Wheeling, W. Va. - On Saturday, the Wheeling University Football team wrapped up their 2023 home schedule with a big win as they took down West Virginia State 29-22. The team was awarded in this week's Mountain East Conference (MEC) Players of the Week as the Cardinals took home two of the three awards. Defensive Lineman Caleb Grant earned MEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors while Punter Trey Brady was named the MEC's Special Teams Player of the Week for their efforts in the win.
The Cardinals honored their seniors in their final home game of the 2023 season and, after falling behind early, were able to battle their way back into the game. After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Cardinals came back with 29 unanswered points between the second and third quarter. Included in that was a two-point conversion on the team's second touchdown of the day that saw Brady scamper into the endzone on a fake extra point attempt to put the Cardinals up 15-14 before halftime. The Yellow Jackets put up a fight at the end of the game, driving into the Cardinal's redzone with a seven-point deficit. The Cardinals defense came up with a big stop and Wheeling evened their conference record at 4-4 heading into the final week of the regular season.
Redshirt sophomore Caleb Grant was named the MEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, earning the first conference player of the week award of his career. He was a menace to the Yellow Jackets throughout the afternoon, finishing with 10.0 total tackles, six solo and four assisted, to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. The 10.0 tackles were a new career-best for the redshirt sophomore and his 4.5 tackles for loss also represented a career-high. However, one of his biggest plays of the day came on the final Yellow Jacket drive of the day. The team was set up inside the Cardinal's 20-yard line and A False Start would push them to the 26-yard line and on the very next play, Grant would come back and get his second sack of the day, forcing a 3rd and 28. It would end up being a big play as the Yellow Jackets would finish the drive with a turnover on downs, leading to the Cardinal's win.
Junior Trey Brady joined him on the Player of the Week list, being named the MEC's Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career. He played a big role in backing the Yellow Jackets deep in their own territory. He had three punts on the day totaling 137 yards for an average of 45.7 yards per punt. Of his three punts, two landed inside the 20-yard line and both of those punts were 50+ yard kicks. However, his biggest play of the day came towards the end of the second quarter when he converted on his two-point conversion attempt to give Wheeling a 15-14 lead. He received the snap and took off to his right around the tackle. He bulldozed his way into the endzone to complete the conversion and give the Cardinals the lead for good.
Grant and Brady were the 13th and 14th Wheeling University student-athletes to earn conference player of the week honors this season. They are the third and fourth Wheeling University Football players to be honored, joining teammates J.R. Atkinson and Joao Lima in earning the award. It is the second straight week that the Cardinals took home the MEC Special Teams Player of the Week award, after Atkinson took home the award a week ago.
The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, November 11th, when they take on West Liberty at 1 PM.
