Wheeling Central Looks Different As Knights Prepare For Playoffs
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WHEELING -- The high school football playoffs are right around the corner in the Mountain State, and for the Wheeling Central Maroon Knights, that means an opportunity to defend their WVSSAC Class A state championship.
Central (6-4) is in the Class A bracket as the No. 3 seed, going 5-1 to end their regular season, including a 35-33 win over Williamstown (9-1), themselves the No. 5 seed in the Class AA bracket, in the Maroon's regular season finale.
"We’ve definitely got the positive attitude, the right mindset to go out and play as hard as we can," Wheeling Central head coach Mike Young said of his team's preparation this week. "We have to make some adjustments because we lost our starting quarterback with a fractured collarbone."
Indeed, while Wheeling Central has rolled through the latter half of their regular season, everything changed for the Maroon Knights' future outlook after senior quarterback Nico Kusic went down shortly before halftime vs. Williamstown.
"We always say 'next man up,' and that’s what we’ve done," Young said. "Over the years, we’ve overcome different injuries and been able to go on and be successful. We’re looking at that the same way this year, but we got to take it one game at a time. That’s not a cliché. That’s just how it is. We got to take it one game at a time and go out and play as hard as we can each week."
In Kusic's stead, a pair of freshmen helped Wheeling Central to a win over the Yellow Jackets last week. Wyatt Stephens, who had been operating as a running back in the Central offense with 522 rushing yards and four touchdowns, took some snaps from behind center, as did backup quarterback Luke Bordas, who had seen limited playing time throughout the regular season.
"Without a doubt, they both stepped up," Young said of the pair. "Our kids rallied around them. For both of them, you could say, 'well, they’re both freshmen.' Well, we’re into the postseason now and they’ve got 10 games that they’ve practiced for and got ready for. So I don’t look at them as freshmen. I look at them as seasoned players that have stepped into new roles. And they definitely stepped in and did an admirable job last Friday night in somewhat of a hostile environment, somewhat of a packed house for a team that was 9-0 and they had to work within that type of atmosphere.
"I thought our kids were able to rise to the occasion. I think it says a lot about our team effort. We talk about character. I thought we showed a lot of character and a lot of heart. We had confidence in both those young men, and they’re good student-athletes and they’re good boys and they’re going to play hard."
Who they will have to play against is No. 14 Montcalm, who sport an identical 6-4 record-- though the six teams that the Generals defeated this year won a combined seven games. Young expects Montcalm to be ready for Friday.
"They have a young team, but they have nice size," Young said. "They got some good size up front, 6-4, 6-3, 6-6, nice-sized linemen, 240, 250 pounds. They have some skilled athletes and they play hard, they play aggressive. This is the first time in the history of their school to be in the playoffs, and they’re coming in Thursday, spend the night, probably work out up at Highlands Athletic Complex or someplace.
"But they’re a young team, they’re going to be hungry and aggressive, and they’re excited for their community, for their school to be in the playoffs. Hats off to them and their program. At the same time, you know, our kids have been here. They know what expectations are, and they’re always high, and we continue to keep it that way."
Friday will be the first-ever meeting between Wheeling Central and Montcalm.
The Maroon Knights' defense has been stout all season-- their 35-33 victory over Williamstown was just the second time all season that Central had allowed 30 points or more-- and with Kusic sidelined, Young's defense will certainly try and step their play up another notch.
Senior Dustin Sanner, while leading Central in rushing with 1,057 yards and 16 touchdowns, is also the team's leading tackler with 125 stops. Next up is fellow linebacker Trenton McCardle with 73. Young called the pair the "core of the front line," while also praising Dom Paesani, Olen Ames, Trent Lander, Seth Wodusky, Luca Benson, Cooper Jones and Brady Ernest-- who had a pick-six against Williamstown-- in his team's front-seven.
"They’ve done a Steady Eddy job all year long, working to get better all year long," Young said.
Brady Ernest leads the team in interceptions with three. McCardle is atop Central's sack leaders with three.
"We can bend, but we’re not gonna break," Young said. "Take away the long run, take away the long pass-- I’m more than pleased with the leadership that our seniors are showing, and they’ve shown our young underclassmen how to play, where to play, what to play."
As the playoffs dawn, Young also pointed out the season that Clay Petry, his placekicker, has put together. Petry has kicked four field goals and gone 37/37 on extra points.
"He’s had a phenomenal year with his extra points. He’s done an unbelievable job, he's scored close to 50 points between field goals and extra points all year. He puts us in a great position with not just kickoffs, but also his punting. He’s looking to go on to the next level, and he’s quite a young man."
Kickoff Friday is set for 7 p.m. inside Wheeling University's Bishop Schmitt Field.