MORGANTOWN – The No. 1-ranked Morgantown High School football team will welcome No. 3 Wheeling Park to Pony Lewis Field for one of the biggest matchups of the 2025 high school football season so far.
There aren’t many secrets when it comes to the Patriots’ success this season, who sit at 4-1 with victories over Spring Mills and University so far, as their senior running back, Brennan Wack, was the 2024 Curt Warner Award winner for the top RB in the state and looks to be the frontrunner for the Kennedy Award so far in 2025.
Wack has rushed for 1,205 yards through five games on 144 carries and scored 17 of his team’s 19 touchdowns. He averages 241 yards per contest and has rushed for over 230 yards in four games, tallying 328 against University in Week 4. Most recently, Wack ran for 152 yards on only 14 carries against St. Clairsville last week after exiting the game with a hamstring injury. He’ll be a game-time decision at kickoff against Morgantown on Friday.
“I’m not sure you can really limit him; he’s an incredible player and has a talented offensive line blocking for him,” MHS head coach Sean Biser said. “We will have to work hard to get off blocks and make sure we tackle well. Arm tackles aren’t going to get it done; we have to wrap up and get him to the ground when we have the chance.”
Wack’s best performance this season came against University two weeks ago, as he carried the ball 38 times for 328 yards and all six of the Patriots’ touchdowns in a 42-35 victory.
“Wheeling Park is good at what they do, and that is running stretch with Wack,” UHS head coach Eric Snyder said. “That’s their bread and butter. The line is talented, and they block well schematically, and Wack is able to find the gaps with nearly every look they throw at you. Tackling his speed and power is also a big challenge. Then when you overcompensate to stop that, they can hit you with the rest of the playbook.”
The rest of the playbook isn’t too deep, as Park averages only 108.4 yards per game through the air and has more than doubled its passing attempts (75) with its rushing attempts (183). Wack holds 144 of those 183 attempts on the ground.
While the MHS defense will face its toughest test in 2025 so far with Wack, the Patriots and their star tailback will also square off against one of their toughest matchups.
MHS brings a talented and disciplined group to the defensive line and linebacker positions. Ze’Von Shipman and Chase Travis have been a force for the Mohigans this season, showing they can penetrate the backfield early and often. Add that to the three-headed dragon of linebackers Rhys Wells, Kane Williams, and Brooks King, and MHS provides a strong test for anyone. Biser knows his defense will need to be at the top of its game on Friday to maintain Wack’s impact and production.
“We have to be disciplined and play fundamentally sound football,” he said. “Tackling will be key for us. We have to swarm to the football and get him to the ground as fast as possible.”
