Wheeling, W. Va. – Ever since the 2020 season, the Wheeling University Football team (6-5, 5-4) has finished at least .500 or better every season. That winning record tradition continued in 2024, with the team finishing 6-5 overall and 5-4 in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play, finishing tied for fifth in the conference. After a slow start to conference play, the Cardinals turned it on over the final five weeks of the season to earn their fifth straight winning record.
Right from the get-go, the Cardinals were raising the bar on the level of competition they faced, taking on the newest NCAA DI program Mercyhurst. The Cardinals fell 28-25 and bounced back the next week with their first win against Walsh, 14-10. The MEC schedule began the next week, as the Cardinals hit the road to face West Virginia Wesleyan, and they started strong with a 52-14 win. However, after three straight losses, the Cardinals were looking for a turnaround and it would be a trip back home that got them going. Sitting 1-3 in the conference, Wheeling took down West Virginia State and followed with a primetime win over Frostburg State. Wheeling would end up winning four of their final five games, ending the run with a 40-16 win over West Liberty. The win got them over .500 for the first time since 2022, and kept their streak of winning football alive.
Whether on special teams or offense, the Cardinal's most dynamic threat was Tre Holloway, who earned First Team All-Conference honors as a wide receiver and Second Team honors as a Kick Returner. On offense, Holloway was one of the team's most dynamic threats, leading the team with 53 catches for 785 yards and 12 touchdowns. Holloway averaged over 14 yards per catch and finished the year with four 100-yard+ receiving games. In the return game, Holloway picked up the first two kick return touchdowns in program history, both coming against Fairmont State on September 28th. He finished with 620 kick return yards on the season and 110 punt return yards, proving himself as one of the most dangerous return men in the MEC.
On the defensive side, it was a breakout year for linebacker Jack Parry, manning the middle of the Cardinal defense. Parry broke the single season tackle record, finishing with 90.0 total tackles, leading the MEC. He proved himself an asset all over the field on defense, adding 2.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups along the way. Parry's biggest performance of the season came against West Virginia State, when he recorded 16 tackles, eight solo and eight assisted, while adding 0.5 tackles for loss. Parry finished his second season as a full-time starter for the Cardinals, and took charge of the defense. He earned First Team All-MEC honors for the first time in his career as he broke out in the middle of the Cardinal defense.
Along with their two leaders, the Cardinals had a plethora of strong showings throughout the season. The final Cardinal to earn First Team All-MEC honors was defensive back Justin McIlwain, who built off a strong freshman season. The sophomore defensive back finished with a team high four interceptions, while sitting third on the team with 58.0 total tackles. He was routinely lined up against the opponents top receiver and shut them down with five pass breakups. On the offensive side, running back Steven Mitchell led the ground game, earning Second Team All-MEC honors. Mitchell paced the Cardinal' ground game, rushing for 836 yards on 162 carries while scoring six touchdowns. Mitchell took on the role as a main running back for the first time in his career and flourished with the opportunity.
The Wheeling University Football team heads into the off-season as they prepare for spring ball to continue improving for the 2025 season.
