The West Virginia All-Stars claimed victory in the Rudy Mumley OVAC all-star charity football classic for the third time in the last four years, as they defeated the Ohio All-Stars 28-19 on Sunday, July 28, at Wheeling Island Stadium.

The opening drive featured a heavy dose of Chinelo Oparanozie from The Linsly School, as he carried the ball eight times on the drive. As the Mountaineers moved the ball from their own 20 down to the Ohio one, the drive was capped off by a Tyler Bolen quarterback sneak. Bolen, from Parkersburg South High School, then tossed a two-point conversion to put the ‘Eers on top 8-0 early in the first quarter.

The Buckeyes then went three and out on their first drive. West Virginia also went three and out on their next drive. But, on the punt return, disaster struck as the Buckeyes muffed the punt and Blaine Stewart from Morgantown High School jumped on the ball.

That set up West Virginia in Buckeye territory. However, on the very next play, Ohio’s Chase Kinemond intercepted a pass and the Buckeyes took over at their own 20. But, once again, they were unable to cash in and were forced to go three and out.

That set the Mountaineers up first and ten at their own 38. After a run and a personal foul, they took the ball to the Buckeye 45. West Virginia recovered its own fumble to end the first quarter in charge.

The ‘Eers started the second quarter from mid-field when Bolen then found Stewart for a nine-yard pickup to the Ohio 41. However, the Gold and Blue were forced to punt two plays later.

After a couple penalties, disaster hit the Ohio squad again, as Johnson intercepted a pass at the Ohio 41 and raced the other way for the score. The two-point conversion failed, but West Virginia was on top 14-0.

The Buckeyes started their next drive at their own 36. After a personal foul called against the Mounties, Ohio took the ball to the Mountaineer 45. Just when it looked like the Buckeyes had something going offensively, a false start and a sack would kill the drive and the Buckeyes were forced to punt.

Two plays later, Harrison Central’s Nick Pelegreen recovered a fumble for the Buckeyes at the West Virginia 26. After a pass completion on first down, the Mountaineers sacked Ohio to make it third and 10 at the West Virginia 36 for the Buckeyes.

Ohio completed a pass to Deshawn Redman, who took the pigskin to the West Virginia five yard line. Redman moved the ball a yard, when Matt Kinnick from St. Clairsville found Pelegreen in the back of the end zone. The PAT was good, and, midway through the second period, the score favored West Virginia 14-7.

On the Mountaineers’ next possession, Magnolia’s Stephen “Rogo” Rogalski returned the kick to his own 27. Then, teammate Tanner Hanna hooked up with Rogalski for a nine-yard pick up to the West Virginia 36.

Two runs by Oparanozie took the ball to the 42 and 46 yard lines, where River’s Evan Eggleston was in on stopping the advance. After an incomplete pass and a delay of game call, West Virginia was forced to punt. The Buckeyes then proceeded to move the ball from its own 22 down to the West Virginia 31.

However, with time running out, Ohio was forced to try a 38- yard field goal which came up short and ended the first half with West Virginia in the lead, 14-7.

To start the third quarter, the Buckeyes returned the kick to their own 40 yard line, where Hundred’s Chris “Squirrel” Varner made the stop. Four runs by the Buckeyes took the ball to the 38. However, that drive quickly stalled out and the Mountaineer D forced a turnover on downs at their own 30.

Oparanozie went right back to work as he carried the ball four times on the next five plays to the 35. A pass interference call against the Buckeyes set the Gold and Blue up at first and 10 at the Buckeyes 20. Oparanozie then broke off a 17 yard run and scored a play later from three yards out. Bolen found Stewart for the two-point conversion to make it 22-7 for West Virginia midway through the third quarter.

The Buckeyes were forced to punt on their next drive. However, they quickly got the ball back when Trent Nevine from Martins Ferry pounced on a loss football to set Ohio up first and goal. Redman then scored two plays later, but the point-after was no good and the Mountaineers held on, 22-13, to end scoring in the third.

Early in the final period, Bolen found Tim Kocher from University High to take the ball to the Ohio 41. Two plays later, Rogalski took a pitch from QB Hanna and went 12 yards around the edge to set up a first and 10 at the Ohio 29.

Two plays later, Hanna found Stewart to take the ball to the 17 for a fresh set of downs. Runs by Kocher and Oparanozie took the ball to the two yard line and three plays later, Hanna scored from three yards out. The two-point conversion was no good and the ‘Eers held a 28-13 lead. The Buckeyes did score a TD. But it was too late to unhinge a 28-19 victory for West Virginia.

All totaled, the Mountaineers out-gained the Buckeyes 247-167 and West Virginia led in the ground game, as well. Oparanozie carried the ball 23 times for 94 yards and one score. Meanwhile, Rogalski and Hanna picked up meaningful yardage for the Gold and Blue.

Rogalski also commanded the receiving stats with four catches for 47 yards, while Stewart ponied up a pair of catches for 20 yards of real estate.