BUCKHANNON — For the second straight week, the West Virginia Wesleyan football team came out on fire, scoring on its first two possessions but, like last week, they suffered penalties that deflated several chances and the Bobcats fell to Wheeling University 52-14, Saturday night under the lights at Cebe Ross Field.
Freshman running back Logan Altland got the Bobcats on the board after a seven-minute opening drive that went 14 plays for 76 yards. Atland took a short pass from Quinton Pulley and dove into the end zone from 10 yards out.
Wesleyan junior wide receiver Iverson Daniels capped a second consecutive drive on a 10-yard reception from Pulley with 3:43 left in the first quarter.
Wheeling scored 90 seconds later when Javon Davis connected with Chris Charles in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown, and the Cardinals tied the game in the second quarter at 6:16 before the half on a Steven Mitchell nine-yard run.
Then, in a matter of 15 seconds, Wheeling scored 14 points just before halftime. At 1:42, Dawaun Green capped a 61-yard, eight-play drive with a 1-yard dive. On the ensuing kickoff, Wheeling kicker Joao Lima hit an onside kickoff that took a crazy spin right into Cardinals hands. One play later, Davis threw a 47-yard bomb to Mitchell and the teams went to the locker rooms with a Wheeling 14-point advantage.
Scoring for the Bobcats ended there but Wesleyan had chances. Unfortunately, on several big plays, personal fouls disrupted any momentum as Bobcat tempers flared on the field and on the sidelines.
Wesleyan goes on the road next week, Sept. 21 to Duquesne University for a noon kickoff in Pittsburgh.
