WHEELING, W.Va. (July 30) - Last year was fun.
 
Wheeling won all eight of its exhibition games and out-scored opponents 315 to 68 in the school's first taste of college football last fall.
 
Despite the lopsided scores and the sometimes-unusual circumstances, including an opposing quarterback in a "no-contact" jersey, Head Coach Zac Bruney knows that each snap helped the Cardinals get better as they prepared for 2019.
 
"It helped us more than not playing," said Bruney, now in his third year since being named the program's first-ever head coach in 2017. "We could have just practiced or jumped right into a varsity schedule, but the way we did it was the best way to do it for us. It helped us grow and develop the way we needed to. Anytime you can compete, that predicates improving."
 
2019 will be "full-contact".
 
The exhibition season allowed Bruney and his squad one major benefit: a true offseason.
 
"Our guys got better throughout the winter and in the spring," Bruney said. "I thought we got bigger, stronger, and we got faster and quicker; which is what you want in an offseason training program." 
 
Bruney added that spring practices helped the team get better, because they understood the pace of practice and the expectations of the coaching staff. 
 
Although the team will embark on the program's inaugural season as a NCAA Division II member and play a full Mountain East Conference (MEC) slate, Bruney says the goal is the same. 
 
"We want to be 1-0 each week. Win or lose you can't dwell for more than 24 hours. Each week will be a new challenge and you either get better or worse. You can't stay the same."
 
The first week will present a unique set of circumstances of its own. Wheeling will host rival-school West Liberty in the program's inaugural game. Bruney noted that he has already exchanged film with the Hilltoppers and that the game will be great for the Ohio Valley.
 
"It's exciting for the school and our program and their program and this area to have a college football game between two rival schools in the Ohio Valley to kick off the season."
 
It will be nearly three seasons since Bruney paced the sidelines in an "official" college football game, but he is more eager for his staff and players to experience the upcoming season.
 
"I'm excited for our guys. I'm excited for the guys returning that have gone through the ups and downs and rigors of the school. The guys who have stuck with us and believe in what we are doing, believe in themselves, and believe in the opportunity to do something pretty unique and special."
 
"And the University as a whole. I'm excited to represent our university and our conference moving forward with a football program that everyone can be proud of and know that we are trying to do things the right way."
 
OFFENSE
The Cardinal offense under Bruney averaged 39.3 points per game during the 2018 exhibition season. The up-tempo unit torched opposing defenses with a balanced attack on the ground and in the air.  
 
QUARTERBACK
Sophomore Tucker Strachan (Kensington, Md./Bullis) took the majority of the snaps under center last season and will enter camp as the clear-favorite to be the team's starting quarterback week one. In the team's toughest test, Strachan was 24 of 31 for 288 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the 23-20 win against Mount Union's JV team.
 
Sophomore Tyler Sprouse (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell) saw plenty of action as well and will compete for a chance to start. Bruney said Sprouse was someone who "improved a lot" from the end of fall through spring ball.
 
Bruney also added that freshman Brennon Norris (Wintersville, Ohio/Indian Creek) has been working all summer and is hungry to compete after missing the majority of his senior season in high school due to injury.
 
RUNNING BACK
Bruney calls his tailbacks the "deepest position on offense" and big things are expected from sophomores Sy Alli IV (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) and Cam'Ron McClain (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg). The duo combined to score 14 touchdowns and average nearly six yards per carry (YPC) during the exhibition contests last year.
 
Bruney noted that sophomore Tyler Browning (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) had a great offseason and the staff is excited about what he can provide for the unit.
 
A loaded group of incoming freshmen will also push for playing time. Brady Kolb (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville), Caleb Mitchell (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville), Jarin Curtis (Massillon, Ohio/Perry), and Elijah Young (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne) all bring a different skill set to the table, but Bruney believes that all four are capable of playing this season.
 
WIDE RECEIVER / TIGHT END
The wide receiver group is highlighted by the return of sophomores Jake Keenan (Toronto, Ohio/Toronto) and Ryan Lafollette (Woodsfield, Ohio/Monroe Central). Bruney said that both players are dynamic and continued to grow in the spring following their performances in the fall.
 
The unit will have "home run" speed on the outside in the form of senior Jack Fitch (Martins Ferry, Ohio/Martins Ferry) and sophomore Juan Mendoza (Odenton, Md./Mount St. Joseph). Fitch and Mendoza were both members of the Wheeling Jesuit 4x100-meter relay team that won the event in record-time at the MEC Championships in the spring.
 
Bruney might also get a boost from transfer JaQuaun Davidson (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward). Davidson is a former all-state blue chipper who started his career at the University of Pittsburgh and is returning to the playing field after recovering from an injury last year.  
 
At tight end, Strachan will have a pair of big targets in 6-5 sophomore Tristan Ballard (Boardman, Ohio/Sharon (Pa.)) and 6-4 sophomore Lyle Clark (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont). The coaching staff is counting on both guys to be capable blockers in the running game, but also a threat in the passing game. 
 
OFFENSIVE LINE
Although the group up front is young, Bruney noted that they seem physically ready for the rigors of the MEC. 
 
