Tigers Get NLC Win Over Rockies
September 5, 2020 at 5:03 a.m.
Tigers Get NLC Win Over Rockies
By Chip Davenport-
The Tigers win was the first for them versus the Rockies since 2013, when the team was still playing on grass and these four seniors were fifth graders.
Martz, a two-way starter at safety and A-back, racked up a team-leading 7.5 tackles. He added a 26-yard pass from Greene on a well-run wheel route to set up Wampler’s 2-yard TD with 0:54 left in the first half. He followed up later in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard option pitch run to set up Wampler’s second TD, a nine-yard rumble into paydirt with 6:57 remaining to give the Tigers a 21-7 lead they would not relinquish. The 6’2” senior was called for holding before each of those big plays, but he reversed his fortune immediately.
Coach Curtis said, “He had an all-around good game. From my vantage point that’s the kind of block when you come off the field you congratulate the kid. But I don’t make that final decision. He had high energy tonight.”
Warsaw’s offensive line, despite limited available players tonight, made their O-line coach Brady Jones and offensive coordinator Michael Curtis proud, paving the way for 304 rushing yards and providing the push to convert 11 of 15 third downs adding 2 of 2 on fourth down.
Several Tiger sophomores used strong performances, a “Sophomore Night” of their own per se, to further dampen the Rockies’ pregame festivities. 6’5” 240-lb defensive end Russ Winchester intercepted a deflected pass from Plymouth’s junior QB Zach Masterson. Linebacker German Flores-Ortega added 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Classmate Nick Katris, moved up from junior varsity, added 3.5 tackles and a pass breakup. Tucker Curtis, a 5’7” 135 lb. crowd favorite had solid special teams play and took the final snap at QB to close out the win.
Greene’s first of two touchdowns came on the opening drive; a 1-yard QB keeper at the 7:48 mark to put the Tigers up 7-0. The two teams swapped touchdowns in the last 54 seconds of the first half. Warsaw moved ahead 14-0 on Wampler’s 2-yard TD. Plymouth quickly responded with a 21-yard strike from Masterson to Michael Sheely with 0:01 remaining in the half, narrowing the guests’ lead to 14-7.
Plymouth’s multi-sport senior athlete Jake Reichard broke loose with a 34-yard pass from Masterson to end the evening’s scoring. Warsaw outgained its century-old arch-rival 330 yards to 172 yards.
Junior A-back Julius Jones is raising his stock each week. His performance Friday night included a 40-yard kickoff return and 6 rushes for 61 yards (10.2 yards per carry). His speed on option pitches in the perimeter energizes the crowd.
Win or lose, Curtis looks for ways to improve upon the most recent performance.
Curtis said, “We gotta execute better. We gotta play situational football better. Seven seconds to go on the 30-yard line. That’s on us. The defense played with energy. They got after people. Our tackling needs to improve a bit, but we were flying around the ball.”
The Tigers host his former team, the Mishawaka Cavemen in the conference newcomer’s league opener Friday September 11th at 7:00 p.m. The game will be delay-broadcast on WHME Channel 46 at 11:00 p.m. that evening.
W - 7 7 0 21 - 28
P - 0 7 0 7 - 14
W – Aaron Greene 1 run (Colton Wampler kick) Q1 7:48
W – Wampler 2 run (Wampler kick) Q2 0:54
P – Michael Sheely 21 pass from Zach Masterson (Adrian Cardona kick) Q2 0:01
W – Greene 1 run (Wampler kick) Q4 6:57
W – Wampler 9 run (Wampler kick) Q4 4:20
P – Jake Reichard 34 pass from Masterson (Cardona kick) Q4 0:32
The Tigers win was the first for them versus the Rockies since 2013, when the team was still playing on grass and these four seniors were fifth graders.
Martz, a two-way starter at safety and A-back, racked up a team-leading 7.5 tackles. He added a 26-yard pass from Greene on a well-run wheel route to set up Wampler’s 2-yard TD with 0:54 left in the first half. He followed up later in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard option pitch run to set up Wampler’s second TD, a nine-yard rumble into paydirt with 6:57 remaining to give the Tigers a 21-7 lead they would not relinquish. The 6’2” senior was called for holding before each of those big plays, but he reversed his fortune immediately.
Coach Curtis said, “He had an all-around good game. From my vantage point that’s the kind of block when you come off the field you congratulate the kid. But I don’t make that final decision. He had high energy tonight.”
Warsaw’s offensive line, despite limited available players tonight, made their O-line coach Brady Jones and offensive coordinator Michael Curtis proud, paving the way for 304 rushing yards and providing the push to convert 11 of 15 third downs adding 2 of 2 on fourth down.
Several Tiger sophomores used strong performances, a “Sophomore Night” of their own per se, to further dampen the Rockies’ pregame festivities. 6’5” 240-lb defensive end Russ Winchester intercepted a deflected pass from Plymouth’s junior QB Zach Masterson. Linebacker German Flores-Ortega added 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Classmate Nick Katris, moved up from junior varsity, added 3.5 tackles and a pass breakup. Tucker Curtis, a 5’7” 135 lb. crowd favorite had solid special teams play and took the final snap at QB to close out the win.
Greene’s first of two touchdowns came on the opening drive; a 1-yard QB keeper at the 7:48 mark to put the Tigers up 7-0. The two teams swapped touchdowns in the last 54 seconds of the first half. Warsaw moved ahead 14-0 on Wampler’s 2-yard TD. Plymouth quickly responded with a 21-yard strike from Masterson to Michael Sheely with 0:01 remaining in the half, narrowing the guests’ lead to 14-7.
Plymouth’s multi-sport senior athlete Jake Reichard broke loose with a 34-yard pass from Masterson to end the evening’s scoring. Warsaw outgained its century-old arch-rival 330 yards to 172 yards.
Junior A-back Julius Jones is raising his stock each week. His performance Friday night included a 40-yard kickoff return and 6 rushes for 61 yards (10.2 yards per carry). His speed on option pitches in the perimeter energizes the crowd.
Win or lose, Curtis looks for ways to improve upon the most recent performance.
Curtis said, “We gotta execute better. We gotta play situational football better. Seven seconds to go on the 30-yard line. That’s on us. The defense played with energy. They got after people. Our tackling needs to improve a bit, but we were flying around the ball.”
The Tigers host his former team, the Mishawaka Cavemen in the conference newcomer’s league opener Friday September 11th at 7:00 p.m. The game will be delay-broadcast on WHME Channel 46 at 11:00 p.m. that evening.
W - 7 7 0 21 - 28
P - 0 7 0 7 - 14
W – Aaron Greene 1 run (Colton Wampler kick) Q1 7:48
W – Wampler 2 run (Wampler kick) Q2 0:54
P – Michael Sheely 21 pass from Zach Masterson (Adrian Cardona kick) Q2 0:01
W – Greene 1 run (Wampler kick) Q4 6:57
W – Wampler 9 run (Wampler kick) Q4 4:20
P – Jake Reichard 34 pass from Masterson (Cardona kick) Q4 0:32
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