Wheeling, W. Va. - After two thrilling come from behind wins in the previous two weeks, the Wheeling University Football team (4-5, 3-4) returned home looking to keep that magic alive. It would once again come down to the final few minutes of the game, but this time the comeback would fall just short as the Cardinals fell to the Pioneers 28-21. The Cardinals would outscore Glenville State 14-7 over the final 30 minutes of play, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals fell to 4-5 this season.
Early on, Glenville State showed why they are one of the top defensive fronts in the Mountain East Conference (MEC), holding the Cardinals to three-and-outs on each of their first three drives of the night. Meanwhile, Glenville State's offense would methodically move downfield, putting up two touchdowns and leading 14-0 after the first quarter. With the start of the new quarter, Wheeling was looking to get things going, after Jojo Holmes would force a fumble and gave the Cardinals the ball back at their own 19 yard line. However, on the ensuing possession, Glenville State would respond with an interception on the first play and Glenville State turned it into another touchdown that made it a 21-0 Glenville State lead. Wheeling would get the ball back with 5:14 to go before halftime and put together their biggest drive of the day.
They crossed the 50-yard line for the first time on a third and six when Landon Lutz hit Dasyn Hores for a first down at the Glenville State 42 yard line. This would get the Cardinals going as a 22-yard screen pass to Steven Mitchell got the Cardinals down to the Glenville State 19-yard line. Wheeling was still there two plays later and the Cardinals needed to draw up a big third down play. They would do just that as Lutz dropped back and found Hores crossing the back of the endzone to get the Cardinals on the board. Joao Lima kicked through the extra point and the Cardinals were on the board at 21-7. Glenville State would get the ball back with 34 seconds to go, but they would let the clock run out and the teams went into the locker room with the score sitting at 21-7.
After being shutdown for most of the first half, the Cardinals headed into the locker room looking for the right adjustments to get them back in the game. The Cardinals received the opening kick-off of the half and put together another solid drive, getting down to the Glenville State 30-yard line. However, a fumble would get Glenville State the ball back, shutting down the Cardinal momentum. Wheeling's Cameron McMillion would get an interception on Glenville State's next drive, and a pair of turnover on downs would end what was a defensive quarter. Wheeling would get the ball back with 49 seconds to go in the quarter and drove towards midfield as time expired and the score remained 21-7 at the end of the third quarter.
They would resume the drive as the fourth quarter began, and got down to the Glenville State 20-yard line. Lutz would connect with one of his most reliable receivers, finding Tre Holloway and the Cardinals cut it to a one-score game with 12:50 to play. After the defense got a stop on the following Glenville State drive and Wheeling was set up again on their own 25-yard line. The Cardinals would go to the short passing game to move the ball, with a pair of screen -passes that went for seven and 13 yards, before Lutz connected with Mitchell on a 25-yard pass that made it first and 10 at the Glenville State 30-yard line. Two plays later, Dawaun Green would get the ball and zig-zagged his way through the Pioneer defense and into the endzone. Lima's extra point would tie the game at 21-21 and the Cardinals would need one more defensive stop.
However, Glenville State's offense stepped up after being held down for the entirety of the second half. They drove 73 yards in just over five minutes, with the final play being a 2nd and Goal from the four-yard line. Anthony Garrett would connect with Naseem Pacheco on a three-yard touchdown that made it 28-21 Glenville State. With 2:37 to go, the Cardinals were in a similar position as the last two weeks, needing a last second drive to tie the game and hope for overtime. Wheeling would get good field position on the ensuing kick-off as Landon Hores took the ball to the Cardinal 40-yard line. The Cardinals would get up to the Glenville State 36 yard line and it would be a sack fumble that ended the game as Glenville State's Joshua Carr knocked the ball out and Hayden Moore jumped on the ball to bring the game to its final score of 28-21.
It was a defensive battle throughout the day, and the Cardinals were led by Jack Parry, who finished with nine tackles, five solo and four assisted. He was also a menace in the back field for the Cardinals, finishing with a tackle for loss and 0.5 sacks on the day to round out his efforts. The Cardinals would also get their 12th interception of the season as Cameron McMillion had his first interception of the year and Jojo Holmes finished with a forced fumble. Landon Lutz would get his third start of the season, and finished 16-30, throwing for 223 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Dawaun Green led the Cardinal ground game, carrying the ball eight times for 69 yards and a touchdown. Steven Mitchell was the Cardinal's top receiver on the day, pulling in five catches for 75 yards, while Tre Holloway and Dasyn Hores each finished with a touchdown.
The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, November 9th, when they hit the road to take on Concord with kick-off at 1 PM.
