photo by: Kristin Mazgaj
Wheeling Central quarterback Nico Kusic throws a pass Saturday at Bishop Schmitt Field in the Maroon Knights’ first-round playoff victory over Tolsia.
WHEELING — The long road to Charleston and the state championship game started in the fast lane for Wheeling Central Saturday afternoon at Bishop Schmitt Field on the campus of Wheeling University.
The Maroon Knights exhibited no signs of rust after a rare three-week layoff in blasting outmanned Tolsia, 51-8, in the opening round of the WVSSAC Class A football playoffs. Coach Mike Young’s potent and top-seeded charges improved to 7-2 on the campaign.
Central will now host eighth-seeded Tucker County this coming weekend. Tucker County, now 7-4, advanced via a 42-28 win over ninth-seeded Tug Valley.
The 16th-seeded Tolsia Rebels bowed out with a 3-7 mark.
Central bolted to a 28-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back.
“I was happy how we came out and made a statement right off the bat. That was great to see after a three-week layoff,” Young said. “We executed like we had hoped. A lot of kids made big plays.
“It was just nice to be playing again. We did a lot more weightlifting and conditioning during our time off,” added the National Hall of Fame coach. “The coaches and players did a super job of handling the time off. They all stayed focused on our goal — that is winning a state championship.”
A host of Maroon Knights delivered sparkling performances Saturday.
Senior Kade Koroneos enjoyed another sparkling game. The talented running back scored three touchdowns, two on the ground and one on a pass. He rushed for 89 yards on just seven carries.
Nico Kusic was sharp at quarterback. He completed five-of-10 passes for 56 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for a fourth score.
Max Olejasz and Joey Hall both hauled in acrobatic touchdown passes. Olejasz, a D-I grid recruit, also excelled on defense while Hall had three long punt returns to go with an interception.
Just as impressive was the Knights’ offensive line anchored by center Olen Ames. He was joined by fellow dominating blockers Dom Paesani, Luke Wear, Carver Bolon, Troy Mortakis and Cooper Jones. Mortakis was also a stickout on defense, scoring on a fumble recovery return.
The second half of the game was played with a running clock as Young utilized his reserves during that time.
Tolsia received the opening kickoff.
The Rebels were forced to punt, one in which Hall returned 25 yard to the Tolsia 30. After an incomplete pass, Koroneos sprinted around right end for his first touchdown. Clay Petry added the PAT, and the rout was on.
Central’s three other first-quarter possessions yielded a one-yard Koroneos touchdown run followed by Kusic touchdown passes to Olejasz and Koroneos, covering three and six yards, respectively. Petry added all three PATs for a 28-0 lighting.
The Maroon Knights tacked on three more scores in the second quarter.
The first came on Mortakis’s five-yard fumble return followed by a Kusic one-yard run and a 10-yard aerial connection from Kusic to Hall, making it a 48-0 issue at halftime.
The rapidly played second half was void of scoring until six minutes remained in the contest when Petry booted a 24-yard field goal.
Tolsia averted the shutout when it scored with 35 seconds remaining on an 18-yard pass from Caleb Thompson to John Jerrell. Thompson ran in the bonus points.
Central finished with 216 yards on the ground and added 66 through the air.
The Maroon Knight defense gave upon yards grudgingly. The Rebels amassed just 96 total yards on the day, 55 came on the ground.
“Tucker County will be a formidable opponent. They beat a good team in Tug Valley,” Young stated. “We look forward to the challenge. It will be nice to be playing at home again.”
