Tigers Break Through Vs. Raiders
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
A little home cooking was just what Warsaw needed.
With the homecoming crowd at Fisher Field cheering them on, the Tigers broke several uncomfortable streaks Friday with their first win of the season, 24-22, over Northridge.
• Derrick Duncan's first-quarter touchdown broke a 13-quarter scoreless streak.
• The win was the first in seven games for the Tigers, dating back to last season.
• The win was the first at home in 10 games for the Tigers, dating back two seasons.
• Warsaw quarterback P.J. Wiley ran for 154 yards, the first Tiger back over 100 yards since Tony Sanson in 1993.
"Every reason from the middle of July until this point, they could have bagged it," Warsaw coach Phil Jensen said. "They were hearing it from everybody, from people in the school to people in the community.
"What an outstanding performance by a group of young men," he said. "I am proud of them, and they are a great group of kids. I want them to enjoy it right now and tomorrow morning (Saturday), we will get back to work. This is a great stepping stone for next week, the rest of the season and for the years to come."
Warsaw broke through against the Raiders by gaining almost as many yards, 304, as it had in the previous three games combined, 332. The Tigers had been outscored 105-0 in their previous three games before Northridge.
"This is a game that is the cornerstone of our foundation," Jensen said. "You get kicked all over the field for three games, and come back and do what they did against a good Northridge team."
The spark came out of necessity and turned into a great opportunity for Warsaw. With starting quarterback Andy Plank unable to go for the Tigers with a deep thigh bruise suffered against South Bend St. Joseph, Wiley was inserted at quarterback.
Wiley, who has been the Tigers' starting wide receiver and defensive back, had not played quarterback since middle school. But with sophomore backup quarterback Rory Shaffer still a little on the inexperienced side, the job went to the senior Wiley.
"This was a big game for us," Jensen said. "The No. 1 factor came down to P.J.'s leadership. He is a kid other players look up to and busts his butt in practice.
"He is a great leader, and the other kids did a great job of following him and the other seniors tonight," he said.
Although Wiley didn't have to throw much against the Raiders, he ran the offense to perfection and helped give Warsaw offense the boost it needed.
"The first time P.J. starting taking snaps was on Wednesday," Jensen said. "And not just him, but we had to change the whole team, and they didn't blink."
Duncan's score at the 10:40 mark of the second quarter broke the string of 13 quarters (three games and one quarter against Northridge) and brought the Tiger bench and crowd to its feet with cheers.
"Good things start to happen with a little confidence and belief," Jensen said. "This place erupted. I have never heard the sidelines in one of my games. It was an explosion in the face of our kids."
Warsaw didn't have to wait long for its second touchdown. Less than four minutes later, Wiley kept the ball up the middle and ran outside for about 40 yards, and then cut back to his left and ran untouched for the final 48 yards en route to an 88-yard scamper and a 14-7 Warsaw lead.
Northridge tied the score at 14-14 when Raider quarterback Geoff Sickels hit Craig Sheets for a 70-yard score, Sheets' second touchdown of the half.
Wiley got his second score in the third quarter for a 21-14 Tiger lead. Sam Wihebrink made it 24-14 in the fourth quarter with a 41-yard field goal.
The Tigers tried to make things interesting when with under a minute left to go in the game, a snap went over Wihebrink's head as he was trying to punt and pin the Raiders deep into their own territory.
Instead, Wihebrink recovered the ball, and Northridge took over possession at the Tiger 20. A few plays later, Sickels threw his third touchdown pass of the night, to Jeremy Delcamp, and then Sickels ran for the two-point conversion for a 24-22 game.
But with only two seconds left, Wiley recovered the onsides kick to preserve the win.
"That takes my career record to 30-15, but that is head and shoulders over any win I have had because of what these young men have been through," Jensen said.
Also for Warsaw, Duncan ran for 71 yards and Jose Esquivel added 47 yards on the ground.
