Wheeling, W. Va. - On Monday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) announced its weekly Players of the Week sponsored by the Health Plan. After their big win on Saturday over Alderson Broaddus, the Wheeling University Football team was honored for a big Special Teams play that made the difference. Redshirt Freshman Defensive Back Keenan Johnson has been named the MEC Special Teams Player of the Week after taking a blocked punt back for a touchdown to give the Cardinals the momentum early on.
After the Cardinals first touchdown of the day made it a 7-3 game, the Wheeling defense would force a Battler's three and out. Alderson Broaddus brought the punting unit on and were looking to pin Wheeling down deep in their own territory. However, the special teams unit had other ideas as linebacker Jack Parry burst through the line and blocked the punt. Johnson would then swoop in and recover the blocked punt at the Battler 29-yard line, taking it all the way to the endzone to increase Wheeling's lead to 14-3. It was a big momentum swing for the Cardinals as they made it a two-score game in the early going, helping them hold off the Battlers' offensive surge at the end.
Other than the blocked punt return for a touchdown, Johnson added another special team tackle on the day, running down the field on a third quarter kickoff for the tackle. Johnson has been a key special teams' player for the Cardinals this season and, through the first three games of the year, has totaled four tackles. He has also seen time on the defensive side of the ball as well, finishing with a tackle for loss and one pass breakup in the game against Seton Hill. He has been a key contributor to the team's 2-1 start this season and won the first MEC Player of the Week award of his career.
Keenan Johnson is the fourth Wheeling University Student-Athlete to be named an MEC Player of the Week, presented by the Healthplan, and the second member of the Wheeling University Football team to be honored. Last week, Volleyball's Allonda Watkins and Women's Golf's Emily Holzopfel each won Player of the Week honors after big performances on the court and on the course.
The Wheeling University Football team returns home on Saturday, September 24th, when they take on Glenville State with kick-off scheduled for noon at Bishop Schmitt Field.
