West Mifflin recovers from slippery start to beat Knoch, 28-14
(Photo: Knoch's Benjamin Tackett dodges West Mifflin defenders in the first quarter Friday at West Mifflin High School. Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette.)
"The cold and rainy conditions accounted for some slick running lanes for one of the WPIAL's leading rushers.
But the kid they call "Wheels" proved he is an all-terrain vehicle.
Jimmy Wheeler rushed for 189 yards and scored three touchdowns as West Mifflin followed a lethargic first half with a dominant second half on its way to a 28-14 win Friday against visiting Knoch in a WPIAL Class AAA first-round game.
Knoch (7-3), the No. 10 seed, saw its hopes of making it to the championship game for the second year in a row slide away, but No. 7 West Mifflin (8-2) moved one step closer to Heinz Field. The Titans advanced to play No. 2 Mars, a 45-21 winner against Blackhawk. In the first round a year ago, West Mifflin beat Mars, 21-8.
As they have all season, Wheeler and quarterback Derrick Fulmore displayed plenty of dynamic, big-play ability. Wheeler scored on runs of 68, 16 and 55 yards. Fulmore ran for a 71-yard touchdown and finished with 145 yards on 16 carries. The two accounted for all but two of West Mifflin's 336 yards rushing."
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