Coming off of a season that saw the team sharing a Northern Lakes Conference title and playing for a sectional championship, the Warsaw Tiger football team returns plenty of talent and depth for the 2024 campaign that will see the school engaging in one of the biggest changes in program history.
Warsaw has moved down a class this fall, going from the second smallest school in 6A to the second largest in 5A. Instead of sharing its playoff bracket with Carroll, Elkhart and Penn, the Tigers will now compete against Concord, Goshen and Fort Wayne North Side for the sectional crown.
“We’re going to play whoever they tell us we’re playing in whatever class they tell us to play in,” Warsaw head coach Bart Curtis said. “It’s going to be a little different but we’re going to prepare hard like we always do and we’ll see what happens.”
Last season, the Tigers hard nosed defense was the backbone of a team that finished the year with a 9-2 record. Leading that defense were Indiana All-Stars Isaac Beam and Eric Pohl. Both players have graduated, but Curtis expects the unit to pick up where it left off with key returners like Cohen Heady, Mason Gabrich, Jayden Habegger and Grady Nelson.
“We still have a ton of guys that will be back. Cohen is the captain of the defense and one of our team captains. We have both of our safeties coming back,” Curtis said. “We’re going to need some guys to come in and fill some spaces, and the guys that are coming back, we’ll need them to play at another level than what they played last year in order for us to compete.”
Another key returner is starting quarterback Drew Sullivan. Sullivan was slated to be the team’s signal caller last season, but an injury suffered during the first week of the season caused him to miss the rest of the campaign. Quinton Brock filled in for the remainder of the season and played well leading the primarily running-focused offense. For his senior year, Sullivan is back and ready to leave his mark.
“I have some great coaches here that have helped me rehab and get right to be able to play this season,” Sullivan said. “I grew up going to Warsaw Tiger football games and this is my chance to live the dream I’ve had since I was a kid. There have been a ton of great players that have come before me and I want to continue that legacy for the younger guys that will come in after me.”
Curtis is confident in his returning QB and his ability to make an impact.
“It’s his job and he’s been pushing himself to get better each and every practice. He threw the ball a lot this spring and it shows. His deep ball is better, his accuracy is better,” Curtis said. “He’s bigger, stronger, faster and more durable than he was a year ago.”
As for Brock, he will continue having a big role for the varsity offense this year, serving as one of the team’s halfbacks. Daylor Vilamaa is another player that can step into the quarterback role should the need arise.
Curtis was also quick to compliment Mason Smythe, who he considers to be the best kicker in the state.
“He’s going to win us some games. He’s got one of the best legs I’ve ever seen and he can punt the ball like crazy. He’s a guy that can flip and control the field for us and that’s going to be critical,” he said.
Warsaw will begin the season Friday night with a home game against Michigan City. It’s the seventh straight year the Tigers have scheduled the Wolves as a non conference opponent, and the third in which the two teams will open the season against each other. In week two, Warsaw will make its first even trip to Indianapolis to take on Warren Central.
“I’m excited right now, but on August 28th when the bus pulls out at 2:30 I may not be as excited for the two and a half hour trip.,” Curtis joked. “It’s a great opportunity for us to play one of the top teams in the state. They have five legitimate D1 kids on their defense. It’s going to be a big test for us and that’s why we put them on the schedule. We don’t do things that aren’t going to make us better by November.”
Following those two contests, Warsaw will begin its seven-game NLC schedule with a home game against Goshen. The Tigers will face a tough test at the end of the season, playing its final three games against last year’s co-champion Mishawaka, 4A runner up NorthWood and a Northridge side that went 9-3 a season ago. The final two games will be on the road.
“I think there are a good five teams in this conference this year that if they get hot and stay healthy, could be hoisting up the trophy at the end of the season,” Curtis said. “It will all come down to how we match up with each other. Last year we did not match up well against Mishawaka, then NorthWood gets them a week later. You don’t know how kids are going to respond on any given Friday night. You can prepare them, get them ready in as many ways as you can, but they’re doing the same thing on the other side. You just never know what’s going to happen.”