Warsaw Goes To Carroll With Sectional Title On Line
November 4, 2021 at 2:37 a.m.
Warsaw Goes To Carroll With Sectional Title On Line
By Steve Krah-
Following a heartbreaking 26-22 loss at Concord on Oct. 15, Warsaw experienced two sectional bye weeks. The Tigers got Carroll when the Chargers beat Homestead 21-0 on Oct. 29.
“It’s a championship game,” says Warsaw coach Bart Curtis. “Our kids need to have championship-effort practices.
“We need to have a good week.”
Since the Tigers’ last game they’ve had a fall break week in which they practiced Monday and Tuesday and took the rest of the week off followed by practices Monday through Thursday and Saturday and a regular game week.
“It’s been beneficial in some regards,” says Curtis of the long break and the opportunity heal from injury and hone some things. “Keeping kids competitive when there’s not a game on Friday presents some challenges.”
A challenge is what Warsaw will have on its hands Friday, Nov. 5. Kickoff at the new Gorsuch Complex in Fort Wayne is set for 7 p.m.
“They’re really explosive and fast,” says Curtis of the Carroll Chargers. “They’re 9-1 for a reason. You look at the people they’ve played and beaten — a good Homestead team twice and (Fort Wayne) Snider.
“They’re certainly on a roll. I’d compare them to Michigan City for team speed.”
Doug Dinan’s Chargers lost 38-31 to Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in Week 1 and their win streak reached nine with the latest triumph against Homestead at Carroll.
The Chargers gained 162 rushing yards and 161 passing yards against the Spartans.
Carroll leaders include senior/South Dakota State University commit Jeff Becker at quarterback, senior Luke Carmody at running back, senior Jameson Coverstone at receiver and junior Dylan Bennett and sophomore Braden Steely on defense.
“(Becker is) a really good player that makes things happen not only with his arm but he can make you look silly with his legs,” says Curtis. “You can not gang up on one facet of the game for them. They’ve got capable receivers and a capable running backs.
“Luke Carmody is not overly big (at 5-10, 175), but he’s quick. He can give you issues when he gets into the open field. Their line is nice-sized. They’ve got (6-2, 270 senior) Max Malcom at right tackle.
“Jameson Covertone can fly. He runs past people. They’ve got a nice passing game to complement their running game.”
The Chargers carry averages of 42.1 points per game on offense and 12.7 on defense.
Carroll is 4-3 against Warsaw in the past 35 years. The Tigers beat the Chargers 42-35 on Oct. 30, 2020.
“They were good last year,” says Curtis. “They are much better this year, particularly on defense.
“Mike linebacker Dylan Bennett can play for anybody in the state,” says Curtis.
Warsaw finished the regular season at 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the Northern Lakes Conference (runner-up to Concord).
“It didn’t turn out he way we wanted,” says Curtis of the setback against the Minutemen. “That’s what life is sometimes. Adverse situations tests your mettle — for the adults and the kids.
“Concord played well, came from behind ad did what they needed to do to win the game and we didn’t.”
In seven NLC games, Warsaw rushed of 2,288 yards (326.9 per game) and passed for 222 (31.7).
For the season, the Tigers are led by junior Tucker Curtis (15-of-29 of 266 yards and two TDs) in passing, senio Julius Jones (71 carries for 737 yards and eight TDs), junior German Flores-Ortega (111 carries for 595 yards and 10 TDs), junior Jayce Sawyer (75 carries for 506 yards and four TDs) and Curtis (91 carries for 459 yards and six TDs) in rushing, Jones (nine catches for 185 yards and one TD) in receiving and junior Jonney Burritt (43.5), junior Theo Katris (42.5), junior Nick Katris (42) and senior Aiden Binkerd (39.5) in total tackles. Theo Katris has two interceptions.
Since 1985, Warsaw is 16-36 in the postseason with 11 wins since 2006. The Tigers’ lone sectional title came in 2019.
Carroll is 32-36 since 1985 with 14 victories since 2010. The most-recent of the Chargers’ five sectional crowns was earned in 2014.
Warsaw is 2-2 on the road in 2021 and Carroll is 4-1 at home.
The winner of the Warsaw-Carroll game will meet the survivor of Hamilton Southeastern (9-2) at Westfield (6-4) in regional semifinal play. Warsaw would be the home team against either. Carroll would go to Hamilton Southeastern or host Westfield.
