Box Score Wheeling, W. Va. – It was a hard-nosed defensive battle in North Canton, Ohio on Saturday night as the Wheeling University Football team (1-1, 0-0) hit the road to face Walsh. Just 24 total points were scored and for the first 29 minutes of play, neither team could breakthrough. However, it was the Cardinal defense that stood tall as Wheeling picked up its first win of the season over the Cavaliers 14-10.

As the second quarter clock ticked down, neither offense was able to gain any traction, with both defenses playing strong. Their were three total turnovers, two missed field goal attempts, and seven combined punts over the first 29 minutes of play. With 59 seconds left before halftime, Wheeling would get the ball at their own 26-yard line, with 74 yards standing between them and the end zone. Javon Davis and Tre Holloway would get the Cardinals going with connections of five and 25 yards as the Cardinals moved across midfield. A nine-yard completion to Dasyn Hores got the Cardinals to the Walsh 35-yard line and an 11-yard dash from Dawaun Green moved them to the 24-yard line with 15 seconds remaining before half. Two plays, and two Wheeling timeouts later, the Cardinals were set up at the Walsh 15-yard line with eight seconds to go.

Davis dropped back in the shotgun and connected with Steven Mitchell on a 15-yard touchdown strike that got Wheeling on the board as time expired. Joao Lima would come on to kick through the extra point and Wheeling went into halftime leading 7-0. After putting up just 28 yards of total offense in the first quarter, the Cardinal offense began to find their groove in the second quarter with 117 yards and the big score. On the defensive side, The Cardinals defense held Walsh to just 44 yards in the second quarter and forced two first quarter turnovers that stopped the Cavaliers in their tracks. As they came out for the second half, the Cardinals were looking to run with their first half momentum and add to their lead.

Wheeling's defense would hold Walsh to back-to-back three and outs to start the third quarter, before the Cardinal's offense got going again. Wheeling got the ball at the 11:35 mark of the quarter and a pair of short completions got the Cardinals past the 50 and into Cavalier's territory. Wheeling then turned to the ground game as Green broke off a pair of big runs that would get the Cardinals back on the board. On a first and 10 from the 15 yard line, Green would find a hole in the Walsh defense and ran 15 yards to the end zone for his second touchdown of the season. Lima kicked through the extra point and Wheeling pushed their lead to 14-0 with 8:15 remaining in the quarter. Walsh would get on the board on their next possession, driving 42 yards to the Wheeling 15-yard line where Trent Doerfler kicked a 33-yard field goal to make it 14-3.

Following the score, Walsh would successfully execute the onside kick, setting themselves up 1st and 10 at their own 48-yard line. Their ensuing drive would head into the fourth quarter, as they got down to the Wheeling 11-yard line. Two-plays later, Walsh's Jett Dalys found the end zone and the extra point made it a 14-10 game. After giving up back-to-back scores, the Cardinals defense stiffened in the fourth quarter, forcing two punts on the final two Walsh drives. Wheeling would get the ball with 5:44 left in the game and were able to run down the clock. Green picked up 44 yards rushing on the drive, including a 22-yard scamper that officially put the game out of reach. Wheeling would kneel the ball three times and secured the 14-10 win as they moved to 1-1 on the season.

On a night led by defense, the Cardinals were led by Jack Parry, who finished with nine tackles, three solo and six assisted tackles. The defensive line also came up big for the Cardinals, forcing two fumbles on the day that stopped Walsh drives. Nikale Martin and Tyriek Scrivner each forced fumbles on the day while finishing with two tackles each. For the offense, it was a career day for Dawaun Green, who carried the ball 14 times for a career-high 103 yards and a touchdown in the win. Javon Davis would finish 20-38, throwing for 168 yards and a touchdown, with Tre Holloway being his top target pulling in six catches for 60 yards. Steven Mitchell pulled in the other Cardinal touchdown with one catch for 15 yards.

The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, September 14th, when they hit the road to face West Virginia Wesleyan with kick-off at 6:30 PM.