Wheeling, W. Va. - It was a battle of two undefeated teams in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play at Bishop Schmitt Field as the Wheeling University Football team (3-3, 2-1) welcomed in The University of Charleston. It was a game ruled by defense, with a total of 33 points scored between the two teams, but the Golden Eagles just outlasted the Cardinals 20-13. Wheeling's special teams unit would account for eight of the 13 points on the day as the Cardinals took their first conference loss of the season.
The first quarter was dominated by defense as the team's traded punts on their first three possessions of the day. With 7:15 to go in the quarter, The Cardinals would drive 46 yards down to the Charleston 29-yard line and were set with a 2nd and 10. Ade Olanegan would try to get the ball over the middle to Jordan Kaiser, by instead it fell into the arms of Charleston linebacker Brian Jones, stopping the drive in its tracks. Charleston would get the ball back with 3:58 to go in the first quarter and would drive the ball down to the Wheeling 38-yard line before the quarter came to an end. The score still sat at 0-0, but Charleston was looking to break through with the first points of the day.
They continued their drive into that second quarter and ate up two more minutes of the clock before setting up 3rd and 10 at the Wheeling 18-yard line. Ean Harric would end the drive as he threw a slant route to Devin Hobbs to the endzone and the Golden Eagles would go up 7-0. The Cardinals would go three and out on their next possession, but with 9:28 to play the Cardinals would put together their biggest drive of the first half. Facing 3rd and seven at their own 18-yard line, Olanegan would connect with Kaiser for 46-yards as he worked his way down to the Golden Eagles 20-yard line yard. Wheeling would take advantage of a Golden Eagle's Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty and set up kicker Conor Fitzpatrick at 4th and 12 from the 15. Fitzpatrick would send through the 32-yard field goal and Wheeling cut Charleston's lead to 7-3.
However, on the ensuing kick-off, Charleston's Caleb Barringer returned the kick-off 95 yards for a touchdown and the score was quickly flipped to 10-3. Charleston would add one more field goal before the halftime break, and the Cardinals went into halftime trailing 17-3. The third quarter would be another defensive battle, with the Cardinal defense holding the Golden Eagles at bay. Special teams created a turnover with 6:38 to go, as Leonard Sherrod forced a fumble that was recovered by Tazio McQueen at the Wheeling 47-yard line, giving new life to the Cardinal offense. Fitzpatrick would attempt a 35-yard field goal, but it would miss the mark and after three quarters of play, the score would sit strong at 17-3.
On their first possession of the fourth quarter, Charleston would tack on three more points and led 20-3 with 10:35 showing on the clock. The Cardinals would get the ball back and took advantage of a Charleston pass interference call to get to the 50-yard line. Olanegan would connect with tight end Landyn Hores on a few short passes over the middle as the Cardinals set up 1st and 10 at the 16 yard line. Steven Mitchell would take the ball from there, running off left tackle for 16 yards and the first Cardinal score of the day. Fitzpatrick would sail through the extra point and the Cardinals cut the lead to 20-10. Wheeling would continue to trail by 10 with under a minute to play, and Fitzpatrick was called on for a field goal again. He would send through the 35-yard kick and brought the game to its final score of 20-13.
It would be a big day for the Cardinal defense, with Jefferson Bretanys-Desca and LEonard Sherrod III leading the way. They each finished with 11 tackles on the day, with Desca leading the team with five solo tackles and Sherrod leading the way with seven assisted tackles. Ade Olanegan would lead the offense, finishing 16-41, throwing for 239 yards, with his top target being Landyn Hores, who pulled in five catches for 89 yards. The ground game was led by Steven Mitchell, who carried the ball nine times for 63 yards and the lone Cardinal touchdown on the day. Conor Fitzpatrick rounded out the day, going 2-3 on field goals while making the only PAT of the day.
The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, October 18th, when they hit the road to face West Virginia State with kick-off at noon.
