Dunlap -ÊThe Wawasee Warriors traveled to Concord with expectations of solidifying their position atop of the Northern Lakes Conference. What their football team got was a loss in the form of interceptions, fumbles and controversy.

Concord took advantage of three Logan Lees fumbles and two Brent Doty interceptions in securing its first conference win 27-14 Friday evening.

Wawasee (2-2, 1-1 NLC) received the opening kickoff and marched 56 yards in six plays to the Concord 16 when turnover number one occurred. Ian Nelson stepped in front of a slant pass by Doty, intercepted it and returned it to their 38. This set up their first score.

Concord (1-3, 1-1 NLC) drove the remaining 62 yards in nine plays, culminated by Jeremy Lugbill taking the pitch and scampering the final 20 yards for the game's first score.

Wawasee then drove 61 yards in 10 plays to the Concord 11-yard line.

Enter miscue number two. On fourth down and two yards to go, usually reliable placekicker Chad Wooten shanked a 35-yard field goal.

"We wanted to get some points on the board," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld. "Chad just didn't hit it good."

Wawasee tied the score at 7-7 in the second quarter due in part to a 55-yard Travis Klenke return of a Minuteman punt. The Warriors drove the remaining 30 yards finalized by Doty to Lees from four yards out with 2:42 left.

Concord used its two-minute offense to perfection and scored just seconds before the half ended when Nick Matney reversed his field and rambled in from the 32-yard line of Wawasee. The score gave Concord a 14-7 lead, not to mention momentum, heading into the half.

Wawasee seemingly was headed on a game-tying drive when miscue number three occurred. Lees coughed up the first of three fumbles at Wawasee's 48.

"Lees was frustrated by no big runs," Rietveld said. "He was trying to score on every carry. He has to learn against good teams you take what yardage they allow."

Rietveld was referring to Lees' efforts to reverse his field instead of taking the short gain.

It did not take Concord long to capitalize. In just four plays and 1:27, Concord upped its lead to 21-7 thanks to Matney's touchdown from two yards out. Soon to come, Warrior miscue number four. But for many who were there, they would contest that, even Rietveld.

Lees apparently scored from two yards out but fumbled into the end zone, and Concord recovered the ball.

Rietveld thought otherwise. "That was a touchdown," Rietveld said. "I saw it (football cross the goal line) go in, and our kids saw it go in."

One of the few who didn't see it go in was the only one who counted, the back judge. Two plays later, Rietveld was hit by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and 15 yards.

"I need to let that go and let the official make the call," Rietveld said.

Concord coach Tim Dawson sympathized with Rietveld, "(The call) was tough on Joe. I've been there, and I know what he was talking about."

For all intents and purposes, Concord put the game out of reach midway through the fourth quarter when Nelson found tight end Bryan Kelly from five yards out, giving the Minutemen a 27-7 lead.

Matney led all ball carriers with 159 yards on 24 carries. Nelson was an efficient 11 of 17 for 123 yards and one score.

For Wawasee, Doty completed 20 of 35 for 165 yards and one touchdown but had two costly interceptions. Lees ran the ball 17 times for 75 yards with two touchdowns. Return man Klenke had a 55-yard punt return and a 78-yard kick return that set up both Warrior touchdowns.

CONCORD 27

WAWASEE 14

Wawasee 0 7 0 7 - 14

Concord 7 7 7 6 - 27

W C

First downs 17 16

Rushes/yards 23-116 47-249

Passing yards 165 123

Comp.-Att.-Int. 20-35-2 11-17-0

Total offense 281 372

Fumbles/lost 4-3 3-3

Punts/avg. 2-31.0 5-33.2

Penalties/yards 3-24 3-15

First Quarter

C - Lugbill 20 run (Lugbill kick), 7-0 C, 4:48

Second Quarter

W -ÊLees 4 pass from Doty (Wooten kick), 7-7, 2:47

C -ÊMatney 32 run (Parker kick), 14-7 C, 0:36

Third Quarter

C -ÊMatney 2 run (Lugbill kick), 21-7 C, 5:51

Fourth Quarter

C -ÊKelly 5 pass from Nelson (kick blocked), 27-7 C, 7:22

W -ÊLees 6 run (Wooten kick) 6:57

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Wawasee: Lees 17-75, Doty 5-30, Klenke 1-11; Concord: Matney 24-159, Baier 10-34, Lugbill 2-16

Passing: Wawasee: Doty 20-35-165, 2 int.; Concord: Nelson 11-17-123

Receiving: Wawasee: Chang 1-9, Adkins 1-3, Klenke 6-47, Speicher 1-2, Edgington 1 (-1), Lees 4-27, Likens 7-76; Concord: Staley 5-62, Kelly 4-46, Matney 1-4, Lugbill 1-11 [[In-content Ad]]