WHEELING, W.Va. — Beau Heller threw for 355 yards, four touchdowns and ran for another, leading Wheeling Park to a 56-20 win in its first ever meeting with Linsly Friday night at Wheeling Island Stadium.
The Patriots’ speed and athleticism shined on both sides of the ball, scoring early and often in the first half while the defense frustrated Linsly most of the night.
Wheeling Park ran out to a 35-7 lead in the first half, led by quarterback Beau Heller who tossed three touchdowns and ran for another. Heller completed 12-of-18 attempts for 256 yards in the first two quarters as the Patriots built an insurmountable lead.
“I felt like tonight when we stalled, it was us, it was our fault. We’re getting better. We’re getting cleaner from week to week. The kids took care of business tonight,” said Wheeling Park Coach Chris Daugherty.
Heller certainly took care of business, connecting with three different receivers for touchdowns. Sincere Sinclair grabbed a pair of touchdowns, Shaheed Jackson and Caron Namack each hauled in touchdowns.
Heller hit Jackson for a 28-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the game. Later in the second quarter, Heller zipped a receiver screen out to Sinclair for a 46-yard touchdown pass giving the Patriots a 14-7 lead.
Caron Namack got into the endzone on the ensuing Wheeling Park drive, working his way back to the ball as Heller scrambled away from pressure. Heller found the wide-open Namack for a 65-yard scoring toss.
Wheeling Park extended its lead to 35-7 with 2:37 to go in the first half on a 3-yard Heller touchdown run, capping off a 10-play, 60 yard drive.
“It’s easy when you have to stop one or two kids. It’s a little different when a defense has to stop five or six kids,” Daugherty said.
While the Patriots offense was able to move the ball at will, Wheeling Park’s defense was equally as dominate. Nate Shelek came up with the first of this two interceptions in the game on Linsly’s second drive. Following the interception, the Patriots’ defense forced five consecutive Linsly punts. Shelek came up with a second pick in the third quarter.
Both of Linlsy’s scores came on big plays, one early in the half, the other later in the second quarter. Cadet Quarterback Hunter Kelley hit Luca DiLorenzo on a 71-yard bomb, which tied the game with 9:30 to go in the first quarter.
Linsly didn’t find the endzone again until less than a minute to go in the half. Again, Kelley was able to hit on a deep pass attempt, finding Kobe Hill for a 52-yard touchdown, cutting the Wheeling Park lead to 35-13 at the half.
Wheeling Park scored three more times in the second half. Heller threw his fourth touchdown of the night to Sinclair, a 65-yard scoring toss. Steven Mitchell scored on a 2-yard touchdown run and backup quarterback Brett Phllips got into the endzone late in the fourth quarter.
Heller finished the day with 355 yards passing, 4 touchdown passes and a rushing score.
Mitchell rushed for 155 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown.
For Linsly, Hunter Kelley threw for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
“I don’t know without COVID if this game would’ve happened but it did happen and it was fun atmosphere. I wish it could have been packed but it is what it is,” Daugherty stated.
Friday’s win over Linsly is the first of four straight home games for Wheeling Park. The Patriots are scheduled to play host to Class AA foe Oak Glen next Friday night at Wheeling Island Stadium.
The Golden Bears are 3-0 and were idle this past week.