Wheeling, W. Va. - With September behind them, the Wheeling University Football team (2-2, 1-1) looks to turn the page as the calendar turns to October. They play the second of back-to-back home games on Saturday, welcoming in UNC Pembroke to Bishop Schmitt Field for kick-off at noon on Saturday. Wheeling is looking to bounce back after coming out on the wrong end of a back and forth offensive battle a week ago.
The Cardinals hosted Fairmont State last week, and the two offenses went off scoring a combined 101 points in the contest. Fairmont State scored on the game's opening drive and Wheeling responded with the first-ever kick return touchdown in school history. It was a mix of offensive firepower and special teams magic that led the teams through the first half, and by halftime things were evened up at 35-35. Wheeling would take the advantage coming out of the locker room, scoring on the first play of the half and the two teams would pull even again at 42-42. The fourth quarter saw the Cardinal's defense stiffen, and Wheeling held the lead at 49-42 heading into the fourth quarter. It was a lead they would carry until the final minute of play as a 53-yard Falcon touchdown was enough to sink the Cardinal's 52-49.
The undoubted leader of the day for the Cardinals was kick returner Tre Holloway, who finished with a combined 344 all-purpose yards and three of his team's six touchdowns on the afternoon. His biggest impact would come in the kick return game, where he scored the first two kick-off return touchdowns in program history. He would total five kick returns for 288 yards and two touchdowns, with both of those kick return touchdowns going for 90+ yards. He would also be a part of a crucial Cardinal scoring drive 10 minutes into the third quarter, pulling in a 21-yard touchdown catch that put the team up 49-42, a lead they would hold until the final minutes of play. For his efforts, Holloway was named the MEC's Special Teams Player of the Week, winning the honor for the first time in his career.
The Cardinal's rushing game combined for their biggest performance of the season so far, carrying the ball 34 times for 197 yards and a touchdown. The biggest effort came from Steven Mitchell, who carried the ball 19 times for 127 yards and a touchdown. After setting a career-high in the win against West Virginia Wesleyan, Mitchell broke the PR again, with his biggest run being the 60-yard scamper just after halftime that opened the second half scoring. In the passing game, Chris Charles put together a season-best day, pulling in four catches for 104 yards. Even though he didn't find the endzone, Charles provided a much-needed spark for the Cardinals that helped set them in good field position throughout the day.
After being road warriors throughout the month of September, the Cardinals get several opportunities at Bishop Schmitt Field over the final seven weeks of the season, playing four of their final seven at Bishop Schmitt Field. With a full Mountain East Conference (MEC) schedule from here on out, the team is making a push to claim the MEC title for the first time in program history. As it sits now, the Cardinals sit tied for fifth in the conference with a 1-1 record and are just one game behind Charleston, Frostburg State, West Virginia State, and Glenville State for the top spot in the conference. The team looks to catch fire late in the season, with each of the four teams a top the conference remaining on the Cardinal's schedule.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Braves will be meeting for the fourth time in program history on Saturday, with UNC Pembroke holding a 3-0 record against the Cardinals. It is the second meeting between the two teams in Wheeling, with UNC Pembroke winning that matchup back in 2022. The Cardinals have averaged 21.33 points per game in the all-time series, and have scored 20 or more points in each of the previous three meetings between the two teams.
In their most recent meeting, the Cardinals traveled to Pembroke, North Carolina, in a game that the Braves won 41-20. Leading the way for the Cardinals was Landon Lutz, who finished 20-43, throwing for 239 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. On the defensive side, it was Dalton Hoover pacing the Cardinal effort, finishing with nine tackles on the day including a sack and a tackle for loss.
The Details
Kick-off for Saturday afternoon's game is scheduled for noon at Bishop Schmitt Field. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
