Marietta Pounds South

Wheeler runs for 4 touchdowns
By Joe Davis, jdavis@mariettatimes.com

For those who may have doubted Marietta's ability to run the ball, junior tailback Perry Wheeler provided some hard evidence to the contrary Friday night at Don Drumm Stadium.

Wheeler rushed for a career-high 241 yards and four touchdowns as the Tigers crushed the Patriots of Parkersburg South, 42-28, in a non-conference contest.

Wheeler had TD runs of 15, 2, 2 and 8, accounting for all of Marietta's rushing touchdowns.

Yet before he got into the groove on offense, Wheeler got himself psyched up on defense.

On South's second possession, Wheeler was the primary tackler on the first four plays from scrimmage. Wheeler joined up with fellow linebacker Lance Weppler on a pair of stops, but dragged down Patriot split end Bryant Hooper after a 7-yard gain and rode Joey Reed down on a sweep to his right for no gain.

"You have to do that to get you going," Wheeler said. "To get you pumped up and get you ready for offense."

As for his own contribution in Marietta's offensive scheme, which included numerous snaps directly to Wheeler, he deflected credit.

"Our line and our receivers and the two fullbacks (Lance Weppler and Conner Hess), they just blocked ungodly good. It was perfect blocking the whole way. Our line, receivers and eveyone just blocked perfect today."

Marietta struck a balance with senior quarterback Cody Westbrook dealing for 280 passing yards as he completed 12-of-24 pass attempts. Junior receiver Billy Grizer paced the Tigers with five receptions for 146 yards, including a 25-yard TD pass.

"We're getting better, and we're getting some guys healthy now," Marietta first-year head coach Andy Schob said after picking up his second win in a row. "Our line did an aweome job tonight. It let us be balanced both ways.

"Lance Weppler and Conner Hess being healthy together helped our blocking with our line," Schob added. "Perry's learning. He already was pretty good, but he's learning how to follow his blocks and get up in there and do a good job. It just makes our passing (game) even better."

Hunter Ferguson led South with 184 yards on 22 carries, including two touchdowns in the fourth quarter when the Patriots scrambled back with three late scores.

After Wheeler took the direct snap and plowed straight ahead for 15 yards out for Marietta's first touchdown, South (2-2) answered its second series as well with senior halfback Chanz Jarrell sliding off two would-be tacklers on a sweep to the right from 16 yards out.

Marietta took the lead for good as Wheeler capped a seven-play drive with a two-yard run up the middle with 2:26 remaining in the first period.

Westbrook connected with Grizer on a 44-yard pass play on the second play in the series. Grizer's 25-yard touchdown reception came at the 3:59 mark of the second period as Westbrook rolled out to the left.

The Tigers extended their lead to 28-7 as Sean Munfield hauled in a 31-yard strike from Westbrook in the left corner of the end zone as he outjumped South corner Bryant Hooper.

South refused to quit and scored three touchdowns in the final 11 minutes on a 1-yard run by quarterback Cody Swearingen and two short touchdown runs by Ferguson.

Following Swearingen's touchdown, the Patriots successfully recovered an on-side kick and were back in business after Ferguson ripped off a 40-yard run on first down. That series eventually stalled inside the Marietta five-yardline as the Tiger defense responded.

The Tigers then drove 95 yards in eight plays with Wheeler going straight ahead on a 2-yard run for the third of his four touchdowns. The key play on the drive was a sweep by Wheeler around the right end with Weppler leading the blocking on a 38-yard run. Westbrook also connected with Wheeler on a 40-yard pass play on a well-executed middle screen route.

Story from The Marietta Times 9-20-2008.