Wheeling, W. Va. – Until the final whistle blew on Thursday night, the Cardinals battled as they took on NCAA DI opponent Mercyhurst. The Cardinals came to within three points of the Lakers with just over two minutes to play, but that is as close as they got as they fell 28-25. The Cardinal offense totaled 349 yards of offense on the day and moved the ball effectively throughout the first half.
After trailing 21-17 entering the second half, the Mercyhurst defense clamped down, holding the Cardinals off the board for the first 27 minutes of the second half. Meanwhile, the Cardinal defense was just as effective, holding Mercyhurst to one touchdown over the final two quarters of play. The tides would turn in the Cardinals favor with 2:45 to go as Mercyhurst was trying to run out the clock. On 2nd and nine, running back Ernest Davis III would have the ball knocked out by Justin McIlwain at the Wheeling 20-yard line. It bounced right into the hands of Rodney Jackson who scooped the ball and ran 37 yards over the 50-yard line before being taken down. It would set up the Cardinals with a first and 10 at the Mercyhurst 43-yard line as Javon Davis and the Cardinal offense would take over.
After an incomplete pass on first down, Javon Davis would throw a short pass over the middle of the field to Tre Holloway who caught it and let his legs do the rest. He rushed his way past the Laker's defense and got into the endzone on a 33-yard run that made it a 28-24 game with 2:38 to play. The Cardinals would end up going for two, with the hopes of making it a three-point game, and they would do just that. Davis got the snap and handed the ball to Holloway on the end around, and Holloway leaped a pair of Laker defenders to make it a 28-25 game. Joao Lima would come out to attempt the onside kick, but Mercyhurst recovered at the Wheeling 48-yard line. The Cardinals defense continued to hold strong, setting up a third and nine with 2:00 to play, but a 14-yard crossing route from Adam Urena to Joe Kerbacher would seal the deal and Mercyhurst would kneel out the clock as the Cardinals fell 28-25.
It was a career day for wide receiver Tre Holloway, who set new career highs with six catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He got the scoring started for the Cardinals in the first half, while also coming up with two big plays late to get the Cardinals to within three points. Javon Davis had a strong 2024 debut in his return from injury, going 15-33 while throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He added 10 rushes of his own, picking up 61 yards, while Steven Mitchell led the rushing game with 12 carries for 41 yards. On defense, it was a big day for linebacker Jojo Holmes, who led the way with 12.0 tackles, four solo and eight assisted, as well as a tackle for loss. Jack Parry and Justin McIlwain finished right behind him with 7.0 tackles each and 0.5 tackle for loss each.
Right from the get-go the Wheeling offense made a statement. Davis got things started with a three-yard run and methodically led the offense down the field. The Cardinals would be set up with a second and three at their own 48-yard line when Davis dropped back into the shotgun. He threw a bullet across the middle of the field and Holloway did the rest taking it 52 yards for the first Cardinal score. Joao Lima kicked through the ensuing extra point and with 12:58 to go in the first it was a 7-0 Cardinal lead. Mercyhurst would respond on the ensuing drive to tie the game at 7-7. The two teams would end up trading punts on the next two possessions, and Trey Brady would pin Mercyhurst at their one-yard line with just over eight minutes to play.
The Cardinal's defense was able to hold for the rest of the quarter as both defenses stiffened and the score sat tied at 7-7 entering the second quarter. However, Wheeling was driving with the ball inside the Laker 20 at the end of the quarter and started things strong in the second. They would call on Lima, who booted through a 37-yard field goal to put the Cardinals back on top at 10-7. However, Mercyhurst would answer on the ensuing drive, marching 86 yards on 10 plays to retake the lead at 14-10. That score would stand for the next eight minutes before the Cardinals got on the board late in the half. On a drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock, Wheeling drove 74 yards down to the one-yard line where they sat at 3rd and Goal.
Davis received the shotgun snap and handed the ball right up the gut to Dawaun Green, who was stopped on the previous rush. This time, however, Green pounded his legs through a pair of Mercyhurst defenders and got into the endzone. Lima would put the ensuing extra point through, and Wheeling held a 17-14 advantage. With 1:48 to go in the half, Mercyhurst got the ball back and quickly went on a 60-yard drive that ended in a one-yard Brian Trobel touchdown run that put Mercyhurst right back on top 21-17. Wheeling had one more play before the half but ended up going into the halftime locker room down 21-17. They battled throughout the second half, but just didn't have enough to finish the night on top.
The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, September 7th, when they hit the road to face Walsh with kick-off at 7 PM.
