Wheeling, W. Va. - After a back-and-forth homecoming battle with West Virginia State that ended in an overtime loss, the Wheeling University Football team (3-4, 2-2) is looking to break out of a short two-game skid. They will look to do so when they hit the road on Saturday to take on Frostburg State with kick-off at 3 PM. Each of their last two games have been decided by one score, and the Cardinals are looking to come out on the positive side of the swing on Saturday.
The Cardinals would host their annual Homecoming & Family Weekend game last Saturday when they welcomed in West Virginia State to Bishop Schmitt Field. It was a tale of two halves, with the offenses both finding the end zone in the first half, before defense took over for the final 30 minutes. Wheeling would get into the endzone on their opening drive, but West Virginia State would answer on their next drive to even things at 7-7. That would be the score at the end of the first quarter, and the Cardinals would take the lead back to start the second quarter. There would be 24 points combined and the teams headed into the locker room with the Cardinals trailing 21-17. As they came out of the locker room, the Yellow Jackets added a field goal in the third quarter to make it a seven-point game before the Cardinals got the game tying score with 7:52 to go. The game would head to overtime, where West Virginia State would get into the end zone to pick up the 30-24 win.
It was a day led by the running game, with the two teams combining for 299 yards on the ground throughout the day. Leading the effort for the Cardinals was Dawaun Green, who finished with 23 carries for 116 yards in the effort. It would be the third 100+ yard effort for Green on the season, and the first since October 3rd, when he rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown against West Virginia State. Green has been a consistent presence in the backfield sitting fourth in the conference averaging 73.6 yards/game, while having the fifth most total rushing yards at 515. Along with his work in the ground game, Green would also be a presence in the passing game for his team, bringing in three catches for 27 yards on the afternoon. Green looks to continue to lead the Cardinal rushing attack as the offense looks for more consistency in week eight.
On the defensive end, it was a career-best day for Frederick Woodfork, who set a new career-high with eight total tackles, three solo and five assisted. He played a key role in controlling one of the best run games in the MEC, finishing with 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack on the day as he disrupted the Yellow Jacket backfield. Woodfork looks to continue being a leader on the defensive line as the season goes on. Leading the offense was Landon Lutz, who finished with both of the rushing touchdowns on the day, while going 13-22, throwing for 128 yards and a touchdown. He would finish with 143 all-purpose yards on the day, and played a part in each of the three Cardinal touchdowns on the day. He sits as the conference's second-leading passer, throwing for 1,569 yards as he continues to lead the Cardinal offense.
As they enter the final four-week stretch of the season, the Cardinals are taking it one week at a time, looking to go 1-0 every week. The Cardinals currently sit in a tie for fifth in the conference, sitting 2-2 with Fairmont State. Over the final four weeks of the season, the Cardinals will play three of the top four teams in the MEC, with a chance to make-up ground in the standings. Over the next two weeks, the Cardinals will head on the road to face Frostburg State and Concord, who each sit tied for third with a 3-2 record in MEC play. Wheeling is looking to get back to .500 on the road, where they currently sit 1-2, and have gone 1-1 on the road so far in October. They look to finish the season one week at a time and work their way through their final two games of October.
The Match-up
The Cardinals and Bobcats are meeting for the eighth time in program history, with Frostburg State leading the all-time series at 5-2. In three previous trips to Frostburg State, the Cardinals are 1-2 compared to a 1-3 record when they host the Bobcats. The Cardinals have averaged just 19.29 points per game in the all-time series, with the teams having split each of the four previous meetings between the two teams.
The last meeting between the two teams came on October 25, 2025, in a game that Frostburg State would win 31-13. Former Cardinal Ade Olanegan would lead the offense, finishing 8-19, throwing for 128 yards and two touchdowns. His top target was former Cardinal Alex Godavitarne, who pulled in two catches for 37 yards and a touchdown, while Dawaun Green had eight carries for 48 yards. Former Cardinal Jefferson Bretanys-Desca led the defensive effort, finishing with 14 total tackles, four solo and 10 assisted, while adding 0.5 sack an interception, and a pass break-up.
The Details
Kick-off for Saturday's game is scheduled for 3 PM inside Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Frostburg State. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
