Wheelersburg aimed to redeem past playoff losses against Harvest Prep
By: Donovan Varney
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WHEELERSBURG, Ohio (WOUB) — The Harvest Prep Warriors made the drive all the way over to Wheelersburg from Canal Winchester to face the Pirates at Ed Miller Stadium. This game comes as a rematch of the 2021 and 2022 playoffs for these teams. Harvest Prep bounced the Pirates from the playoffs both times by scores of 20-17 and 25-21.
Looking for redemption, Wheelersburg opened the game off with the ball but ended in a quick three and out. The Warrior punt return was fumbled right back into the hands of the Pirates, which resulted in a turnover on downs.
With quarterback Dez’Mond Porter at the helm for Harvest Prep, he got the Warriors offense going after taking a read option 48 yards to the house for an early 6-0 lead after the failed extra point.
Braylon Rucker and the Wheelersburg offense tried to get things going with a drive down the field. That drive was cut short after defensive back Chris Brown intercepted Rucker’s pass at their own 11-yard line.
The Pirate defense stood their ground and forced Harvest Prep to punt the ball. Wheelersburg made a switch at quarterback on this drive, putting Landon Hutchinson under center to run the wildcat. Hutchinson converted a big fourth down for the Pirates offense to keep their drive alive and ended up with three points on the board after a 27-yard field goal. Cutting the Harvest Prep lead to just three at the end of the first quarter.
Porter got the Warriors off on the wrong foot in the second quarter after throwing an interception to defensive back Devon Lattimore. The Wheelersburg offense would drive down the field after the turnover and fumble the ball inside the 20-yard line, losing all their momentum.
Harvest Prep called on Porter’s name again as he took another read option 48-yards down the field for an untouched score. The Warriors lead 14-3 after a completed two-point conversion.
The rest of the quarter had Harvest Prep written all over it. Running back Marchello Cox exploded down field for an 84-yard rushing touchdown. After the failed extra point the score would be 20-3.
On the next Warrior drive, Porter would find Brown in the back of the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown pass right before the end of the second quarter. Harvest Prep led 26-3 when time expired in the first half.
The Wheelersburg Pirates would fall to 3-3 on the season with a final score of 32-16. There’s still hope as they remain undefeated in conference play, outscoring opponents 91-0 in the SOC through two games so far. The Pirates will hit the road to face Oak Hill next Friday.
Harvest Prep will host the Richmond Heights Spartans next week, as they advance to 4-1 on the year.