No. 5 Morgantown recovers four fumbles en route to a 35-10 victory over No. 12 Wheeling Park
Trending
MORGANTOWN – It wasn't pretty at times, but the No. 5 Morgantown High School football team did what it needed to on Friday night to advance to next weekend's quarterfinal round.
The Mohigans moved past No. 12 Wheeling Park 35-10 despite being outgained offensively and committing 11 penalties in the opening round of the Class AAAA playoffs.
The formula for MHS was turnovers, as it recovered forced and recovered four fumbles during the contest.
Morgantown running back duo Lyric Blake and Carson Keeling combined for 193 of their team’s 200 rushing yards. Blake carried 20 times for 102 yards, with Keeling adding 91 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Senior Rudy Carillo caught three passes for 44 yards and a score.
Wheeling Park gained nearly 400 yards of offense in the game, but it doomed itself with turnovers, including multiple in the red zone. Quarterback Jay Bordas threw for 254 yards on 17 completions.
With the win, No. 5 Morgantown will travel to battle No. 4 Cabell Midland next week in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals. Kick-off time is to-be-determined.
Wheeling Park concludes its season with the defeat.
"My first thought on the game is that we didn't play well at all," MHS head coach Sean Biser said. "It was an ugly football game from start to finish on our part, and we have to get better for next week."
Both teams began the game by punting after failing to convert on third down.
MHS began its second drive near midfield and broke the ice on the scoreboard when Maddox Twigg found Carillo on a screen pass, who then scampered into the end zone for a 23-yard score.
The Patriots drove to the MHS 14 on the ensuing possession, but Bordas' pass was intercepted by Morgantown's Brenden McCutcheon, who returned the ball 100 yards from end zone to end zone.
The Mohigans added to their lead just before halftime with a six-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Chantz Lenhart, who came in for Twigg after Twigg suffered a stinger.
Two fumbles were committed in three plays after the touchdown, with both teams turning the ball over.
The Patriots got on the board just before halftime with a 41-yard field goal by Kallon Tipton.
Wheeling Park began the second half on offense and, facing fourth-and-1, fumbled the ball away.
The Mohigans took over and eventually found pay dirt when Twigg punched it in from a yard out, extending the lead to 28-10.
The Patriots finally found the end zone late in the third quarter, as Bordas connected with Michael Neider in the back of the end zone from 12 yards away.
After the Mohigans appeared to be heading for another touchdown, Wheeling Park forced a field-goal attempt following consecutive stops on the goal line. Petsko's attempt was blocked, but on the ensuing drive, Brodas fumbled, and MHS recovered once again.
MHS capitalized on the turnover with Keeling, who ran 20 yards on fourth down for a touchdown to complete the scoring for the hosts.
"As soon as we go watch the film, we will identify the things we need to do," Biser said. "But you know, we have to be locked in and focused. That's the number one thing. That's something we will key on this week. Winning isn't easy, and it's always good to win, especially when you're your own worst enemy."
No. 5 Morgantown will travel to visit No. 4 Cabell Midland in the Class AAAA quarterfinals next weekend.
BOX SCORE
Morgantown 35, Wheeling Park 10
WPHS 0 3 7 0 – 10
MHS 14 7 7 7 – 35
SCORING SUMMARY
MHS – Carillo 23 pass/Twigg (Petsko XP)
MHS – McCutheon 100-yard interception return (Petsko XP)
MHS – Lenhart 6 run (Petsko XP)
WPHS – Tipton 41 FG
MHS – Twigg 1 run (Petsko XP)
WPHS – Neider 12 pass/Bordas (Tipton XP)
MHS – Keeling 20 run (Petsko XP)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Morgantown – Blake 20-102, Keeling 11-91-TD, Lenhart 2-6-TD, Twigg 1-1-TD. Wheeling Park – Miller 18-80, Bordas 5-34, Pilkinton 6-12.
PASSING: Morgantown – Twigg 4/8-70-TD, Lenhart 3/5-20. Wheeling Park – Bordas 17/29-254-TD-INT, Taylor 0/1.
RECEIVING: Morgantown – Carillo 3-44-TD, Ely 2-39, Fuller 1-6, George 1-1. Wheeling Park – Wetzel 4-117, Neider 6-70-TD, Heatherington 4-38, Miller 1-23, Wilson 1-6.