ALMEDIA – Warrior Run entered Friday night’s tilt with the Central Columbia Bluejays as clear underdogs.
The Defenders entered at 4-3 on the season and faced a tough road test against a Central Columbia team who had just two losses on the season, both to area powerhouse teams (Southern Columbia and Mount Carmel).
Warrior Run handled any pressure it may have felt just fine as the Defenders lived up to their namesake by delivering a strong defensive performance in a 14-10 victory that put both team’s records at 5-3 going into the ninth week of the regular season next Friday night.
“I think we shocked everyone in District 4 tonight,” said Riley Daubert of the victory. “We weren’t predicted to win. Nobody believed in us. It feels good to come together as a team and put forth the effort to get a win like this. If we play as a team we can be unstoppable.”
Neither team eclipsed 200 yards of offense on the night as defense really was the story of the game.
It was the Central Columbia defense that struck first early in the game. After winning the field position battle early in the game, Central Columbia’s Mason Yorty perfectly placed a Bluejay punt deep in Warrior Run territory. The punt rolled out of bounds at the five-yard line and the Central Columbia defense stood strong, forcing a Warrior Run three-and-out.
With Denver Beachel’s heels on his own endline, the long snap on a 4th-and-3 punt sailed over his head and out the back of the endzone for a Central Columbia safety.
With a 2-0 lead early in the game, Central drove down the field on its ensuing possession, but came up short of making it a 5-0 lead when a 29-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
The miss helped shift momentum back in Warrior Run’s favor. Two drives later Warrior Run scored its lone offensive touchdown of the game to take a 7-2 lead.
Warrior Run put together a 12-play drive that culminated in a spectacular 28-yard touchdown catch from Riley Daubert on a Remington Corderman pass. Daubert won a jump ball against tough coverage in the endzone, coming down with the score. The drive saw Warrior Run convert four third downs, including the touchdown pass on 3rd-and-12.
It didn’t take long for Central Columbia to strike back. On the team’s first drive after losing the lead, the home team went on a long, methodical drive of its own, scoring on a one-yard QB sneak by Garrett McNelis. The QB sneak was set up by a nice run by Troy Johnson one play prior.
Johnson took a handoff around the left side for 13 yards and was stopped less than a yard short of scoring the go-ahead touchdown.
With an 8-7 lead thanks to the early safety, Central Columbia decided to go for a two point conversion to put the team up by three. McNelis found Zander Bradley in the endzone for the conversion and a 10-7 lead.
In all, the Central Columbia touchdown drive lasted 11 plays and ate up over five minutes off the clock and left Warrior Run little time to strike back in the opening half, as the touchdown came with only 1:04 remaining in the opening half.
Central Columbia seemed to be in great shape with a 10-7 lead at the half and about to receive the second half kickoff.
That feeling would not last long, as it was the Warrior Run defense making a huge play to take control of the game.
On 3rd-and-seven at the 50-yard line, Warrior Run’s Daubert jumped an out route and picked off a McNelis pass. Daubert took it back to the house for a 55-yard interception return and a 14-10 lead to open the second half.
From here on out both defenses held firm. The teams battled back and forth for field position for the remainder of the game.
In a 14-10 game, it came down to the final drive for Central Columbia. The Bluejays began from their own 21-yard line with 5:04 remaining on the clock.
The Central offense began to click, earning three first downs on the drive and getting into Warrior Run territory in the game’s final two minutes.
On a 1st-and-10 from the Warrior Run 29, Central Columbia was tagged with a holding penalty well behind the line of scrimmage. This turned the 1st-and-10 into a 1st-and-31, pushing the ball back to the 50-yard line. A Defenders sack by Ahmahd Keyes pushed Central back even farther into a hole that the home team could not climb out of.
On the final play of the night, McNelis dropped back and delivered a last-ditch effort deep down the field. The ball was intercepted by Coltin Pentycofe to seal the victory for the road team.
“The defense really played lights out,” said a nearly speechless Chris Long after the game. “Time after time and drive after drive they came up big. We were able to shut them out in the second half which was great.”
Riley Daubert – who scored both Warrior Run touchdowns on the night (one receiving, one interception return) – also had high praise for his team’s defensive effort and team effort as a whole.
“Once we get our momentum rolling, I think we’re unstoppable” he said. “Once we got points on the board and we were winning, everyone on the team started believing. Everyone was playing 100 percent tonight.
Warrior Run improved to 5-3 overall with the big road victory.
“This is the best win that we’ve had around here in a long time,” said Jones. “We beat a team that is proven. This is a fun one. This is great.”
Warrior Run 14, Central Columbia 10
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Warrior Run 0 7 7 0 — 14
Central Columbia 2 8 0 0 — 10
First Quarter
CC—Aborted Snap out back of endzone, 6:07.
Second Quarter
WR—Riley Daubert 28-yard reception from Remington Corderman (Logan Witmer PAT Good), 6:20.
CC—Garrett McNelis 1-yard run (2 pt. Conversion Good; Zander Bradley reception from McNelis), 1:04.
Third Quarter
WR—Daubert 55-yard interception return (Witmer PAT Good), 8:27.
TEAM STATISTICS WR CC
First downs 5 12
Total yards 123 185
Rushes-yards 30-78 34-116
Yards passing 45 69
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 3-14-1 7-21-2
Punts-avg. 4-35 5-33
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 5-40 6-66
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Warrior Run: Daubert 11-57, Denver Beachel 14-34, David Gearhart 1-0, TEAM 2-(-2), Corderman 2-(-11). Central Columbia: Troy Johnson 21-88, McNelis 9-23 TD, Jake Reifer 3-9, Eli Morrison 1-(-4).
PASSING—Warrior Run: Corderman 3-12 45 yds, TD; Beachel 0-1, INT; Daubert 0-1. Central Columbia: McNelis 7-21 69 yds, 2 INT.
RECEIVING—Warrior Run: Daubert 3-45 TD. Central Columbia: Reifer 1-30, Morrison 2-25, Bradley 2-8, Johnson 3-6.
