashed Bishop Schmitt Field.

"Our defense played outstanding. To hold a team to 10 points in a college football game is pretty rare," Wheeling head coach Zac Bruney said. "We held them to just seven points in the first half when we just couldn't really get out of our own way on offense. It's just the first game. You've got to work the wrinkles, but our vets played lights-out in the second half.

"I told the guys at halftime that our 'A' players have to play like 'A' players. Our best guys have to play their best, and they did.

"Landon (Lutz) got going in the second half. Duwaun Green started to find some opening space and Ayden McKinstry ran hard," Bruney noted. "We are very deep at running back."

The Cardinal racked up 284 of their 418 total yards in the second half.

One of those veterans Bruney was referring to was former Martins Ferry product Landyn Hores. The 6-4, 225-pound redshirt junior, caught two touchdown passes from his tight end spot to spark the second-half rally.

"He played like a four-year guy should," Bruney said of Hores. "He has the potential to be an all-conference tight end."

Wheeling took advantage of a muffed punt to set up shop at the Saints' 39 after Joe Respoli fell on the loose ball.

Hores, who finished with six receptions for 60 yards, had his first two-TD game since his days as a Purple Rider. He caught a 13-yard post pattern from Landon Lutz. Former John Marshall all-state kicker Conor Fitzpatrick banged the PAT through the uprights to make it 7-all.

On the ensuing kickoff, Bud Walker, a Wheeling Park grad who spent three years at Virginia Tech on a track scholarship, recovered a fumble at the Thomas More 15. However, the drive stalled before Fitzpatrick booted a 26-yard field goal to put the Cardinal ahead to stay, 10-7.

"That was a huge turnaround play right there," Bruney said of the fumbled kickoff.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Lutz rolled right before throwing back across the field to Hores who caught the ball at the 15 and sprinted towards the front corner of the end zone. Fitzpatrick's PAT bumped the margin to 17-7.

"Honestly, it was all on us at halftime," Hores said. "We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot and couldn't really get it (the offense) going. We made some adjustments at halftime and it was really awesome in the second half."

Fitzpatrick converted another 26-yard three-pointer as the margin increased to 20-7 with 7:29 left to play.

The Wheeling defense continued its suffocating play and Dawaun Green burst through a gaping hole in the middle of the line provided by center Peyton Hores, Landyn's younger brother, as the lead increased to 27-7 following Fitzpatrick's third PAT.

"It's nice to get the season started on a win which is what we wanted heading into this week," Landyn Hores added. "It feels good, but we still have to get better for next week against Walsh."

All three Hores boys were on the field last fall as Dasyn has since graduated, but Landyn feels blessed to be able to play with his siblings.

"It's really nice to have the ability to play with your brothers, especially your older brother," he said. "I just love playing football."

The Cardinal defense held Thomas More to 259 yards on 69 snaps, with most of that damage coming in the first half. The Saints could only muster 45 yards rushing on 25 carries and had minus 39 yards on tackles for losses. Wheeling also recorded 11 pass breakups, with Jacob Jones charting three to go along with five tackles. Awwaii Osinuga led the way with six tackles and a quarterback sack.

While Bruney was praising the offense and defense, he didn't leave out the special teams play.

"I thought we played pretty well in all three phases of the game," he noted. "On special teams we had four touchbacks on kickoffs and our return games and coverage games were good."

The Cardinals head to North Canton next Saturday to meet Walsh University, which held off a late West Liberty rally Thursday night for a 30-27 win. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Larry Staudt Field.

GAME NOTE

- Saturday's matchup was the first-ever between the Cardinals and Saints. Thomas More is located in Crestview Hills, Ky. about 16 miles southwest of Cincinnati.