Wheeling, W. Va. - After weeks of preparation, the hottest college football rivalry in the Ohio Valley is set to kick-off on top of the hill this Saturday. The Wheeling University Football team (5-2, 4-2) takes on West Liberty in Mountain East Conference (MEC) action on Saturday with kick-off at 1 PM. It will be the fourth edition of "The Battle for Wheeling" this season and Wheeling Football is looking to keep the Cardinal's winning ways alive in the rivalry.
Last time out, the Cardinals picked up a bounce back win at Bishop Schmitt Field when they took down Frostburg State 31-27. The Cardinals started out fast in that game, needing just four plays to drive 75 yards on their first drive and go ahead 7-0 on a Javon Davis touchdown run. They had similar success on their second drive when Sy Alli found the endzone on a three-yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Cardinals. The Bobcats would score two unanswered touchdowns and it looked like Wheeling would head into the locker room behind. However, Davis connected with Steven Mitchell on a 48-yard touchdown pass and Keenan Johnson recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown as Wheeling went into halftime up 28-24. The Cardinals managed just a Matt Greenwood field goal in the second half, but the defense was able to hold strong to pick up the victory.
The offense was sparked early in the game when the Cardinals went with an up-tempo offense, led by Quarterback Javon Davis. Davis had his best game in a Cardinal's uniform, going 14-30 while throwing for 297 yards and a touchdown in the win. Of those 14 completions, five of them went for 20 or more yards, including two big strikes to Chris Canaday in the game. Canaday was Davis's top target, pulling in four catches for 127 yards, while Lowell Patron added four catches of his own for 80 yards. The running game has been the leader for the Cardinals in the early going of the 2022 season, and now the passing game is trying to step up to match their intensity.
However, when the offense stopped, the defense was able to pick up for them and hold the Bobcats when they needed it most. Frostburg State would have two fourth quarter drives trailing by just four points, and both times Wheeling was able to hold them. The first drive ended in a missed Bobcats field goal, and the second saw defensive back Fabian McNichols leap up to grab the interception that sealed the game. The defensive unit was led by linebacker Jason Simon, who went over the 10-tackle mark for the second consecutive week. Simon finished the afternoon with 12 tackles, six solo and four assisted, and 1.5 tackles for loss. Fellow linebacker Jason Simon also had a big day, finishing with eight tackles, six solo and two assisted, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.
The race for the 2022 MEC Championship is coming down to the wire and Wheeling is right in the thick of it with the best in the conference. Notre Dame College and Concord still sit atop the conference, each going 5-1 in their six games, and Wheeling and UNC Pembroke sit right below them at 4-2. With four weeks remaining in the MEC schedule, the chase is on to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Cardinals are looking to make their first trip there in program history but will focus on one week at a time as they try to climb the ladder. Sitting one game below them is their Saturday opponent West Liberty at 3-3 as they look to catch the Cardinals. It makes for an exciting day of action on Saturday as the Cardinals look to best their rivals.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Hilltoppers are meeting for the fourth time in program history on Saturday, with the Cardinals leading the all-time series at 2-1. It will mark the second time the teams have met at West Liberty, with the Cardinals winning that first meeting during the COVID shortened 2020 season. It has been a high-scoring series for the Cardinals, who are averaging 32.67 points through the first three meetings and have scored 30 or more points in all those meetings.
Last time the two teams met was last October when the Cardinals won a thrilling Homecoming matchup 26-20 in overtime. Sy Alli scored the game-winning score in overtime and led the ground game with 87 yards on 20 carries and two scores. Richard White also produced a big interception in overtime and finished with two tackles. Former Cardinal Brennon Norris had a big day passing the ball, going 17-33 with 187 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
The Details
Kick-off for Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 PM at West Family Stadium on the campus of West Liberty University. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
