Penn Kingsmen Burst Warsaw's Bubble
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Based on school enrollment, there was no David or Goliath in Friday's Warsaw/Penn first round sectional football game.
Based on tradition, there was.
And there was no storybook ending in this one. Penn, playing the role of Goliath, ended Warsaw's season with a 51-16 score that Penn coach Chris Geesman said was closer than it looks.
"I never expected this," said Geesman, who in 27 seasons with the Kingsmen is 269-43. "Trust me, this was not an easy game. The score says it was, but it wasn't. Phil (Jensen, Warsaw coach) is closer than what he thinks. I'm glad I'm about to retire. I'll only have to contend with him for a couple more years."
The win improves Penn's overall season record to 9-1, while the Tigers finish their season at 8-2. Jensen is 21-19 in four seasons as Warsaw's head coach.
"I'm awful proud of our kids, especially the seniors," said Jensen, a 1983 Penn graduate. "They've (seniors) been with me for four years and have done everything I've asked and more. The score is nothing to hang their heads about. They've done themselves proud."
It looked as if the Tigers were going to move the ball right away on the Kingsmen as senior signal caller Greg Seiss found 6-foot-6 tight end Zach Nelson for a 20-yard completion on the first play from the line of scrimmage. Warsaw's offense then had two consecutive 1-yard gains, a 5-yard penalty that set up a third-and-12, a 4-yard loss on a sack and a 38-yard punt on its first possession.
The Tiger offense was without 6-3 senior wide receiver Ross Kesler, who had caught 43 passes for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns, due to a back injury. Without him, Warsaw racked up just 86 yards through the air on Greg Seiss' 5-of-15 passing performance. The Tigers came in averaging 183.7 passing yards per game.
After the game, Jensen was asked what his game plan was and how key Kesler's absence would be.
"To find a way to win," Jensen said his game plan was. "And to try not to give up big plays. If you give up the big play They put points on the board. That's Penn football. Any time you take someone out of your game plan that accounted for one-quarter of your offense, it's a loss."
In the second half, the Kingsmen put points on the board and as Jensen said, went for the jugular.
After leading 24-10 at the half, the Kingsmen started the third quarter with an 80-yard touchdown trot by senior James Lizzi on the first play from the line of scrimmage, taking a mere 15 seconds off the clock and upping their advantage to 31-10.
This was the third of five touchdowns for Lizzi on the evening. The 6-0, 180-pound senior finished the game with three scores on the ground and two through the air. Lizzi led the Kingsmen ground attack with 162 yards on 19 carries. He also caught six passes for 70 yards. Penn triggerman Jason Cencelewski ended the evening with 190 yards through the air on 12-of-16 passing with three touchdowns and one interception.
Warsaw's ground game was spearheaded by Seiss, who rushed the ball 15 times for 77 yards. Brad Seiss led the Tiger receiving corps with two catches for 38 yards. Nelson reeled in two balls for 34 yards.
Both of Seiss' catches were for scores. The first came in the second quarter, cutting Penn's lead to 17-10. The other came at the 3:35 mark of the third quarter and was the last score of the evening for the Tigers.
In terms of total offense, the Kingsmen dominated Warsaw 456-201. The Kingsmen tallied 257 yards of offense in the second half alone and scored 20 points in the third quarter to blow the game open.
"We got beat by a great football team," said Jensen. "We got 'Penned.' They're a great football team, and they know how to take care of things."
Jensen was asked if he thought the Kingsmen would finish their season in the RCA Dome, where they have won three championships in the last four years, possibly in a rematch with Indianapolis Ben Davis. Ben Davis topped Penn 14-7 earlier in the year, accounting for its only loss.
"I think so," said Jensen. "There's no question. I think the best two teams in our sectional played tonight."
Penn (9-1) will host Michigan City Friday in the second round of the sectional. Michigan City advances after coming from behind to edge Elkhart Memorial.
PENN 51, WARSAW 16
Penn 7 17 20 7 - 51
Warsaw 3 7 6 0 - 16
P W
First Downs 17 10
Rushes-Yards 49-266 25-115
Passing Yards 190 86
Comp.-Att.-Int. 12-16-1 5-15-0
Total Offense 456 201
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Punts-Avg. 0-0 5-41.2
Penalties-Yards 3-15 2-20
First Quarter
P - Sean Clucker 73 pass from Jason Cencelewski (Matthew kick), 7:36
W - Gabe Koser 35 field goal, 4:39
Second Quarter
P - Nagy 25 field goal, 10:44
P - James Lizzi 1 run (Nagy kick), 5:55
W - Brad Seiss 20 catch from Greg Seiss (Koser kick)
P - Lizzi 8 catch from Cencelewski (Nagy kick), 2:07
Third Quarter
P - Lizzi 80 run (Nagy kick), 11:45
P - Lizzi 30 catch (Nagy kick), 9:06
P - Zach Hill 21 catch from Cencelewski (kick failed), 4:53
W - Seiss 18 catch from catch (kick blocked) 3:35
Fourth Quarter
P - Lizzi 4 run (Nagy kick), 11:58
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Penn, Lizzi 19-162, Ryan Kisrow 14-63; Warsaw, G. Seiss 15-77
Passing - Penn, Cencelewski 12-16-190-1; Warsaw, G. Seiss 5-15-86-0
Receiving - Penn, Lizzi 6-70, Hill 5-47, Clucker 1-73; Warsaw, B. Seiss 2-38, Zach Nelson 2-34 [[In-content Ad]]
Based on school enrollment, there was no David or Goliath in Friday's Warsaw/Penn first round sectional football game.
