Glenville, W. Va. – Coming off the high of a Homecoming & Family weekend win, the Wheeling University Football team (4-3, 3-3) hit the road on Saturday to take on Glenville State. It was a hot start for the Cardinals, scoring 13 first half points and heading into the locker room with the lead, but it wasn't enough as they fell to Glenville State 27-13. It moved the Cardinals to 3-3 in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play this season as they continue this heavy road set in October.
This was a he that was all about defense throughout, with neither offense being able to sustain any success. After both teams were forced to punt on their first possessions of the night, the Cardinals defense got things going as Justin McIlwain intercepted a pass that put the Cardinals on the Glenville State 24-yard line. They moved the ball to the 18 where
Joao Lima was called on for a 35-yard field goal. He sailed it through the upright and the Cardinals found themselves staked to a 3-0 lead. Those three points would be the only points of the quarter as both teams punted on their ensuing drives. The Cardinals were staked to a 3-0 lead and looked to get things going as they headed into the second quarter. However, the Pioneers had the ball as the quarter expired and were driving towards the end zone.
They would cap off the drive in that second quarter as Alfred Menjor got across the goal line from eight yards out to give Glenville State a 6-3 lead. They missed the extra point attempt, which would keep the Cardinals within three points of the Pioneers. It would end up paying off as Wheeling got the ball back with 10:16 left before the half as they would attempt another field goal. Lima was good again, this time from 25 yards out, and the Cardinals had tied the game at 6-6. On their final drive of the quarter, the Cardinals put their best effort together with 3:15 left in the half. They drove 43 yards down to the Glenville State two-yard line, where
Tre'Ron Fullerton punched it in for the Cardinals touchdown. The extra point was good and Wheeling was riding high into halftime, leading Glenville State 13-6.
Wheeling would receive the opening kickoff of the second half and look to keep the momentum going, but unfortunately they were forced to punt on that first drive. Throughout the quarter, both defenses wreaked havoc as neither team was able to sustain anything. The Cardinals had another field go attempt, this time from 53 yards fall no good, and the Cardinals defense forced to turn over on downs for Glenville State on the Wheeling 23 yard line. However, it was a Cardinal fumble that set up the First of two First of two pioneer touchdowns during the quarter. The first came on a 39 yard touchdown pass by Glenville State's Anthony Garrett, And he would add a 25-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing Drive that put the Pioneers up 20-13.
That 20-13 score would remain as the quarter came to a close and wheeling entered the final 15 minutes of play down by seven. Glendale state had the ball once again to start the fourth quarter and scored their third consecutive touchdown as they went ahead 27-13 with 12:38 to play. The Cardinals would have three more drives in the game, but we're unable to find the end zone the rest of the afternoon. They had two turnover on downs and a punt ending their night. The Cardinals defense, was just a stout over those final 12 minutes not allowing Glenville State to add on and keeping Wheeling within two scores of the Pioneers for the rest of the night. In the end, the Cardinals would fall to Glenville State 27-13 as they evened their conference record in 3-3 heading into week 8.
Quarterback
Landon Lutz would get to start at quarterback for the third week in a row and finished 22-46 throwing for 189 yards in an interception. Running back
Tre'Ron Fullerton scored the loan Cardinal touchdown of the day and added 69 yards on the ground on 14 carries.
DaeDae Drummer let the Cardinals with 53 receiving yards on four catches while
Steven Mitchell pulled in a team high five catches for 42 yards. On the defensive side, Ahoeem Mitchell had a big day on the defensive line leading with eight tackles, six solo and two assisted, while Siverri Finsson added five tackles and a sack on the afternoon.
Joao Lima let the special teams unit, going 2-3 infield goal attempts, hitting from both 25 and 35 yards out.
After a bye week next week, the Wheeling University Football team will return to action on Saturday, October 28th, when they take on Notre Dame College with kickoff at noon.
