WHEELING, W.Va. — With 20 wins in their last 21 games, Wheeling Central Catholic has cemented their status as West Virginia’s elite Class A football program. The Maroon Knights have claimed ten state titles since 2000 and they are favorites to once again make the short drive to Wheeling Island in December.
“We embrace it. We like the pressure,” said Wheeling Central Catholic senior quarterback/safety Curtis McGhee. “We love when teams come in and give us their best shot. Because we want a good game. So we love it.”
“At Central, it is always the goal to win a state championship,” said Wheeling Central Catholic senior fullback/linebacker Adam Murray. “Every year it is a grind. That is what we tell the freshmen and the sophomores and the underclassmen — how hard it is to actually do it and to show up every day and make every rep 100 percent and make sure you are doing your job.”
Central lost four all-state players to graduation but they remain well-stocked with talented veterans. Their offense will once again be engineered by Curtis McGhee. He was the Knights’ leading passer and rusher last fall, accounting for 3,137 yards and 43 touchdowns. McGhee has verbally committed to Brown University, where he will transition to receiver.
“It is more of a 40-year decision, than a 4-year decision,” McGhee said. “I am going to try to get a great education and try to become a doctor.”
“He is just a quality young man,” said Wheeling Central Catholic head coach Mike Young. “He has been at that position (quarterback) for three years. It was a transition for him as a sophomore. The transition now is to get the kids in the right spot and he knows the offense as well as anyone.”
Last year’s leading receivers Braden Price and Anthony Robbins have graduated but McGhee still has many options on the outside.
“Payton Marling is an outstanding runner along with Jordan Waterhouse,” Young said. “They are also receivers and can catch the ball. Jalen Creighton on the outside along with Vinnie High and Jacob Rine — we have some skilled athletes out there.”
The quarterback of the defense is senior linebacker Adam Murray. He has won back-to-back Sam Huff Awards as the state’s top defensive player. And the numbers back it up. Murray has collected 455 tackles in three seasons of varsity football. He will now have an increased role on offense as a fullback.
“I think it will be a good challenge for me,” Murray said. “I will be mostly at H-Back, fullback and wing. Last year I played guard but it will be fun.”
Wheeling Central opens their title defense against Class A runner-up Williamstown Thursday at Wheeling University. The game will be broadcast on the ‘MetroNews Channel’ with coverage beginning at 7:00pm.