Concord Slips Past Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Heading into sectional play next week, the Warsaw Tigers couldn't have asked for much more. Well, that's not entirely true, they could have gotten the win.
But everything else about Warsaw's 27-19 loss to Concord Friday at Fisher Field was a step in the right direction for a young football program.
"This is one of the highlights of my coaching career so far," Warsaw coach Phil Jensen said. "A bunch of kids that had every reason to hang up the pads a long time ago come out here and played a team like Concord tough.
"This is one of the upper teams in our conference, and our kids came out and laid it on the line," he said. "This is a huge step for our program."
Concord is a team that lost close games to Plymouth and NorthWood, while beating Goshen - three teams that combined to beat Warsaw 100-0 this year.
Of Warsaw's six losses this year, this was the first one that Warsaw lost, but still managed to put some points on the scoreboard, a definite step in the right direction.
The Tigers trailed Concord (5-2, 4-2 in the Northern Lakes Conference) 21-16 entering the fourth quarter and got down to the Concord 4-yard line. But a penalty and two negative run plays pushed Warsaw to the 16-yard line. On fourth down, Sam Wihebrink's second field goal of the game, a 34-yarder, made it 21-19.
After a Concord punt, Warsaw got another chance, but deep in its own territory at the 11-yard line. A 16-yard completion from Andy Plank to P.J. Wiley moved the ball closer, but Wiley moved back to quarterback and threw an interception a few plays later.
The Minutemen marched down the field and got the clinching score when Wes Sponseller ran in from 9 yards out to make it 27-19. Warsaw's final opportunity was dashed when Plank was picked off on a great pick by Nate Smith.
"This is a young group of kids," Jensen said. "We made some mistakes. I made a couple of bad calls in trying to force the ball a few times. The pass should be there, but we are not quite ready to take that step.
"We just couldn't find that one extra umph, and that comes from experience and being in these situations," he said. "You have kids who have never been there. They should learn a bunch from this. It could have been 1 percent more positive with the W."
The first half opened up like it was going to be an offensive free-for-all.
The Tigers got their first score in the first quarter all season when Jose Esquivel took the pitch and ran for 5 yards out behind great blocking from the Tigers to make it 6-0.
Concord came right back and scored when Brian Conn scrambled around and eventually found paydirt from 8 yards out to make it 7-6. After a controversial interception gave the ball back to the Minutemen, the momentum began to turn around. The play had Warsaw receiver Tyler Charlton and Smith coming down with the ball at the same time, but the officials gave the interception to Smith. Jensen was flagged with a 15-yard penalty when he questioned the call.
On the next play, Conn hit Smith on a 27-yard completion in the end zone for a 14-6 Concord lead.
Wihebrink's 27-yard field goal cut the lead to 14-9 to start the second quarter, but Conn then showed why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NLC when he first scrambled for 10 yards and a first down when he appeared to be caught for a 10-yard sack. A minute later, Conn called his own number and scampered 61 yards for the touchdown and a 21-9 Concord lead.
"They are an outstanding offensive football team," Jensen said. "Conn is the real deal. He had him sacked a few times, and his physical strength and athletic ability made some big plays for them."
Conn has received attention from Division I college teams.
Steve Perry cut the margin to 21-16 at halftime when he pushed his way in from two-yards out for the score. The play was set up when Plank connected with Wiley on a 52-yard pass play.
Plank finished up 3 of 5 for 100 yards through the air, as well as 52 yard rushing from his fullback position.
"Andy Plank is doing a great job fitting into his role," Jensen said. "That is part of fitting together. We struggled with that early. It takes a while to get used to it."
Both defenses picked it up after halftime.
Conn finished 8 of 20 for 111 yards through the air, but at one point he completed only 1 of 11 passes in the third quarter. The Minutemen did some adjusting itself and began to stall the Tiger running attack by containing the outside sweeps, pitches and options.
"They made some great adjustments at halftime," Jensen said. "They changed their line play. They changed to more of a read-type defense and started going outside. Their kids are better athletes than ours up front."
Esquivel finished with 56 yards rushing, but only 11 after halftime.
