Wheeling, W. Va – The Charleston Golden Eagles traveled up to the Northern Panhandle on Saturday afternoon to face the Wheeling Cardinals. Charleston came into this matchup averaging over 40 points a game on offense, but the defense would be the deciding factor in this one. 
 
The Basics
Location: Bishop Schmitt Field
Score: UC 22, WU 19
Records: UC (6-4, 6-3 MEC), WU (6-4, 5-4 MEC) 
 
How it Happened
After a 37-yard opening kickoff return from Colby Cooper, it didn't take long for the high-caliber offense to find the endzone as Davis Black found Yves Bosmans on a 27-yard reception for the early 7-0 lead. 
 
Wheeling would answer back with a scoring drive of their own on their first possession. Javon Davis found Jake Keenan from eight yards out to knot the score up at 7-7. After both teams scored on their opening possession, many expected this one to be a shootout; however, the quarter would end with the same score. 
 
In the second quarter, the Cardinals would take their first lead of the day on a 14-play drive after a 29-yard field goal from Matt Greenwood that put them up 10-7 over Charleston. 
 
Before the halftime horn, Charleston had gotten into field goal range to potentially tie the game. On a third and three, Black was picked off by Brandon Muñoz on a tipped pass and the Cardinals would head into the break with a three point lead. 
 
After the intermission, Wheeling would hit another three pointer on their first drive off the leg of Greenwood from 38 yards away to make the score 7-13. 
 
In the fourth quarter of play, the Cardinals would take advantage of expensive real estate at the Charleston 30-yard line. With just over six minutes left, Eli Young would rush into the endzone from nine yards out for the touchdown. Wheeling would be unsuccessful on the two-point conversion and held a 19-7 lead with very little time remaining in the game. 
 
Charleston, down by two scores, needed to act quickly if they wanted a chance to win. They would put together a 54-yard drive in under three minutes capped off with a Chavon Wright rushing touchdown from four yards away to cut the deficit to just five. 
 
The Golden Eagles would force a clutch three-and-out by the Cardinals that gave Charleston the ball back at their own 46-yard line with three timeouts and 2:40 remaining in the game. 
 
Wright figured if he could run the ball into the endzone from four yards away, he could run the ball in from 54 yards out, and that's exactly what he did. On the first play of the drive, Wright powered his way through defenders and into open field. Wright was escorted into the endzone by his receiving core and scored the go-ahead touchdown. Charleston would then deliver another blow to the Cardinals as they were successful on the two-point conversion as Tae Marrero used his shoulder to drive into the endzone. 
 
Wheeling was able to drive down to the 35-yard line of Charleston but would find themselves in a crucial 3^rdand 6 situation. On Javon Davis' desperate attempt to find a receiver, Nirion Washington picked him off and returned the ball all the way to the Wheeling 16-yard line to put the game the rest with a final score of 22-19. 
 
Up Next 
Charleston will finish out their season at home as cross-town rival West Virginia State will make the short trip to Laidley Field to take on the Golden Eagles on November 12^th at 12:00 PM.