Wheeling edges Buffalo Grove

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Matt Holmes' 32-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining proved to be the winning margin as Wheeling became playoff eligible with a thrilling 17-13 victory over MSL East rival Buffalo Grove Friday night.

Holmes' kick put the Wildcats (5-2, 3-0) ahead by 10 points and helped nullify BG's ensuing scoring drive. The Bison (3-4, 1-2) responded with a march of 61 yards in less than a minute and scored on J.P. Kulick's 32-yard TD pass to Mike Cornely with 1:30 to go. Brian Akialis missed the point-after and James Kurtz recovered the onside kick for Wheeling, which ran out the clock.

Wheeling broke a 7-7 tie with 10:24 to go in the fourth quarter when Matt Holmes (27 carries, 87 yards) connected with Kurtz on a 6-yard TD pass.

The Wildcats will try to win the MSL East for the second consecutive year at Prospect next Friday. Wheeling is one win away from guaranteeing a playoff berth in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.

The Wildcats were helped by five BG turnovers, including two interceptions each by defensive end Mike Widmer and cornerback Matt Splon. Kulick (15-of-32, 235 yards) also fumbled away a center snap in the second quarter.

BG scored first on its third play from scrimmage when Kulick dropped a pass over Splon's head and into the arms of Cornely, who went 60 yards for the score. The scoring play came after the Bison opened the game with a direct snap to running back Josh Hampton, who went 65 yards for a TD, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty.

Wheeling tied the game on its second play in the second quarter when Holmes located Zimmer for a 1-yard TD pass.