WHEELING, W.Va. – The Glenville State Football team prevailed Saturday (Nov. 7) afternoon with a resilient 38-34 win at the league's second-place team, Wheeling. The Pioneers totaled nearly 400 yards of total offense and converted seven third downs to end their seven-game skid and move to (2-8, 1-6 MEC).
1st Quarter
First-year head coach
Jake Casteel mentioned on his show this past week that he wanted his team to start fast, and the Pioneers did just that. A muffled snap on the first play from scrimmage allowed
Wesley Brown Jr. to fall on it and give GSU the ball. Five plays later,
JD Sherrod ran in a six-yard score, giving GSU a 7-0 lead. On the next possession, Landon Lutz' pass deflected off a Wheeling receiver and fell right into the hands of
Ty Wickliffe as the redshirt senior took it back 45 yards for the pick six.
2nd Quarter
The Cardinals got on the board two minutes into the second quarter, as O'Marion Taylor scored on a 17-yard rush. The extra point would be blocked, with the scoreboard reading 14-6. Following a pair of empty drives, Glenville State went back up by two scores when Sherrod found the endzone on the ground for the second time on a four-yard scamper. Ayden McKinstry scored from 32 yards out on the ensuing drive, making it 21-13.
Right before half, the Cardinals made it a one-point game with another McKinstry touchdown.
3rd Quarter
Glenville State quickly scored out of the break, as 15-yard penalty on the opening kick of the half gave GSU prime field position at their own 48-yard line. Two plays later, Sherrod found speedster
Caden Harris streaking down the field for a 39-yard touchdown connection. Not too long after, Wheeling finally erased the 14-point deficit they had early with a 79-yard touchdown run from McKinstry. The two-point conversion would be successful, making it 28-28.
The Pioneers moved the ball down the field before sending out the field goal unit at the 10-yard line, but the frontline of the Cardinals blocked the attempt. Wheeling then took their first lead of the game with 57 seconds left in the quarter on a 24-yard field goal.
4th Quarter
GSU opened the final stanza with a 36-yard field goal from
Brody Layman to tie it up at 31 apiece. The teams continued to trade field goals, as WU went up by three once again with a 31-yard field goal from Connor Fitzpatrick.
A big 47-yard connection between Sherrod and Harris put the Pioneers near the redzone, however, a trio of strong stops from Wheeling setup a 4
th and 12. Coach Casteel opted to go for it rather than kick the long field goal, and it worked out perfectly for the visiting team. On the run and evading pressure, Sherrod threw across his body to find
Triston Walker in the endzone for a 29-yard score.
The Pioneer defense pieced together two huge stops to close the game, first sending the Wheeling offense to the sideline on a
Bryson Oliver breakup on 4
th and 5 before winning the game on a 4
th and 10 from the 11-yard line as time expired when
Maddox Gillespie pressured Lutz out of the pocket and forced a bad throw out of bounds.
Final Stats
Wheeling
Landon Lutz threw for 235 yards and one interception on 21-of-34 passing. Ayden McKinstry starred for Wheeling, rushing for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 17 attempts. O'Marion Taylor added 40 yards and a TD as well. McKinstry also led the receiving core with 80 yards on six receptions and Solo Love had five catches for 56 yards. Joe Rispoli led the defense with 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss while Dilon Shadie logged nine stops and a TFL.
Glenville State
JD Sherrod threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns, completing 23 passes on 36 attempts. The transfer quarterback also led the ground game with 74 yards and two touchdowns.
Caden Harris caught seven passes for 132 yards and one TD while
Kyree Bunny added 46 yards on five receptions and
Triston Walker had a 29-yard touchdown catch.
Anthony Bachinski was everywhere for the Pioneers on defense, totaling 18 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Henry Lyes added eight tackles, and both
Bryson Oliver and
Donovan Williams logged seven tackles.
Ty Wickliffe had two tackles and a 45-yard pick six.
Up Next For The Pioneers
The Pioneers welcome West Virginia Wesleyan for senior day next Saturday (Nov. 14). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. inside Ike & Sue Morris Stadium.
