Wheeling, W. Va. – After building a 28-0 lead on Saturday, it would come down to the final seconds as a game-winning field goal with two seconds held off Glenville State for a 38-35 win. On Monday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) released their weekly Player of the Week honors, presented by The Healthplan, and two of the Cardinal heros were honored in the winning effort. Junior Defensive Back Leonard Sherrod III was named the MEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, while kicker Conor Fitzpatrick was named the MEC Special Teams Player of the Week to round out a big week on the field.
The Cardinals offense got started early and often on Saturday, scoring on their opening drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead. Wheeling would go on to score three more second quarter touchdowns, and expanded their advantage to 28-0 with 6:11 to go before the half. Glenville State would get on the board before the half let out, and Wheeling would hold a tidy 28-7 lead as the teams broke for the locker room. However, the second half would see the tables flip as Glenville State added a second touchdown in the third quarter, and 21 points in the fourth quarter. Wheeling would add one score of their own during the run and, with two seconds to go, the Cardinals sat on the Glenville State six-yard line. They would call on the field goal unit, and they got it done as the kick sailed through the uprights and Wheeling would walk away with a 38-35 win.
Leonard Sherrod is taking home his second MEC Player of the Week honor of the season, after being named the MEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Sherrod would put together his second double-digit tackle performance of the season, finishing with 10 total tackles, eight solo and two assisted, as he played a big part in the Cardinal's passing game. Sherrod also created the lone turnover of the day, finishing with an interception that helped him break the single-season interception record. It was his MEC-leading fifth interception of the season and brought his total passes defended to 11 on the season. He looks to finish the regular season strong as the Cardinal's battle for an NCAA DII playoff spot.
Conor Fitzpatrick is also taking home his second MEC Player of the Week honor this season, coming through when his team needed him most. With the Cardinals set up at the Glenville State six-yard line with two seconds to go, Fitzpatrick was called upon to attempt the game-winning kick. He sent the ball through the uprights, securing the 38-35 victory for the Cardinals. Along with his big field goal, Fitzpatrick would also go perfect on his PAT attempts on the day, hitting each of the five he attempted. In the kicking game, the sophomore finished with six kick-offs and averaged 59.2 yards per kick, as he helped the Cardinals win the field position battle on the day.
With Sherrod and Fitzpatrick winning honors, the Cardinals are taking home Conference Player of the Week honors for the 18th and 19th times this season. Sherrod and Fitzpatrick are both taking home their second awards this season, and join teammates Kameron Reynolds, Brett Jackson, Ade Olanegan, and Carter Blake in having been honored by the conference. Last week, it was Kameron Reynolds who took home the award, after being named the MEC's Defensive Player of the Week.
The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, November 15th, when they hit the road to face West Liberty with kick-off at noon.
