UHS running back Brody Kehler enters Week 4 with extra motivation for matchup with No. 7 Wheeling Park
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MORGANTOWN – One year ago, in Week 4 of the 2025 high school football season, University High School traveled to Wheeling Island Stadium for a massive contest with Wheeling Park.
The Patriots allowed UHS to build a multiple touchdown lead before turning the game around in the second half and earning a comeback win on home turf.
Along with the tough defeat, the Hawks also lost then-sophomore Brody Kehler in the first half of the game to a shoulder injury that ended the season of one of the hottest running backs in the state at the time.
Now a junior, Kehler was back to 100% prior to the start of 2026 and has been a welcome sight back into the UHS lineup, especially as the Patriots come to town.
"I'm treating this week no different than any other week," Kehler said. There's no fear or mental block when we play them. I do have last year in the back of my mind after the way they came back and beat us while I couldn't help my team. It left us something to remember this time around."
Through three weeks, Kehler has rushed for 255 yards on 31 carries (8.2 YPC) and four touchdowns, averaging 85 yards per game. He also has three catches for 27 yards and plays a role on the defensive side of the ball as well.
"I'm only one of a couple of players that play both ways, and that's a big role to fill," he said. "Conditioning is a huge factor that I had to prepare for this offseason. Especially the way our offense is able to score so quickly."
The Hawks have scored the most points (167) through three games in the state so far in 2026, including 132 in the last two games with totals of 76 and 56.
"We have such an explosive punch when we start games," Kehler said. "We've scored within the first minute of the game every week so far. We have so many playmakers on offense and it's hard to plan for everyone we have out there. We also have great chemistry as a team to work together to make plays and in our preparation each week."
As a member of the defense, Kehler knows the Hawks need to bare down against Wheeling Park and prove they can get stops in key moments.
"We definitely need to stop long drives and we know they (Wheeling Park) are known as being a run-first team," he said. "I think if we stop the run and get off the field quick our offense will be able to control the clock better this week."
The Hawks welcome Wheeling Park to Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium on Baker's Ridge at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.