Warsaw (1-3, 1-1) hosts Goshen Friday. [[In-content Ad]]
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A little home cooking was just what Warsaw needed.
With the homecoming crowd at Fisher Field cheering them on, the Tigers broke several uncomfortable streaks Friday with their first win of the season, 24-22, over Northridge.
• Derrick Duncan's first-quarter touchdown broke a 13-quarter scoreless streak.
• The win was the first in seven games for the Tigers, dating back to last season.
• The win was the first at home in 10 games for the Tigers, dating back two seasons.
• Warsaw quarterback P.J. Wiley ran for 154 yards, the first Tiger back over 100 yards since Tony Sanson in 1993.
"Every reason from the middle of July until this point, they could have bagged it," Warsaw coach Phil Jensen said. "They were hearing it from everybody, from people in the school to people in the community.
"What an outstanding performance by a group of young men," he said. "I am proud of them, and they are a great group of kids. I want them to enjoy it right now and tomorrow morning (Saturday), we will get back to work. This is a great stepping stone for next week, the rest of the season and for the years to come."
Warsaw broke through against the Raiders by gaining almost as many yards, 304, as it had in the previous three games combined, 332. The Tigers had been outscored 105-0 in their previous three games before Northridge.
"This is a game that is the cornerstone of our foundation," Jensen said. "You get kicked all over the field for three games, and come back and do what they did against a good Northridge team."
The spark came out of necessity and turned into a great opportunity for Warsaw. With starting quarterback Andy Plank unable to go for the Tigers with a deep thigh bruise suffered against South Bend St. Joseph, Wiley was inserted at quarterback.
Wiley, who has been the Tigers' starting wide receiver and defensive back, had not played quarterback since middle school. But with sophomore backup quarterback Rory Shaffer still a little on the inexperienced side, the job went to the senior Wiley.
"This was a big game for us," Jensen said. "The No. 1 factor came down to P.J.'s leadership. He is a kid other players look up to and busts his butt in practice.
"He is a great leader, and the other kids did a great job of following him and the other seniors tonight," he said.
Although Wiley didn't have to throw much against the Raiders, he ran the offense to perfection and helped give Warsaw offense the boost it needed.
"The first time P.J. starting taking snaps was on Wednesday," Jensen said. "And not just him, but we had to change the whole team, and they didn't blink."
Duncan's score at the 10:40 mark of the second quarter broke the string of 13 quarters (three games and one quarter against Northridge) and brought the Tiger bench and crowd to its feet with cheers.
"Good things start to happen with a little confidence and belief," Jensen said. "This place erupted. I have never heard the sidelines in one of my games. It was an explosion in the face of our kids."
Warsaw didn't have to wait long for its second touchdown. Less than four minutes later, Wiley kept the ball up the middle and ran outside for about 40 yards, and then cut back to his left and ran untouched for the final 48 yards en route to an 88-yard scamper and a 14-7 Warsaw lead.
Northridge tied the score at 14-14 when Raider quarterback Geoff Sickels hit Craig Sheets for a 70-yard score, Sheets' second touchdown of the half.
Wiley got his second score in the third quarter for a 21-14 Tiger lead. Sam Wihebrink made it 24-14 in the fourth quarter with a 41-yard field goal.
The Tigers tried to make things interesting when with under a minute left to go in the game, a snap went over Wihebrink's head as he was trying to punt and pin the Raiders deep into their own territory.
Instead, Wihebrink recovered the ball, and Northridge took over possession at the Tiger 20. A few plays later, Sickels threw his third touchdown pass of the night, to Jeremy Delcamp, and then Sickels ran for the two-point conversion for a 24-22 game.
But with only two seconds left, Wiley recovered the onsides kick to preserve the win.
"That takes my career record to 30-15, but that is head and shoulders over any win I have had because of what these young men have been through," Jensen said.
Also for Warsaw, Duncan ran for 71 yards and Jose Esquivel added 47 yards on the ground.
Warsaw (1-3, 1-1) hosts Goshen Friday. [[In-content Ad]]