WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling Park owns one of the longest streaks of consecutive postseason appearances in Class AAA. The Patriots have qualified for the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons. But a pair of one-score regular season losses to Parkersburg and Musselman put Park in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game against the Big Reds. Their season ended with a 7-4 mark.
“I thought last year, we fell a hair short,” said Wheeling Park head coach Chris Daughtery. “We were very close to being 9-1. And then that’s a different playoff seed. Our guys have that bitter taste in their mouths a little bit with how it ended. We thought we were a little bit better than what it reflected at the end of the year.”
“The season didn’t finish like anyone wanted to or anyone expected to,” said Wheeling Park senior quarterback Alex Dunlevy. “The expectations are a lot higher this year to go farther in the playoffs.”
The Patriots welcome back an experienced senior starter to engineer the offense in Alex Dunlevy. He accounted for 2.140 yards of total offense, tossing 25 touchdown passes and running for seven more scores.
“Anytime you return your quarterback, you are returning the brain of your offense and your coach on the field,” Daugherty said. “Alex has had an unbelievable offseason. I think he is an improved player, even from his abilities last year. It brings a calmness to the offense. He tends to make up for some mental mistakes that a young kid might have.”
Park welcomes back their top three rushers from last fall. The group is led by seniors Kenya Robinson and Rapheal Bradley. The duo combined for 1,723 yards and fourteen touchdowns last season.
“We feel like we have a nice 1-2 punch with (Robinson) and Bradley. We feel like we have two kids, kind of different but kind of the same. One (Bradley) is over 200 pounds, one is 170. So we’ll use both those kids.”
Wheeling Park must replace leading receivers Jack Stakem and DeVaughn McWhorter. But the Patriots are confident that younger players can emerge on the outside.
“We have amazing skill guys,” said Wheeling Park senior tight end/defensive lineman Dustin VanSickle. “They come to practice everyday and work hard. I think they will show the state we have something special this year.”
The Patriots must replace almost all of their starters on both the offensive and defensive lines. That group was led a year ago by Tristen Bittner, who is now playing at Marshall.
“We are going to be green up front,” Daugherty said. “I like the kids we have. Besides Jack Saines, they are all going to be new faces. They have been working hard and I am happy with them. But we are going to go as they go.”
Park opens up the season Friday against Brooke at Wheeling Island Stadium.