Based on tradition, there was.
And there was no storybook ending in this one. Penn, playing the role of Goliath, ended Warsaw's season with a 51-16 score that Penn coach Chris Geesman said was closer than it looks.
"I never expected this," said Geesman, who in 27 seasons with the Kingsmen is 269-43. "Trust me, this was not an easy game. The score says it was, but it wasn't. Phil (Jensen, Warsaw coach) is closer than what he thinks. I'm glad I'm about to retire. I'll only have to contend with him for a couple more years."
The win improves Penn's overall season record to 9-1, while the Tigers finish their season at 8-2. Jensen is 21-19 in four seasons as Warsaw's head coach.
"I'm awful proud of our kids, especially the seniors," said Jensen, a 1983 Penn graduate. "They've (seniors) been with me for four years and have done everything I've asked and more. The score is nothing to hang their heads about. They've done themselves proud."
It looked as if the Tigers were going to move the ball right away on the Kingsmen as senior signal caller Greg Seiss found 6-foot-6 tight end Zach Nelson for a 20-yard completion on the first play from the line of scrimmage. Warsaw's offense then had two consecutive 1-yard gains, a 5-yard penalty that set up a third-and-12, a 4-yard loss on a sack and a 38-yard punt on its first possession.
The Tiger offense was without 6-3 senior wide receiver Ross Kesler, who had caught 43 passes for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns, due to a back injury. Without him, Warsaw racked up just 86 yards through the air on Greg Seiss' 5-of-15 passing performance. The Tigers came in averaging 183.7 passing yards per game.
After the game, Jensen was asked what his game plan was and how key Kesler's absence would be.
"To find a way to win," Jensen said his game plan was. "And to try not to give up big plays. If you give up the big play They put points on the board. That's Penn football. Any time you take someone out of your game plan that accounted for one-quarter of your offense, it's a loss."
In the second half, the Kingsmen put points on the board and as Jensen said, went for the jugular.
After leading 24-10 at the half, the Kingsmen started the third quarter with an 80-yard touchdown trot by senior James Lizzi on the first play from the line of scrimmage, taking a mere 15 seconds off the clock and upping their advantage to 31-10.
This was the third of five touchdowns for Lizzi on the evening. The 6-0, 180-pound senior finished the game with three scores on the ground and two through the air. Lizzi led the Kingsmen ground attack with 162 yards on 19 carries. He also caught six passes for 70 yards. Penn triggerman Jason Cencelewski ended the evening with 190 yards through the air on 12-of-16 passing with three touchdowns and one interception.
Warsaw's ground game was spearheaded by Seiss, who rushed the ball 15 times for 77 yards. Brad Seiss led the Tiger receiving corps with two catches for 38 yards. Nelson reeled in two balls for 34 yards.
Both of Seiss' catches were for scores. The first came in the second quarter, cutting Penn's lead to 17-10. The other came at the 3:35 mark of the third quarter and was the last score of the evening for the Tigers.
In terms of total offense, the Kingsmen dominated Warsaw 456-201. The Kingsmen tallied 257 yards of offense in the second half alone and scored 20 points in the third quarter to blow the game open.
"We got beat by a great football team," said Jensen. "We got 'Penned.' They're a great football team, and they know how to take care of things."
Jensen was asked if he thought the Kingsmen would finish their season in the RCA Dome, where they have won three championships in the last four years, possibly in a rematch with Indianapolis Ben Davis. Ben Davis topped Penn 14-7 earlier in the year, accounting for its only loss.
"I think so," said Jensen. "There's no question. I think the best two teams in our sectional played tonight."
Penn (9-1) will host Michigan City Friday in the second round of the sectional. Michigan City advances after coming from behind to edge Elkhart Memorial.
PENN 51, WARSAW 16
Penn 7 17 20 7 - 51
Warsaw 3 7 6 0 - 16
P W
First Downs 17 10
Rushes-Yards 49-266 25-115
Passing Yards 190 86
Comp.-Att.-Int. 12-16-1 5-15-0
Total Offense 456 201
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Punts-Avg. 0-0 5-41.2
Penalties-Yards 3-15 2-20
First Quarter
P - Sean Clucker 73 pass from Jason Cencelewski (Matthew kick), 7:36
W - Gabe Koser 35 field goal, 4:39
Second Quarter
P - Nagy 25 field goal, 10:44
P - James Lizzi 1 run (Nagy kick), 5:55
W - Brad Seiss 20 catch from Greg Seiss (Koser kick)
P - Lizzi 8 catch from Cencelewski (Nagy kick), 2:07
Third Quarter
P - Lizzi 80 run (Nagy kick), 11:45
P - Lizzi 30 catch (Nagy kick), 9:06
P - Zach Hill 21 catch from Cencelewski (kick failed), 4:53
W - Seiss 18 catch from catch (kick blocked) 3:35
Fourth Quarter
P - Lizzi 4 run (Nagy kick), 11:58
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Penn, Lizzi 19-162, Ryan Kisrow 14-63; Warsaw, G. Seiss 15-77
Passing - Penn, Cencelewski 12-16-190-1; Warsaw, G. Seiss 5-15-86-0
Receiving - Penn, Lizzi 6-70, Hill 5-47, Clucker 1-73; Warsaw, B. Seiss 2-38, Zach Nelson 2-34 [[In-content Ad]]