Sophomores Aaron Hess (Morristown, Tenn./Morristown Hamblen), Tim Trump (Frederickstown, Pa./Beth-Center) and Zach Ekey (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville) will be counted on for leadership and are expected to anchor the line.
 
In addition to sophomore Jalen Dickerson (Germantown, Md./St. John's), Bruney will have to count on a group of incoming freshmen to play right away. Those freshmen include Cade Raudebaugh (Wooster, Ohio/Norwayne), Keonte' Holmes (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville), Eric Lyle (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights) and Casey Bekemeier (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central).
 
DEFENSE
On paper the defense did not appear to be tested much last year, but Bruney says the tape from Hocking, Mount Union and their scrimmage to open the year with Cornell was invaluable.
 
"Cornell right out of the gate was a very big physical team and what you would expect from an FCS freshman-sophomore group," Bruney said. "Competition wise our guys did a good job of rising to meet the higher level of competition that we played."
 
The defense will need to rise to that level each week in the MEC, where three teams ranked nationally among the top-25 in total offense.
 
DEFENSIVE LINE
The coaching staff said that the front four are some of the hardest workers on the team. Bruney noted that they have the talent to play at a high level in the MEC. The depth behind them will be mostly first-year players that will need to be ready early, both physically and mentally. 
 
 
Sophomores Brandon Munoz (Halethorpe, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) and Brody Lundeen (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) return on the edge, while Myckel Brown (Washington, Pa./Washington) and Jordan White (Kennesaw, Ga./Lassiter) anchor the interior. Bruney praised their development this offseason, not only on the physical side, but from a maturity and leadership standpoint.
 
Sophomore James Reese III (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) was primarily a linebacker, but the staff says he is versatile enough to be an effective rush end and provide another option up front.
 
Bruney is excited about the incoming freshmen, but notes that they will need to be ready to learn the defense as quickly as possible once they arrive on campus.

LINEBACKER
Bruney said he feels really good about the depth his team has at linebacker. 
 
He specifically had high praise for sophomores Ryan Gorman (Millersville, Md./Mount Saint Joseph), Sam Serrano (Washington, D.C./St. John's) and Jayvon Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Md./Largo). Gorman was all over the field last fall and will be expected to be one of the leaders. Bruney called Serrano a "cerebral" player with great instincts for the position.
 
Bruney added that sophomore Cody Anderson (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding) may see time in a hybrid role and that St. Francis (Pa.) transfer Carlton Taylor (Hyattsville, Md./DeMatha) is also in the mix.
 
Bruney commended his staff for their work on the recruiting trail and believes that at least four incoming freshmen are capable of stepping in and getting reps.
 
SECONDARY
Bruney feels that the secondary is one of the deepest and most talented positions on the roster. He had high praise for Defensive Coordinator Mott Gaymon and Safeties Coach Justin Kropka for developing and working with the unit.
 
Sophomores Rich White (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edwards) and Aaron Finch (Atlanta, Ga./Langston Hughes) are dynamic and athletic and expected to hold down the two corner positions. Bruney said that White has all of the physical tools and is a "bona fide leader" in the secondary.
 
The unit also welcomed a pair of newcomers during spring practice in redshirt-sophomore Jermichael Isom (Gadsden, Ala./Gadsden City) and Jonny Hayden (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville) and both will push for playing time. 
 
Bruney also feels really good about his safeties, which include sophomores Max Baker (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry), Chris Canaday (Forestville, Md./DuVal), Jermaine Flowers (Upper Marlboro, Md./Largo) and Kishaun Carroll (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid).
 
"All of them are young, but the talent and leadership is there for them to be a great group for us."
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
It will be sophomore kicker Matt Greenwood's (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) job to lose entering camp. Although Bruney notes that Greenwood is a better kicker than punter, he also expects the former Red Devil to enter the season handling both duties.
 
Senior Jack Fitch will also push Greenwood at punter, but the team will be looking to add depth to the position before the season starts.
 
Last season in a contest against Ashland's JV team, sophomore Aaron Finch had a 64-yard punt return touchdown and returned the next punt 71 yards to setup another score. His dynamic ability in the return game will be looked to once again to provide the team with a spark.
 
In addition to Finch, Sy Alli, Ryan Lafollette and Juan Mendoza are all in the mix to return kicks as well.
 

2019 WHEELING UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 

September 7    WEST LIBERTY*    1:00 p.m.

September 12 (THU)    at Fairmont State*    7:00 p.m.

September 19 (THU)    URBANA*    7:00 p.m.

September 28    at West Virginia Wesleyan*    1:00 p.m.

October 5    CHARLESTON*    1:00 p.m.

October 12    McKENDREE (Homecoming)    1:00 p.m.

October 19    at Notre Dame (Ohio)*    1:00 p.m.

October 26    FROSTBURG STATE*    1:00 p.m.

November 2    at Glenville State*    12:00 p.m.

November 9    WEST VIRGINIA STATE*    12:00 p.m.

November 16    at Concord*    12:00 p.m.

HOME GAMES IN CAPS
*MEC Game