Knights' Tucker rushes for 201 yards, four TDs
Sunday, December 4, 2005
By JAY W. BENNETT - The Parkersburg News & The Parkersburg Sentinel

WHEELING - Wheeling Central's Brandon Tucker rushed for 201 yards and set a Class A state championship game record with four touchdowns as the junior helped the Maroon Knights defend their title by virtue of a 35-20 victory against No. 1 Williamstown (13-1) here Saturday night at Wheeling Island Stadium.

The Maroon Knights, who had dedicated their season to former coach Jim Thomas who passed away in the spring, gave current mentor Mike Young his first title on a night when the hosts never trailed in the game.

Williamstown, which is now 0-3 in title games, got 137 yards rushing from Tyler Lowers in his final game as the senior added a pair of first-half six-pointers to keep the Yellowjackets within 21-14 at the break.

However, a 1-yard run by Mike Goertler at 6:54 of the third was the final score of the contest for the 'Jackets as head coach Terry Smith's team still trailed 21-20 after Russell Palm's extra point was wide right.

Wheeling Central, which entered the playoffs as a No. 15 seed and finished at 10-4, scored the game's final two touchdowns to seal the victory as sophomore signal-caller Alex Peluchette lined up in the victory formation thrice and the Maroon Knights celebrated their title by watching the final 22 ticks roll off the scoreboard.

"You have to feel fortunate anytime you get here, but you got to take advantage of it," Smith said. "I think if you started the season off you wouldn't think this team would win 13 games.

"Their offensive line did a tremendous job. He's (Tucker) a good back. He's very elusive and we missed a lot of tackles because he's good, not because we are a poor tackling team."

Wheeling Central won the opening toss and took the ball, but the teams battled to a scoreless first quarter despite the Maroon Knights taking the pigskin to midfield on their first possession and going into Williamstown territory on their second drive.

Williamstown turned the ball over on its second play of the game when quarterback Brandon Roberts was picked off by Peluchette, who also had an end zone interception in the fourth quarter to seal the victory and tie a Class A state playoff record for picks.

"The younger kids stepped up and the older kids understood what role they had to play," coach Young said. "It was a total team effort. I'm so proud of what these kids did. They just got better."

After Williamstown's second drive ended in a punt, the Maroon Knights lit up the scoreboard first when Tucker went up the gut and then over the left side for a 21-yard touchdown. The first of Ed Vargo's five extra points put the 'Jackets in a 7-0 hole with 9:04 left before halftime.

While the contest started off on a slow scoring pace, the action quickly heated up as Williamstown answered with a 3-yard burst by Lowers at the 6:21 mark, which was set up by a Ross Elder 23-yard completion from Roberts. Junior Justin Stewart gave the 'Jackets great field position thanks to a 41 yard kickoff return.

The momentum didn't stay in favor of the Yellowjackets for long as sophomore Chris Martin took the ensuing kickoff and raced 89 yards for a Maroon Knight touchdown, breaking two tackles on his way and also making a cutback to the left just before midfield, which allowed him to run away from a trio of Williamstown defenders.

Martin's touchdown set a Class A finals record that had stood since 1979 when Bishop Donahue's Steve Mele returned a kickoff 67 yards for the Bishops' lone score in a 19-6 loss to Paden City.

Despite the big play, the Yellowjackets stayed collected and churned out another scoring drive to make it 14 apiece with 1:45 left before halftime when Lowers scored his second six-pointer on a 12-yard scamper off the left side. Palm's kick was true, but only after it caromed off the left upright and fell through.

Facing a third-and-10 at their own 36, the Maroon Knights went to the air and Peluchette, who went 3-of-5 for 60 yards, found P.J. Henry for a 17-yard gain. After a Wheeling Central timeout, Tucker took the carry on the next play and went untouched off the left side for a 47-yard score with 41.8 still showing on the clock and a 21-14 cushion.

Williamstown took the second half kickoff and put together an 11-play, 72-yard drive that was culminated by a Mike Goertler 1-yard touchdown at the 6:54 mark, but the 'Jackets never got any closer than 21-20 after the missed PAT.

Big play Wheeling Central did it again on its next drive as the Maroon Knights continued to pound away on the right side of the Yellowjacket defense and it resulted in a 59-yard Tucker score and a 28-20 advantage with 5:16 still left in the third.

The 'Jackets then went three-and-out as Wheeling Central sealed its back-to-back championships with a near eight minute 15-play drive that was finished by Tucker's fourth score from 1 yard out at 7:13 of the fourth.

Needing a quick score, Roberts was able to move Williamstown down the field with his arm. Goertler had a pair of catches for 5 and 17 yards and after Brad Anderson hauled in a 30-yard aerial to make it first-and-goal at the 3, the 'Jackets were in business.

Following a no gain by Lowers, though, Roberts was sacked for a 7 yard loss and on the next play Peluchette picked off Roberts' pass in the end zone.

Roberts finished 5-of-9 for 81 yards and the two picks as the Yellowjackets were outgained 354 to 283 in the contest. Williamstown committed just one penalty, which happened on a fourth-and-2 play on the final drive of the game when the 'Jackets jumped offside on a hard count by Peluchette with the ball resting at the Yellowjacket 39.