Pirates leave lasting impression on Morgan, advance to regional semis
- Staff
- Nov 8, 2025
- 3 min read
WHEELERSBURG — The Wheelersburg Pirates made a lasting impression on the Morgan Raiders.
The first meeting ever between the two schools was Friday in the Division 5 Region 19 quarterfinals and the Pirates pulled away in the second half for a 43-3 win.
Wheelersburg is now 11-0 — thanks to its 10th unbeaten regular season — and will host Barnesville next Friday in region semifinals.
Morgan (7-5) went 3-and-out to start the game and then Wheelersburg drove 56 yards in 9 plays with Elijah Brown scoring on a 3-yard run for a 7-0 lead at the 7:30 mark.
The Raiders answered with a 14-play drive that ate up the final 7:30 of the first quarter and then 58 seconds to start the second quarter.
But the drive stalled and Jude Garber kicked a 31-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Pirates punted on their next possession and Morgan went on a 12-play drive that chewed up 6:09 off the clock en route to picking up 5 first downs.
The drive saw the Pirates get called for a pass interference to help keep the drive alive as the Raiders and a first down at the Wheelersburg 12.
Again, the drive stalled and Garber’s 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
On the ensuing play, a 73-yard catch-and-run pass down the sideline from Braylon Rucker to Kenyon Evans made it 14-3 with 2:20 left in the 2nd quarter.
Morgan went 3-and-out quickly and gave the Pirates time to get close enough for Heimback to kick a 38-yard field goal as time ran out and it was 17-3 at the half.
The key play in the drive was a 35-yard Rucker to Evans pass.
Filled with the hope of getting back into the game, the Pirates took the wind out of the Raiders’ sails as Brown broke free on the first play of the quarter on an 85-yard scoring run and it was 23-3.
The defense took over as Morgan drove deep into Wheelersburg’s territory only to have Evans pick off a pass and return it 101 yards for a touchdown and it was 33-3 with 11:36 to play.
Lightning struck again on Morgan’s next possession as Luke Kouns picked off a pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown and the Pirates lead was now 40-3.
Heimbach capped the scoring with a 29-yard field goal with 2:56 to play.
The Pirates had 300 total yards with 155 coming on the ground as Brown ran 9 times for 124 yards and 2 scores.
Rucker was 8 of 12 passing for 145 yards and the TD toss to Evans who had 3 receptions for 118 yards.
With quarterback sacks, Morgan was held to 2 net yards rushing on 32 attempts. Quarterback Haiden Pauley was 10 of 19 for 163 yards but he suffered 3 interceptions.
Wheelersburg has defeated Barnesville 3 straight years in playoffs to end Barnesville undefeated seasons, including 2022 Region 19 quarterfinals at Barnesville and 2024 opening round at Barnesville.
Wheelersburg was making its 37th playoff appearance after claiming its 38th Southern Ohio Conference title.
Morgan 0 3 0 0 = 3
Wheelersburg 7 10 9 17 = 43
First Quarter
Wh — Elijah Brown 3 run (Cooper Heimbach kick), 7:30.
Second Quarter
Mor — Jude Garber 31 field goal, 11:02.
Wh — Kenyon Evans 73 pass from Braylon Rucker (Cooper Heimbach kick), 2:20.
Wh — Cooper Heimbach field goal, 0:00.
Third Quarter
Wh — Elijah Brown 85 run (kick blocked), 11:38.
Wh — Cooper Heimbach 42 field goal, 7:32.
Fourth Quarter
Wh — Kenyon Evans 101 interception return (Cooper Heimbach kick), 11:36.
Wh — Luke Kouns 16 interception return (Cooper Heimbach kick), 10:24.
Wh — Cooper Heimbach 29 field goal, 2:58.
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Mor Wh
First Downs 13 9
Rushes-yards 32-2 19-155
Passing yards 163 145
Total yards 165 300
Cmp-Att-Int. 10-19-3 8-12-0
Fumbles-lost 3-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 0-0 7-92
Punts-Ave. 2-34.5 2-49
Time of Possession 31:52 15:25
———
Individual Leaders
RUSHING — Morgan: Tanner Bankes 14-46, Haiden Pauley 10-(-54), Shane Harney 3-10, Hayden Bankes 3-0, McGwire Winner 1-5, Team 1-(-5); Wheelersburg: Elijah Brown 9-124 2TD, Braylon Rucker 4-27, Stephen Hall 3-6, Xavier Miller 1-6, Kenyon Evans 1-(-6), Jonah Collier 1-(-2)
PASSING —Morgan: Haiden Pauley 10-19-3-163; Wheelersburg: Braylon Rucker 8-12-0-145 TD
RECEIVING— Morgan: Arlis Ponchak 6-100, Hayden Bankes 2-49, McGwire Winner 1-12, Tanner Bankes 1-2; Wheelersburg: Kenyon Evans 3-118 TD, Brady Doss 4-19, Hunter Bivens 1-8.
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