POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — No. 3 Wheeling Park (11-1-1) defeated No. 2 Point Pleasant (12-1) 35-14 as quarterback Cross Wilkinson threw for 219 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Savion Johnson finished with 180 yards on 30 carries, while receiver Elijah Bell added 108 receiving yards and two scores on four catches. Senior Jamez Coles collected three catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns as well in the win.
The Patriots held Point Pleasant’s Cody Mitchell to just 27 yards in the first half – he finished with 125 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
“Teams have had trouble running against our defense as we’ve done a good job of defending the run,” said Wheeling Park coach Chris Daugherty. “We did tonight what we have been doing (all season). Our coaching staff did a good job of getting the kids in the right place and our kids did a good job of executing.
It’s the first trip to the state championship game for the Patriots since 1991, which was a 15-14 loss to Capital – that game was played at Laidley Field in Charleston. Now, the Patriots will play for a state championship on their home field at Wheeling Island.
“Our kids have always talked about trying to play at a state championship at our home field,” Daugherty said. “It’s important for our kids and people have talked about it a lot. Now we’re getting an opportunity. We can’t be complacent – the goal isn’t just to get to the state championship, the goal is to win one.”
The complete interview with Daugherty is posted above.