Victory means plenty to Wheeling

The way they burst from the sideline all at once, helmets raised it seemed like they had just won a game worth everything instead of nothing.

With both teams officially out of playoff contention, there was nothing on paper to play for between Hersey and Wheeling on Friday night. But as a Huskies fumble rolled out of the end zone to end the game in Hersey's first possession of overtime, it became clear just how much was at stake in Wheeling's 28-21 Mid-Suburban East victory.

"Pride," said senior Luke Smith. "There's a whole lot of pride."

It was Smith's 5-yard touchdown reception during the opening possession of overtime that put the Wildcats ahead for the first time since they led 14-7 in the second quarter. And it was his interception that thwarted a possible game-winning drive by Hersey in the final minute.

As the crowd filtered out and the student section dispersed, Smith was one of a handful of Wildcats that made it clear something had come to an end.

There were hugs for coaches and tearful embraces among teammates. For many of them, this was it.

"It meant a whole lot to us seniors," Smith said. "This is a lot our last chances to play football, and this our last chance to be together. And it's a really cool thing to end it like that."

Among the tearful that dotted the Wildcat sideline was junior quarterback Tyler Brady, who threw for touchdowns on each of the first two Wheeling (3-6, 2-3) possessions to put the Wildcats up 14-7 in the second quarter. He finished the game 20-for-38 for 184 yards and added 116 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

An interception return by Jason Olson and a 37-yard double pass for a touchdown by wide receiver Justin Jobski to Joe McGrane gave Hersey (3-6, 0-5) a 21-14 lead early in the third quarter.

But after getting stonewalled on a fourth-down effort near the goal line earlier in the half, Brady pushed his way into the end zone from a yard out on fourth down with 1:46 remaining to send the game to overtime.