w.r. sanders jr.
Urbana Athletics
41
Winner Urbana URBANA 3-0 , 3-0
26
Wheeling WU 0-3 , 0-3
Winner
Urbana URBANA
3-0 , 3-0
41
Final
26
Wheeling WU
0-3 , 0-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
URBANA Urbana 7 14 3 17 41
WU Wheeling 7 6 7 6 26

Game Recap: Football | | Urbana Athletic Communications

Blue Knights Barrel Their Way Past Wheeling, 41-26

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Urbana rushed for a school-record 441 yards and pulled away from Wheeling late to win 41-26 over the Cardinals on Thursday night at Bishop Schmitt Field. 

With the win, the Blue Knights improved to 3-0 for the first time in school history (3-0 MEC). Wheeling dropped to 0-3 on the year (0-3 MEC). 

The Blue Knights carried the ball 64 times for 441 yards -- the fourth-highest total in Mountain East Conference history and the second most in a NCAA Division II game in 2019. Three different players went over the 100-yard mark for Urbana, led by W.R. Sanders Jr. (207), Isaiah Young (132) and Maurice Warren Jr. (102). Sanders had a pair of touchdowns to run his season total to six and Warren had one.

Quarterback Eddie Stockett was 10 of 16 for 91 yards with two TDs and two INTs. Both TDs came in the second quarter including a 10-yard fade to 6-foot-7 freshman Martell Varner and a 22-yard strike to sophomore Rafael Floyd. It was the first career TD reception for both receivers.

Urbana held Wheeling to just 44 yards on the ground and 287 yards of total offense. LA Kelly had nine tackles (seven solo) with an interception and a tackle for a loss. Duray Hall also had an interception and five tackles, including two TFL. Chris Richardson piled up eight tackles on the night. Marcus Omosule, Justice Alexander and Jamari Collins each recorded a sack.

UU led 21-7 in the second quarter and moved ahead 24-13 early in the third following a career-long 40-yard field goal by Erik Ware.

Wheeling stayed within striking distance by making it a four-point game after three quarters. Then as Urbana clung to its 24-20 lead, WU drove to the UU 32 with just over 13 minutes left carrying all the momentum. But, the drive stalled as the veteran Blue Knight defense stiffened and got a big stop on a 4th-and-2 sack by Onajai Davenport and Hall.

Then, UU turned around and gashed the Cardinals with three straight first downs to get to the WU 5. Sanders capped the drive by strolling into the end zone with 10:52 remaining to put the Blue Knights up 31-20. The defense came through again after LA Kelly's interception on the next drive, and Ware tacked on a field goal from 39 yards out to make it 34-20.

The Cardinals pulled to within one possession to make it 34-26 with just over three minutes remaining. But, Urbana used just six plays to march down field again and seal the win on Warren's five-yard TD run. The Blue Knights had the ball for eight minutes in the fourth quarter and scored on all three drives.

WU quarterback Tucker Strachan was 25 of 39 for 243 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, and was sacked four times. Jake Keenan finished with 82 yards receiving and one TD, while Jaquaun Davidson had a pair of TD receptions. Rich White led WU defensively with 12 tackles and also picked off a pass. Brandon Munoz and James Reese each had sacks.

UP NEXT: UU hosts in-state rival and nationally-ranked Notre Dame College next week for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Falcons play Fairmont State this weekend at home.

 
Print Friendly Version