Wheeling, W. Va. – Last Saturday, the Cardinals sored the biggest come from behind win in program history when they defeated Fairmont State in overtime 43-37. They look to bring some of that momentum back home with them this weekend as they host Concord in Mountain East Conference (MEC) action. After getting their first MEC win of the season a week ago, the Cardinals now look to climb the ladder in the conference standings over the final eight weeks of the regular season.
Last week, the Cardinals went on the road for the first time in 2023, as they took on Fairmont State looking for their first MEC win of the season. Early on, it was all Falcons as Fairmont State built a 23-3 lead over the Cardinals with 9:43 to go in the second quarter. However, the Cardinals offense would get back on the board with a touchdown just a minute before halftime, and the teams went into the locker room with Wheeling trailing 23-10. That lazy second touchdown was all the Cardinals needed to get going as they scored 33 of their 43 points during the second half and overtime. Wheeling took their first lead of the day on an 83-yard touchdown strike to start the fourth quarter and the teams went back and forth until the game was tied at 37-37. Wheeling would get the first possession of overtime and scored the game-winning touchdown to give them a 43-37 lead and move them to 1-1 in conference play.
The 20-point come from behind victory would not have been possible had it not been another strong effort for kicker Joao Lima. Lima went 3-4 in field goal attempts in week two’s matchup with Frostburg State and built on that with a 3-3 effort against Fairmont State. Two of those three kicks came from 40+ yards and Lima is now 4-4 on Field Goal Attempts of over 40 yards. For his efforts, Lima was named the MEC’s special teams’ player of the Week presented by the Healthplan, winning the award for the first time this season. Lima on the year is 6-7 in Field Goal opportunities, with his longest being a 48-yard kick against Frostburg State. Special teams have played a big role in the team’s success over the past few weeks, and they look to once again lean on special teams on Saturday.
When the Cardinals needed someone to step up against Fairmont State, they got their guy in quarterback Landon Lutz. After Javon Davis went down with an injury, the Cardinals called on Lutz to lead them into overtime. Prior to Saturday, Lutz had only played a few downs of college football, but looked like a true veteran on the field. After throwing a pair of incomplete passes to start the drive, Lutz rushed up the middle to get his team a first down at the Frostburg State six-yard line. On the next play, he fired the ball to the back of the endzone where Steven Mitchell was able to leap up and get his toe in for the Cardinal touchdown that eventually won the game. If Davis is unable to go for Saturday’s game, Lutz will be called into action and looks to once again lead the Cardinals.
After picking up their first conference win of the season last time out, the Cardinals are looking to build on that momentum in their week four matchup. It will be the third time the Cardinals have played at home over the first four weeks of the season, and they look to take advantage before they start a heavy road schedule over the final seven weeks of the season. Through the first three weeks of the season, the MEC is still very much for the taking. Charleston, Frostburg State, Glenville State, and West Virginia State sit as the lone undefeated teams atop the conference, while the Cardinals sit in a three-way tie with Fairmont State and Notre Dame College at 1-1. A win in week four would have the Cardinals keep pace with those top teams in the conference as they chase down the program’s first-ever MEC Championship.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Mountain Lions will be meeting for the fourth time in program history, with Wheeling leading the all-time series at 2-1. It will be the second meeting between the two teams at Bishop Schmitt Field, with Wheeling winning the lone meeting back during the 2021 season. The Cardinals will look to keep their offense hot in this game, averaging 24.33 points per game over the first three meetings between the two teams.
Last time out, it was Concord who got the better of the Cardinals as Wheeling fell 62-31 in Athens, West Virginia. In that game, it was Elijah Young and the ground game that led the way, with Young carrying the ball 12 times for a career-best 123 yards on the afternoon. However, the two rushing touchdowns came from Javon Davis, who had 10 carries for 16 yards and two touchdowns while going 25-42 in the passing game with 232 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The defensive effort was led by former Cardinal Brandon Munoz and former Cardinal AJ Haythe, who each finished with four tackles in the game, while Munoz had 3.0 tackles for loss.
The Details
Kick-off for Saturday’s game is scheduled for noon at Bishop Schmitt Field. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
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