The streak hit a dozen games, but somehow, it seems different.

Despite dropping to 0-12 in sectional games, the Tigers' prospects to break the streak appear to brighter than in past years. With underclassmen playing big roles, Warsaw fell to South Bend Riley 28-14 in Class 5A, Sectional 2 Friday at Fisher Field.

After starting the season 0-3 and without a single point scored, the Tigers showed signs of life in their last two ball games of the year and something to look forward to.

"The great thing that the last couple of weeks have shown us is that they found their hearts and their pride and their integrity and their intensity; we didn't lose because of any of those things," Warsaw coach Phil Jensen said.

And Jensen will have plenty to work with as he will have back his entire offensive line that he put on the field against Riley (2 juniors, 2 sophomores and a freshman) as well as quarterback Andy Plank and running back Jose Esquivel.

"These kids haven't been in the weight room in the offseason like they should, and that played a harsh role in a lot of our losses," Jensen said. "I am sad and depressed, but I am proud of these kids and happy I am here."

Warsaw took a shortlived 14-6 lead early in the second quarter when Plank found Ryan Reynolds in the corner of the end zone from six yards out.

Just a few minutes later, Terrance Shelton scampered home from 51 yards out to tie the score 14-all when Shelton also ran in the two-point conversion. It was Shelton's score from beyond 50 yards out after he scored Riley's first touchdown on a 58-yard run.

Shelton got the game-winner in the third quarter when he ran in from 3 yards out. Amando Williams had the final touchdown of the night for Riley on a 37-yard run in the final quarter.

"Halfway through the second quarter, they took over physically," Jensen said. "The great thing about that, physical we can fix. I know how to fix physical, and evidently, they found out how to fix the mental.

"They had us outphysicaled, so then you have to start committing 6, 7, 8 guys and that results in those long runs," he said. "Shelton is a great running back. He breaks the crease, and even if you have a guy there, one guy is not going to get it down."

Shelton finished with 177 yards rushing on 18 carries, while Williams added 117 as Riley ran up over 350 yards on the ground against the Tiger defense.

Warsaw showed glimpses of what its offense could look like next year when it ran Jensen's run-and-shoot like it has been trying to all season in the fourth quarter.

In a hurry and down by two touchdowns, Plank directed the Tigers down field, hitting on 7 of 8 passes before watching as the drive stalled at the Riley 24-yard line.

"I would like to make that a big part of our offense," Jensen said. "The more you can do balance-wise, the better. The run-and-shoot is a complex offense. I am still learning it, and asking a bunch of 15, 16 and 17 year olds to learn it in a short amount of time is tough. We are heading in the right direction."

Plank finished the game 12 of 19 for 111 yards, while also rushing for 60 yards as he played fullback and quarterback.

Warsaw finishes Jensen's first season at 2-7. Riley (5-4) gets to travel to Penn on Friday. [[In-content Ad]]