WHEELING — They say it’s not how you start, but how you finish, but Thursday night on Bishop Schmitt Field, the Wheeling Central Maroon Knights’ hot start made all the difference in a 28-20 late-season victory over Martins Ferry.

The Maroon Knights (5-2) jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than seven minutes into Thursday’s game, creating just enough of a cushion to survive a tenacious Purple Riders (6-3) squad.

“Hard-fought game for four quarters,” Wheeling Central head coach Mike Young said. “Give Martins Ferry their credit, their effort. I think our kids battled and battled hard. A couple bad snaps there destroyed two good drives we had going on, but we didn’t fold. We bent a little bit, we didn’t fold. Proud of the kids, proud of the kids and how they played. Feel very good about us going

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