WHEELING, W.Va. — Curtis McGhee tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another score as top-ranked Wheeling Central Catholic began their Class A title defense with a 35-13 win over Williamstown.
McGhee was 15-of-21 for 218 yards through the air and he rushed the ball a dozen times for 126 yards as Central claimed the rematch of last year’s state championship game.
“You are always looking to see where you can improve and they definitely gave us areas that we need to work on,” said Wheeling Central Catholic head coach Mike Young. “That is what I wanted it to be — a learning situation with a win.”
McGhee, a Brown University recruit, opened the scoring by finding Jalen Creighton in the end zone on a 28-yard touchdown connection midway through the first quarter. Creighton would later reel in a 19-yard scoring catch from McGhee late in the first half to give the Maroon Knights a 28-6 halftime lead. Creighton ended the game with seven catches for 153 yards.
“Jalen was in the shadows of Braden Price and Anthony Robbins last year,” Young said. “I told him that it was his turn to step up now and he did. And Curtis did a great job of finding him.”
Payton Marling also caught a touchdown pass from McGhee and Adam Murray capped the Central scoring on a 10-yard run in the third quarter.
“I am really proud of the kids and how we played although I am never going to be satisfied,” Young said. “We never are if you have a good program and you want to get better. That’s what we are going to do.”
Williamstown fought back from an early 7-0 deficit when Ty Moore broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run to pull the Yellowjackets within a point. Moore rushed the ball 24 times for 126 yards. WHS’ other score came on a Jacob Modesitt 21-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
Making his first start at quarterback, Brayden Modesitt completed 9 of 17 passes for 125 yards for Williamstown.
Wheeling Central will host Steubenville Catholic on September 6th while Williamstown will face Magnolia.