Conant makes stand on Wheeling

Conant had not started a season with two consecutive wins since 2004.

So when the Cougars were handed a second chance Friday night against visiting Wheeling, they weren't about to waste it.

Outplayed by the Wildcats through most of three quarters and down 10-0 on the scoreboard Conant roared back with two late touchdowns, then made a last-gasp goal-line stand to seal a 13-10 Mid-Suburban League football crossover win at Feutz Field.

Conant senior London Dokubo scored the winning touchdown on an electrifying 58-yard punt return with 3:16 remaining in the contest to help his team move to 2-0.

"We only had two wins all last year," said Conant junior linebacker John Maevski, "so to start this season with two straight shows that we have a bright future. I don't want to look to far ahead, but this was a big win."

The Conant victory overshadowed a tremendous performance by Wheeling junior quarterback Tyler Brady, who completed 27 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown.

"Both teams played extremely hard tonight," said disappointed Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar. "Our guys didn't quit - they fought right to the very end."

Wheeling (1-1) led 3-0 at halftime after a 25-yard Luke Andersen field goal, then increased the advantage to 10-0 in the third when Brady hit Kyle Batiz over the middle on a 27-yard strike.

The Wildcats were still in control late in the third when Conant caught a huge break and made the most of it.

A botched fourth-down snap to the Wildcat punter led to Conant taking over deep in Wheeling territory, and the Cougars took advantage when quarterback Matt Cullen ran in from 5 yards to make it 10-7.

Then with under four minutes remaining, Dokubo fielded a booming punt and raced through traffic down the right sideline to put Conant up 13-10.

"Most of the night we had our punt block on, but this time we had our return on," said Dokubo. "I was able to hit the hole, make a couple of cuts and then cut back on their punter. I got some great blocks from our guys downfield."

Wheeling took the ensuing kickoff and drove inside the Conant 10, but a tackle for a loss by Maevski, then a big sack from Cougars defensive lineman Laderrian Watson combined to keep the Wildcats out of the end zone.

Andersen's 34-yard field goal attempt into a crosswind for the tie in the final seconds fell just short.

Wheeling defensive backs Leo Giordano and Eddie Williams each recorded interceptions to lead a strong Wildcat defensive effort. Junior running back Cordell Clark rushed 17 times for 82 yards for the Cougars.

"We stepped up," said Watson of the Cougars' late defensive heroics. "We put it all together as a team."