John Harrell’s prediction: Carroll, 35-24.
Following a heartbreaking 26-22 loss at Concord on Oct. 15, Warsaw experienced two sectional bye weeks. The Tigers got Carroll when the Chargers beat Homestead 21-0 on Oct. 29.
“It’s a championship game,” says Warsaw coach Bart Curtis. “Our kids need to have championship-effort practices.
“We need to have a good week.”
Since the Tigers’ last game they’ve had a fall break week in which they practiced Monday and Tuesday and took the rest of the week off followed by practices Monday through Thursday and Saturday and a regular game week.
“It’s been beneficial in some regards,” says Curtis of the long break and the opportunity heal from injury and hone some things. “Keeping kids competitive when there’s not a game on Friday presents some challenges.”
A challenge is what Warsaw will have on its hands Friday, Nov. 5. Kickoff at the new Gorsuch Complex in Fort Wayne is set for 7 p.m.
“They’re really explosive and fast,” says Curtis of the Carroll Chargers. “They’re 9-1 for a reason. You look at the people they’ve played and beaten — a good Homestead team twice and (Fort Wayne) Snider.
“They’re certainly on a roll. I’d compare them to Michigan City for team speed.”
Doug Dinan’s Chargers lost 38-31 to Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in Week 1 and their win streak reached nine with the latest triumph against Homestead at Carroll.
The Chargers gained 162 rushing yards and 161 passing yards against the Spartans.
Carroll leaders include senior/South Dakota State University commit Jeff Becker at quarterback, senior Luke Carmody at running back, senior Jameson Coverstone at receiver and junior Dylan Bennett and sophomore Braden Steely on defense.
“(Becker is) a really good player that makes things happen not only with his arm but he can make you look silly with his legs,” says Curtis. “You can not gang up on one facet of the game for them. They’ve got capable receivers and a capable running backs.
“Luke Carmody is not overly big (at 5-10, 175), but he’s quick. He can give you issues when he gets into the open field. Their line is nice-sized. They’ve got (6-2, 270 senior) Max Malcom at right tackle.
“Jameson Covertone can fly. He runs past people. They’ve got a nice passing game to complement their running game.”
The Chargers carry averages of 42.1 points per game on offense and 12.7 on defense.
Carroll is 4-3 against Warsaw in the past 35 years. The Tigers beat the Chargers 42-35 on Oct. 30, 2020.
“They were good last year,” says Curtis. “They are much better this year, particularly on defense.
“Mike linebacker Dylan Bennett can play for anybody in the state,” says Curtis.
Warsaw finished the regular season at 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the Northern Lakes Conference (runner-up to Concord).
“It didn’t turn out he way we wanted,” says Curtis of the setback against the Minutemen. “That’s what life is sometimes. Adverse situations tests your mettle — for the adults and the kids.
“Concord played well, came from behind ad did what they needed to do to win the game and we didn’t.”
In seven NLC games, Warsaw rushed of 2,288 yards (326.9 per game) and passed for 222 (31.7).
For the season, the Tigers are led by junior Tucker Curtis (15-of-29 of 266 yards and two TDs) in passing, senio Julius Jones (71 carries for 737 yards and eight TDs), junior German Flores-Ortega (111 carries for 595 yards and 10 TDs), junior Jayce Sawyer (75 carries for 506 yards and four TDs) and Curtis (91 carries for 459 yards and six TDs) in rushing, Jones (nine catches for 185 yards and one TD) in receiving and junior Jonney Burritt (43.5), junior Theo Katris (42.5), junior Nick Katris (42) and senior Aiden Binkerd (39.5) in total tackles. Theo Katris has two interceptions.
Since 1985, Warsaw is 16-36 in the postseason with 11 wins since 2006. The Tigers’ lone sectional title came in 2019.
Carroll is 32-36 since 1985 with 14 victories since 2010. The most-recent of the Chargers’ five sectional crowns was earned in 2014.
Warsaw is 2-2 on the road in 2021 and Carroll is 4-1 at home.
The winner of the Warsaw-Carroll game will meet the survivor of Hamilton Southeastern (9-2) at Westfield (6-4) in regional semifinal play. Warsaw would be the home team against either. Carroll would go to Hamilton Southeastern or host Westfield.
John Harrell’s prediction: Carroll, 35-24.
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