Warsaw (2-6, 2-4) opens up 5A, Sectional 2 play Friday when it hosts South Bend Riley. [[In-content Ad]]
Heading into sectional play next week, the Warsaw Tigers couldn't have asked for much more. Well, that's not entirely true, they could have gotten the win.
But everything else about Warsaw's 27-19 loss to Concord Friday at Fisher Field was a step in the right direction for a young football program.
"This is one of the highlights of my coaching career so far," Warsaw coach Phil Jensen said. "A bunch of kids that had every reason to hang up the pads a long time ago come out here and played a team like Concord tough.
"This is one of the upper teams in our conference, and our kids came out and laid it on the line," he said. "This is a huge step for our program."
Concord is a team that lost close games to Plymouth and NorthWood, while beating Goshen - three teams that combined to beat Warsaw 100-0 this year.
Of Warsaw's six losses this year, this was the first one that Warsaw lost, but still managed to put some points on the scoreboard, a definite step in the right direction.
The Tigers trailed Concord (5-2, 4-2 in the Northern Lakes Conference) 21-16 entering the fourth quarter and got down to the Concord 4-yard line. But a penalty and two negative run plays pushed Warsaw to the 16-yard line. On fourth down, Sam Wihebrink's second field goal of the game, a 34-yarder, made it 21-19.
After a Concord punt, Warsaw got another chance, but deep in its own territory at the 11-yard line. A 16-yard completion from Andy Plank to P.J. Wiley moved the ball closer, but Wiley moved back to quarterback and threw an interception a few plays later.
The Minutemen marched down the field and got the clinching score when Wes Sponseller ran in from 9 yards out to make it 27-19. Warsaw's final opportunity was dashed when Plank was picked off on a great pick by Nate Smith.
"This is a young group of kids," Jensen said. "We made some mistakes. I made a couple of bad calls in trying to force the ball a few times. The pass should be there, but we are not quite ready to take that step.
"We just couldn't find that one extra umph, and that comes from experience and being in these situations," he said. "You have kids who have never been there. They should learn a bunch from this. It could have been 1 percent more positive with the W."
The first half opened up like it was going to be an offensive free-for-all.
The Tigers got their first score in the first quarter all season when Jose Esquivel took the pitch and ran for 5 yards out behind great blocking from the Tigers to make it 6-0.
Concord came right back and scored when Brian Conn scrambled around and eventually found paydirt from 8 yards out to make it 7-6. After a controversial interception gave the ball back to the Minutemen, the momentum began to turn around. The play had Warsaw receiver Tyler Charlton and Smith coming down with the ball at the same time, but the officials gave the interception to Smith. Jensen was flagged with a 15-yard penalty when he questioned the call.
On the next play, Conn hit Smith on a 27-yard completion in the end zone for a 14-6 Concord lead.
Wihebrink's 27-yard field goal cut the lead to 14-9 to start the second quarter, but Conn then showed why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NLC when he first scrambled for 10 yards and a first down when he appeared to be caught for a 10-yard sack. A minute later, Conn called his own number and scampered 61 yards for the touchdown and a 21-9 Concord lead.
"They are an outstanding offensive football team," Jensen said. "Conn is the real deal. He had him sacked a few times, and his physical strength and athletic ability made some big plays for them."
Conn has received attention from Division I college teams.
Steve Perry cut the margin to 21-16 at halftime when he pushed his way in from two-yards out for the score. The play was set up when Plank connected with Wiley on a 52-yard pass play.
Plank finished up 3 of 5 for 100 yards through the air, as well as 52 yard rushing from his fullback position.
"Andy Plank is doing a great job fitting into his role," Jensen said. "That is part of fitting together. We struggled with that early. It takes a while to get used to it."
Both defenses picked it up after halftime.
Conn finished 8 of 20 for 111 yards through the air, but at one point he completed only 1 of 11 passes in the third quarter. The Minutemen did some adjusting itself and began to stall the Tiger running attack by containing the outside sweeps, pitches and options.
"They made some great adjustments at halftime," Jensen said. "They changed their line play. They changed to more of a read-type defense and started going outside. Their kids are better athletes than ours up front."
Esquivel finished with 56 yards rushing, but only 11 after halftime.
Warsaw (2-6, 2-4) opens up 5A, Sectional 2 play Friday when it hosts South Bend Riley. [[In-content Ad]]