This 'W' Goes To Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - Warsaw teamed up with Mother Nature to rain on Wawasee's homecoming parade.
The Warriors were hoping to capture a homecoming victory and possession of the coveted "W" trophy, but finished the evening with another mark in the loss column and little to show for the planning that went into their homecoming celebration.
On a night that was meant to be a celebration, the halftime parade of floats was cancelled due to rain, and members of the homecoming court had to carry umbrellas and wade through mud to receive their crowns.
After defeating Wawasee 17-8, Warsaw took home the "W" trophy and a year's worth of bragging rights.
Warsaw started the game by scoring a field goal on its first possession to take an early 3-0 lead. Jose Esquivel was the man of the drive, gaining 52 yards in five carries to take the Tigers into field goal range.
Wawasee made progress to its 45-yard line but had to punt the ball after reaching fourth down and 14 yards to go.
Wawasee had a chance to tie the score in the second quarter when Jeremy High's 27-yard field goal attempt missed the uprights.
The score stood at 3-0 until Esquivel ran seven yards for a touchdown near the end of the second quarter. After Brad Waggoner nailed the extra point, Warsaw led 10-0. Later, Brad Seiss intercepted an Adam Brown pass, and Warsaw went into the locker room with the halftime lead.
Wawasee had an opportunity to reduce Warsaw's lead with the first possession of the second quarter, but failed to make it past the Tiger 41 yard line before they punted after failing to make a pivotal first down.
The Warrior defense held Esquivel to just eight yards on Warsaw's first drive of the half, and a penalty forced the Tigers attempt a punt. However, a bad snap went out of the endzone and Wawasee found new life with a 10-2 score.
"We made a few adjustments at halftime," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld. "The guys stepped up and made the adjustments and then executed them."
Wawasee failed to score on their next drive, but intercepted a key Warsaw pass and stopped the Tigers from increasing their lead.
At the end of the third quarter, the score stood at 10-2 with Warsaw on top.
Wawasee scored a key touchdown with 6:19 left in the game to make the score 10-8. All that stood between the Warriors and a tie score was a two point conversion. Miguel Roa caught a pass from Brown, but was ruled out of bounds so the score remained 10-8 in Warsaw's favor.
After forcing Warsaw to turn the ball over on downs, Wawasee had the ball first and ten on the Warsaw 49 yard line when Brown was sacked for a 12 yard loss.
On the next play, Warsaw's Brad Seiss intercepted the ball and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown with 18 seconds left in the game. After Waggoner's successful extra point, Warsaw lead Wawasee 17-8.
"We cam out and made some big plays," said Warsaw coach Phil Jensen. "Our defense rose to the occasion."
Chris Lambert returned Warsaw's final kickoff 32 yards to give the Warriors good field position, but Mike VanLaeken added insult to injury when he intercepted Brown's first pass attempt of the drive.
Warsaw then let the clock run out and claimed the "W" trophy for another year.
"I can't give Wawasee enough credit," said Jensen. "They played well tonight."
"This was an emotional game for us," said Rietveld, "that's why (losing) it hurts so much." [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE - Warsaw teamed up with Mother Nature to rain on Wawasee's homecoming parade.
The Warriors were hoping to capture a homecoming victory and possession of the coveted "W" trophy, but finished the evening with another mark in the loss column and little to show for the planning that went into their homecoming celebration.
On a night that was meant to be a celebration, the halftime parade of floats was cancelled due to rain, and members of the homecoming court had to carry umbrellas and wade through mud to receive their crowns.
After defeating Wawasee 17-8, Warsaw took home the "W" trophy and a year's worth of bragging rights.
Warsaw started the game by scoring a field goal on its first possession to take an early 3-0 lead. Jose Esquivel was the man of the drive, gaining 52 yards in five carries to take the Tigers into field goal range.
Wawasee made progress to its 45-yard line but had to punt the ball after reaching fourth down and 14 yards to go.
Wawasee had a chance to tie the score in the second quarter when Jeremy High's 27-yard field goal attempt missed the uprights.
The score stood at 3-0 until Esquivel ran seven yards for a touchdown near the end of the second quarter. After Brad Waggoner nailed the extra point, Warsaw led 10-0. Later, Brad Seiss intercepted an Adam Brown pass, and Warsaw went into the locker room with the halftime lead.
Wawasee had an opportunity to reduce Warsaw's lead with the first possession of the second quarter, but failed to make it past the Tiger 41 yard line before they punted after failing to make a pivotal first down.
The Warrior defense held Esquivel to just eight yards on Warsaw's first drive of the half, and a penalty forced the Tigers attempt a punt. However, a bad snap went out of the endzone and Wawasee found new life with a 10-2 score.
"We made a few adjustments at halftime," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld. "The guys stepped up and made the adjustments and then executed them."
Wawasee failed to score on their next drive, but intercepted a key Warsaw pass and stopped the Tigers from increasing their lead.
At the end of the third quarter, the score stood at 10-2 with Warsaw on top.
Wawasee scored a key touchdown with 6:19 left in the game to make the score 10-8. All that stood between the Warriors and a tie score was a two point conversion. Miguel Roa caught a pass from Brown, but was ruled out of bounds so the score remained 10-8 in Warsaw's favor.
After forcing Warsaw to turn the ball over on downs, Wawasee had the ball first and ten on the Warsaw 49 yard line when Brown was sacked for a 12 yard loss.
On the next play, Warsaw's Brad Seiss intercepted the ball and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown with 18 seconds left in the game. After Waggoner's successful extra point, Warsaw lead Wawasee 17-8.
"We cam out and made some big plays," said Warsaw coach Phil Jensen. "Our defense rose to the occasion."
Chris Lambert returned Warsaw's final kickoff 32 yards to give the Warriors good field position, but Mike VanLaeken added insult to injury when he intercepted Brown's first pass attempt of the drive.
Warsaw then let the clock run out and claimed the "W" trophy for another year.
"I can't give Wawasee enough credit," said Jensen. "They played well tonight."
"This was an emotional game for us," said Rietveld, "that's why (losing) it hurts so much." [[In-content Ad]]