Knights looking forward to rematch with 'Jackets
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
By JIM BUTTA- The Parkersburg News & The Parkersburg Sentinel

WHEELING — It has been the most anticipated rematch of the playoff season.

The ‘It’ is the second straight Class A championship game confrontation between Wheeling Central Catholic the defending state champions and Williamstown, the team the Maroon Knights defeated a year ago, 35-20.

“It’s tough to beat a team twice,” Central head coach Mike Young said. “They (Williamstown) are going to be hungry to prove last year was a mistake.”

Mistake or not, the Wheeling Central loss ended the Yellowjackets’ perfect season and now the Yellowjackets — who again have run off 13 straight wins —want to do the same to their nemesis.

“We controlled our own destiny,” added Young, who is in his second season at the helm of the Maroon Knight program. “But, it’s a tribute to both programs to go through a season like this, with targets on our backs, and reach this game.”

And, what a 2006 campaign it has been for the maroon and white clad Knights. Shutout victories over Salem, Ohio (34-0) and Oak Glen (54-0) served to propel the Ohio County team to a perfect 10-0 regular season mark.

Only twice did the defending state champions receive a test as a pair of Ohio powers Shadyside (20-10) and Union Local (20-13) attempted to end the Knights’ winning ways. No one, however, was successful.

That dominant style of play continued in the playoffs as Central opened with a 62-18 demolition of Parkersburg Catholic and followed that up with another lopsided victory over a Little Kanawha Conference squad, St. Marys (42-14).

They earned yet another trip to The Island with a 57-22 thrashing of Greenbrier West last Friday.

“They (WCC) are good, very, very good,” Williamstown head coach Terry Smith said. “They were good when we played them last year and they return just about everybody off that team.”

The two biggest returns, however, are senior Brandon Tucker and junior Alex Peluchette.

Tucker, who rushed for more than 200 yards against the Yellowjackets in last year’s game, entered the semifinal round with 1,854 yards and 32 touchdowns on 217 carries. The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder is also the Knights’ second-leading receiver with 10 catches for 151 yards and a trio of scores.

“He (Tucker) is a relentless runner,” said Young. “He has tremendous balance and vision. But, he blocks as well as he runs and is a very unselfish football player.”

The combination has made the Central upperclassman a favorite to capture the Kennedy Award, given annually to the state’s top football player.

However, if teams load up the box to stop Tucker, Central can, and will, take to the air. Peluchette has hit on 50-of-104 attempts for 957 yards and 10 touchdowns with only five passes ending up in the opposition’s hands.

His favorite target has been senior P.J. Henry. The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder has 15 catches for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Also look for tight end Larry Witzberger (5 catches, 94 yards) and wideouts Justin Lang (3-for-99) and Brandon Taylor (3-for-56) to see some footballs come their way.

“They are a very explosive offense,” said Smith. “What we have to try to do is make them one dimensional or have to throw when we want them to throw.”

A feat that has not been accomplished this season, however.

“We know that they (Williamstown) will come out and give us their best shot,” added Young. “They are well coached and very disciplined.”