The Pirates add another banner to their mast
By: Joshua Jacob
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PORTSMOUTH WEST, Ohio (WOUB) – The Wheelersburg Pirates sailed over to face the Portsmouth West Senators in a fight for the Southern Ohio Conference championship. Both teams were undefeated in the conference until Wheelersburg sealed the deal with a 36-6 victory over the Senators.
The Senators started the game with some good drives moving the chains, but a bad snap caused a fumble deep in Pirate territory.
Wheelersburg did not waste the great field position. Within four plays, they were in for the touchdown, with Braylon Rucker finding Brady Doss in the back corner of the end zone for an early 7-0 lead for the Pirates.
The Senators heard the wake-up call and got back to moving the chains with some crucial runs from Anthony Bishop. Brody Hall also got Bishop deep with a 22-yard pass, putting it where only he could get it. The drive culminated with senior running back Mason Parker punching it in for the touchdown. They were unsuccessful on the two-point conversion, keeping them down 7-6 against Wheelersburg.
The Pirates kept the tempo up all game. It only took Elijah Brown two plays to find a cutback. He broke away for a 40-yard touchdown run to keep the Pirate ship moving. He kept his feet even without his shoe, which he lost at the line of scrimmage. He walked away, leaving the score 14-6 Wheelersburg.
After the Pirates’ great defensive stop, the offense kept it simple, chunking together runs to get them in the red zone. While there, quarterback Braylon Rucker couldn’t see anyone open and had to take it himself to add to the Wheelersburg lead 21-6.
Coming out of the half, both teams’ defenses were able to stall out drives to force their opponents to kick the ball away.
After the punt from Portsmouth West, the Pirates drove down the field with quick passes. Rucker lobbed it to Xander Mowery for his second passing touchdown of the night, building on their lead, making it 28-6.
The Pirate’s defense was suffocating the senators, forcing them to kick it away during fourth and 18. Wheelersburg up 36-6.
Portsmouth West’s punt did not help them, leaving Wheelersburg inside their own 35. Rucker would add yet another passing touchdown to the night, hitting Landon McGraw in stride for 6. The Pirates would go for the running clock on the two-point attempt and get it with Rucker throwing it up and Doss coming down strong with it to keep the clock rolling.
When the Senators were trying to get something going, Wheelersburg’s Xander Mowery would add to his night this time on defense with an interception, taking it back just five yards short of the end zone. Unfortunately for Wheelersburg, the play would be called back because of a block below the knees, the pirates would keep possession, effectively ending the game.
Winning this game gave Wheelersburg back-to-back SOC championships and the win they needed to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Both teams will survive to play another week, so we must wait and see what the playoffs bring them.