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Oak Glen’s Jacob Everett (33) and Ben Chaney (32) lead the Golden Bears onto the field for Thursday’s season opener. The team honored junior Carter Pesacreta, who died in an ATV accident on Aug. 21, with a victory. (Photo by Ron Firth)
Oak Glen linebacker Josh Maher and Weir runner Ryant Lyons look at a fumble, which was recovered by the Golden Bears on Thursday. (Photo by Ron Firth)
Oak Glen running back Jacob Everett bulls over Weir’s Zackary Howland (8) and Landon Haught (4) on Thursday. Everett was a Lisbon elementary student until his family moved. (Photo by Ron Firth)
Weir’s Zackary Howland gets wrapped up by Oak Glen defenders (from left) Jaxon Deremer, Clayton Heizler and Ben Chaney along with Jacob Everett (33) on Thursday. (Photo by Ron Firth)
NEW MANCHESTER, W.Va. -- It was an emotional win for one of its own.
The Oak Glen football team, saddened by the tragic death of one of its players -- junior Carter Pesacreta in an off-road vehicle accident last Friday -- channeled all of its efforts to honor their teammate in memory while posting a 35-0 victory against rival Weir Thursday night in the season opener.
"The boys came out excited," said Oak Glen head coach Derrick Stickles. "You know it's one thing to be here to play for a rivalry, but it's another thing to be here to play for one of your teammates. These kids really showed a lot of resilience this week. I'd be lying to say I wasn't nervous. I didn't know how these kids were going to react to the things that were happening, but they did a great job and showed up every day and did what they needed to do."
Before the game, a moment of silence was held for Pesacreta. His parents were in attendance and were presented with a memorial banner honoring their son. The banner was signed by the Oak Glen football team and members of the student body.
"It feels great (to win the game in Pesacreta's memory), we know he's with us and he's going to be with us every step of the way," said Stickles.
The Golden Bears also honored Pesacreta by wearing No. 58 stickers on their helmets. Weir warmed up in No. 58 shirts in Golden Bears colors.
With the triumph, the Golden Bears retained possession of the Carl Hamill (traveling) Trophy. Thursday's game marked the 62nd meeting between Oak Glen and Weir, a series which dates back to 1965. The Red Riders hold a 40-22 lead in the series, but Oak Glen has now won the last two meetings, including last year's 32-14 triumph.
"We didn't do the little things," said Weir first-year head coach Chris Hill. "Football is simple -- we didn't align right at times and we didn't keep our eyes on our keys and we didn't communicate on the offensive line, and all those little things add up."
The win wasn't the first for Golden Bears head coach Stickles, but it was his first coaching win at his alma mater of Oak Glen where he played.
"It feels great, this is something I've been looking forward to for a long time," said Stickles. "Whenever I took the job I didn't know when that first win would come but it feels good for it to be against Weir."
On the field, Oak Glen responded quickly and wasted no time setting the tempo. The Golden Bears marched 71 yards on their opening drive and capitalized on an 18-yard scoring pass from quarterback Maddox Bowen to wideout Cameron Carter. Chase Hartung added the PAT at the hosts led 7-0 at the 6:03 mark of the first quarter.
Before they were through, Oak Glen scored on three-of-its four first-half possessions and out-gained the Red Riders 213-83 in the opening 24 minutes.
The Golden Bears added two second-quarter touchdowns. The first was set up by a fumble recovery by Oak Glen's Jacob Everett at the Red Riders' 31. The Golden Bears converted the turnover when Bowen found Carter with a 14-yard scoring aerial on a slip screen. Hartung added the PAT and the hosts took a 14-0 lead with 8:39 left before the break.
Bowen ended the evening throwing for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
"Man it feels great (to win the rivalry)," said Bowen. "I love coming here with my guys and competing. One of my goals (this year) is hosting a playoff game."
"He's a great young kid," said Stickles. "He does a lot in the offseason to get him where he is now."
Oak Glen added its third score of the first half when it drove 41 yards and found the end zone on a 10-yard bolt up the middle by Everett with 2:05 left before halftime. Hartung closed the second-quarter scoring with a successful PAT boot and the Golden Bears took a 21-0 lead at intermission.
Oak Glen's defense was successful in stopping Weir's run-dominated offense in the first half. The Red Riders had just 32 yards rushing at the break and finished with 116 yards on the ground for the game.
"That's what we've been preaching for four weeks -- if we do the little things we can get rolling. If we don't we're going to struggle," said the Weir head coach.
Meanwhile, Oak Glen's offense was led in the first half by Everett with 74 yards rushing on six carries, quarterback Bowen, who was 8-of-12 for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those scoring passes went Carter who had three catches for 53 yards and two six-pointers in the first two quarters.
The Golden Bears scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter, marching 53 yards and scoring on Everett's one-yard plunge over right guard. Hartung added the PAT kick and the Golden Bears went up 28-0 with 1:00 left in the third quarter.
Oak Glen added an early fourth-quarter score, capped by another one-yard scoring run by Everett, his third score of the night. Hartung added his fifth PAT and the hosts led 35-0 with 10:56 left and started a running clock.
Despite the setback, Hill praised his team for its determination and knows they will continue to improve.
"They battled every play," he said. "And those are positives. Those are the things we're doing to get the culture at Weir High back to where it is."
GAME NOTES
• A benefit spaghetti dinner in memory of Carter Pesacreta is slated Sept. 3 from 5-8 p.m. at the Chester American Legion. The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children under 12. All proceeds go toward helping the family with expenses.
• Oak Glen returns to action next Friday night when it travels to Hannibal, Ohio to play the River Pilots.
"It's win week by week," said Stickles. "We're 1-0 this week and we'll come back tomorrow and start breaking down our film as a team and then start breaking down River and we'll go from there."
• Weir plays its first three games on the road. The Red Riders travel to Moundsville next Friday and will go up against John Marshall at Monarch Stadium the week after.
WEIR: 0- 0-0-0-- 0
OAK GLEN: 7-14-7-7--35
SCORING
OG--Cameron Carter 18 from Maddox Bowen (Chase Hartung kick)
OG--Cameron Carter 14 pass from Maddox Bowen (Chase Hartung kick)
OG--Jacob Everett 10 run (Chase Hartung kick)
OG--Jacob Everett 1 run (Chase Hartung kick)
OG--Jacob Everett 1 run (Chase Hartung kick)
TEAM STATS
Weir
First downs: 8; Total yards: 139; Rushes-yards: 28-116; Passing: 109; Comp-Att-Int. 8-15-0; Punts 3-99; Fumbles-Lost 3-3; Penalties-Yards 4-35.
Oak Glen
First downs: 22, Total yards 352, Rushes-yards 30-188, Passing Comp-Att-Int. 14-20-0, Punts 2-57, Fumbles-Lost 1, Penalties-Yards 4-25.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING--Weir, Nick DiMatteis 3-46, Ryant Lyons 11-40, Zack Howland 7-15; Oak Glen, Jacob Everett, 10-95, Josh Maher 3-30, Daniel Ginier 2-8, Maddox Bowen 11-14.
PASSING--Weir, Ryant Lyons 8-15-59-0-0; Oak Glen, Maddox Bowen 14-20-198-2-0.
RECEIVING--Weir, Amir Williams 4-31, Landon Haught 1-18, Izaigha George 3-10; Oak Glen, Cameron Carter 4-59, Jaxon Deremer 2-34, Chase Hartung 5-55, Daniel Ginier 4-48.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES--Jacob Everett, Paxton Ware.