Wheelersburg ends season Undefeated with big win over Portsmouth West
By: Seth Lee
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WHEELERSBURG, Ohio (WOUB) — The Wheelersburg Pirates (10-0) and Portsmouth West Senators (5-5) met for a SOC-1 battle with Wheelersburg claiming the SOC-1 conference title after going undefeated in conference play.
The Pirates run game would start this game off with RB Elijah Brown racing for 33 yards before being brought down by a horde of Senator defenders on the first play of the game. TE Brady Doss would cap off the first drive with a 15-yard touchdown grab from QB Braylon Rucker.
Portsmouth West would respond with an aerial attack of their own with Braden Adkins, Bo Wroten and Anthony Bishop all making grabs for the Senators to set up a Brody Hall QB keeper from 3 yards out to make it a 7-6 game. A missed PAT would cap off the drive and the Pirates would hold on to their lead.
The Pirates would establish their running game next with RB Stephen Hall driving down the field on multiple carries. A gutsy fourth and five play call would pay off for the pirates, as Rucker would find WR Xavier Miller on a 15 yard completion in the endzone for a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Senators offense would stall out after a Luke Kouns sack and Portsmouth West would be forced to punt it away to start the second quarter.
Wheelersburg would fumble just two plays into its drive and Portsmouth West would capitalize on a one-handed grab from WR Gunnar Shonkwiler would put the Senators within two points, however a failed two-point conversion would hold the Pirates lead at 14-12.
The Portsmouth West defense would show up big time to force a three and out, however the Pirate defense would match with a three and out of their own and get the ball back on their own 35.
Wheelersburg would finally find the endzone again with a Play action pass from Rucker to Doss for the second time tonight, this time for 53 yards to make it 21-12 with 4 minutes remaining in the half.
The Senators would once again go three and out after gaining 5 yards of total offense. Rucker and Doss would then connect for the hat-trick on a 31-yard catch in the endzone for a 28-12 Wheelersburg lead.
Portsmouth West would try and spark their offense late in the half with a Hail Mary however it would be intercepted by Pirates DB Jay King and Wheelersburg would drive down and get one last touchdown, this time Braylon Rucker would take it himself to send the game into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Wheelersburg would keep its foot on the gas, scoring two more times to take this game home 49-12.
The Pirates will head into tournament play undefeated and await the final playoff draw. The Senators will end the regular season 5-5 and will miss out on the post season.