Wheeling, W. Va. - After opening the 2025 season on the road, the Wheeling University Football team (0-2, 0-0) took Bishop Schmitt Field for the first time on Saturday night. It was a primetime non-conference match-up under the lights, as the Cardinals welcomed in Walsh University on what was their Cardinal Classroom supplies drive game. It was a record-breaking night for one Wheeling defender, but it wouldn't be enough as the Cardinals fell to the Cavaliers 31-15, dropping to 0-2 on the young season. 

The record breaking effort came courtesy of Leonard Sherrod III, who broke the single game record with 18 total tackles, four solo and 14 assisted. The effort helped propel the junior up the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tackles leaderboard, putting him second in the conference with 21 total tackles this season, sitting two behind West Virginia State's Mike Wilson for the conference lead. He broke the old record of 16, set last season by former Cardinal Jack Parry, and was one of four Cardinals to finish the night with double-digit tackles. Jefferson Breanys-Desca (12), Tyriek Scrivner (10), and Kameron Reynolds (10) each eclipsed the double digit tackle mark as the Cardinals swarmed to the ball throughout the night. It was the first time in Sherrod's career that he reached the double digit tackle mark, as he looks to continue growing in the Cardinal's defensive secondary.  

After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, Walsh would get the ball to start the game and immediately drove down the field. They would drive 49 yards down to the Wheeling 26-yard line, where they were set up with a 1st and 10. The Cavaliers would turn to play action, and quarterback Hayden Wickard would take the ball to the endzone himself as the Cavaliers took a 7-0 advantage. The first two Cardinal drives of the night would end in punts and Walsh took advantage getting back on the board with 2:59 to play in the first quarter. This time, Wickard would show off his throwing arm, connecting with Austin Knowles for a 29-yard touchdown, putting the Cardinals behind 14-0. Wheeling would be held off the board during the first quarter, and Walsh was driving down the field as time expired and Walsh held a 14-0 lead heading to the second. 

They would drive down to the Cardinal's 45-yard line before the Cardinal defense stiffened and forced a punt. On their next drive, Walsh would get to the Cardinal 15-yard line and called on kicker Jarrad Kerekes, who sent a 30-yard field goal through the uprights. It pushed the Cavalier lead to 17-0 with 7:53 to play before the half. Looking to change things up, Head Coach Zac Bruney turned to Ade Olanegan on the next drive and he immediately put a spark in the Cardinals. On his first play from scrimmage, he would connect with Hilton McClain Jr. On a 34-yard completion that set the Cardinals up in Walsh territory. After a five-yard run from Mitchell set up 2nd & 5, Olanegan showed off the arm again, connecting with McClain on a 35-yard out route that gave the Cardinals their first touchdown of 2025. Wheeling would get one more possession in the half, but couldn't make anything of it as they headed into the locker room trailing 17-7. 

Defense would rule the third quarter, with neither team able to get on the board during the 15-minute run. The Cardinals went back to Olanegan on the first drive of the new half, and he continued to connect with his receivers. He hit Bud Walker for a 12-yard pass up the middle and added a 16-yard pass to Landyn Hores down the sideline to set up a first down. The Cardinals drove to the Walsh 36-yard line, but would have to hand the ball back to the Cavaliers after turning over on downs. On their next drive, Olanegan and the offense drove down to the Walsh 28-yard line and Connor Fitzpatrick came in to attempt a 45-yard field goal. However, the kick sailed low and right and the score remained 17-7. The Wheeling defense was able to keep Walsh on their side of the field until the final seconds of the third quarter and the score remained 17-7. 

The Cavaliers continued their drive into the fourth quarter, taking the ball down to the Wheeling 17-yard line where Kerekes would attempt a 34-yard field goal. Defensive Lineman Dajuan Jones would get his hand up at the line and tipped the ball to force it wide left and keep the score at 17-7. However, after the Cardinals were held to a three-and-out, Wickard would sling his third touchdown pass of the day, finding Trey Martin for a 32-yard strike that extended their lead to 24-7. It was the first of back-to-back touchdown scoring drives for the Cavaliers, as Wickard's fourth touchdown of the day went to Austin Knowles and it was a 31-7 Walsh lead. Landon Lutz checked back in under center in the fourth quarter and would lead the Cardinals on one final touchdown drive. It started with a 38-yard connection that got the Cardinals into Walsh territory, and ended with a 34-yard pass over the middle to Alex Godavitarne that made it a 31-13 game. The Cardinals would lineup to go for two and Lutz would take it across the line and made it a 31-15 game. However, that is as close as the Cardinals would get as they fell 31-15 to end the day. 

Leading the Cardinal offense was Ade Olanegan, who finished 8-22 throwing for 151 yards and a touchdown on the day. It was a career night for the redshirt sophomore as he provided a spark to a Cardinal offense that was looking to get things going. Hilton McClain Jr. Would pull in the first touchdown of the 2025 season, pulling in two catches for 69 yards, and Alex Godavitarne would add two catches of his own for 39 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Steven Mitchell and Dawaun Green would split the carries, with Mitchell carrying the ball 11 times for 46 yards while Green carried the ball eight times for 17 yards. 

The Wheeling University Football team will return to action on Saturday, September 13th, when they travel to Lake Erie College with kick-off at 4 PM.