MORGANTOWN – In a game where neither Morgantown nor Wheeling Park was at full strength, Morgantown’s Zaiden Lockett stepped up and rushed for a season-high 84 yards and two touchdowns, leading Morgantown (6-0) to a 28-7 victory over Wheeling Park (4-2).
Lockett was started at tailback in place of Isaiah Thompson, who sustained an injury during the second half of Morgantown’s win last week against Spring Mills. Additionally, Morgantown’s quarterback, Maddox Twigg, was a game-time decision after tweaking an ankle in the previous game. Receiver Carter Cooper also played through a nagging lower-body injury.
Wheeling Park was without its top rusher, Brennan Wack, who had been averaging 241 rushing yards per game prior to the injury.
“I didn’t have many of the guys offensively for us, and the players we did have were slowed by injury. We were trying to piece everything together. I thought the defense helped us hang in there and gave us a chance to make a few plays,” said Morgantown Coach Sean Biser.
With both offenses operating below full capacity, both teams relied heavily on their defenses. The only score in the first half came from a one-yard run by Lockett with 11:16 left in the second quarter.
Leading 7-0 at halftime, Morgantown quickly added to its score in the third quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, Twigg connected with Carter Cooper for a 48-yard catch-and-run touchdown. This marked Cooper’s sixth touchdown reception of the year, giving Morgantown a 14-0 lead.
“Get it to Carter Cooper in space,” Biser said. “He’s pretty electric and one of the best players in the state, in my opinion.”
Morgantown extended its lead later in the quarter when Twigg hit Jayden Smalls for a 70-yard touchdown pass with 5:53 remaining in the third quarter.
“We were backed up, and I didn’t have many plays for that kind of yardage. I thought, let’s throw it up and see what happens,” Biser admitted.
Wheeling Park got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Jay Bordas found Tatum Justice streaking down the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown pass, cutting Morgantown’s lead to 21-7. This marked the first time in nine quarters that Morgantown’s defense allowed an opponent into the end zone.
Any thoughts of a Wheeling Park comeback were dashed minutes later. Morgantown sealed the victory when Lockett broke off a 41-yard touchdown run, finalizing the score at 28-7.
The win marked Morgantown’s first victory over Wheeling Park since 2017.
“I think it was a big win for our guys. We’ve been working toward this, and while things weren’t perfect tonight, we made it work, and we’ll take the win,” said Biser.
Twigg finished the night with 178 yards passing and two touchdowns, while Carson Keeling had 50 yards on 15 carries.
For Wheeling Park, Bordas threw for 110 yards and a touchdown. Isaac Sands, who started in place of the injured Wack, carried the ball 17 times for 71 yards.
Morgantown will be on the road next week to face Martinsburg, while Wheeling Park returns home to host Fairmont Senior.