Tigers Win First Game In New Stadium
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
With a gutsy fourth-quarter effort, Warsaw's varsity football team left its mark on the brand new Tigers Athletic Complex Friday.
Led by senior quarterback Mark Sudhoff's never-say-die attitude, tough running by junior Tommy Reinholt and some key defensive plays, the Tigers opened the 2005 season with a 26-21 come-from-behind win over visiting U.S. 30 rival Columbia City.
The Tigers, who scored first in the contest when Reinholt scored the historic first touchdown in the new stadium on a four-yard run with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter, trailed 21-7 midway through the third quarter.
But with his team's back against the wall, the 6-foot-4 Sudhoff, who has suffered a number of injuries throughout his high school career, was strong and ignited the large crowd of Tiger fans with a 52-yard pass to junior receiver Chas Simpson. Senior Jake Rogers' extra-point kick brought the Tigers within seven, 21-14, with 5:46 remaining in the third.
Sudhoff then scored the final two touchdowns of the game on runs of three and 24 yards.
On the three-yard run, which came with 4:56 remaining in the game, the defense went to the east side of the field, following blocker Shaun Cabrera. Sudhoff executed a near-perfect ball fake and went to his left and scored easily. The extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving Warsaw down 21-20.
After a fumble on the first play of Columbia City's next drive, Sudhoff scored from 24 yards out, running untouched through the heart of the Eagles' defense. Sudhoff's two-point conversion pass attempt to senior Mitch Reinholt was tipped away by Columbia City's Kyle Rucks, who earlier in the game was the indvidual player who made big play after play.
Whether it was through the air or on the ground, Sudhoff had a part in all four Warsaw touchdowns at the brand new field Friday.
"He showed poise and character," Akers said of Sudhoff. "He showed leadership. He showed he's capable of doing what he did. We said a lot of people were going to touch the ball and that's what happened. We stuck Tommy Reinholt back there and he did a good job. We value him at free safety, but he ran the ball pretty well. We needed a lift, and we also got that from Woody (Dale Wood) and Tyler Hamman had some good runs."
In all, the Tigers rushed the ball 47 times for 186 yards.
Sudhoff led the way with 18 carries - once even running out of his shoe - for 56 yards. His total was brought down because of some big losses on sacks.
Hamman carried the ball 12 times for 60 yards, while Reinholt carried 11 times for 53 yards. Wood rushed for 20 yards on four carries.
Sudhoff finished the game 7 of 15 through the air for 143 yards and one touchdown.
Friday's win was obviously special for the Tiger players and coaching staff, not only because they beat the Eagles for the eighth consecutive year, but because they started a new era with a gutsy win.
Shortly after the gameclock wound down to zeroes, Akers took pictures of the scoreboard with a small digital camera.
Friday's game, at least the outcome and the heart his team showed, is something Akers will want to remember and cherish.
"Yeah, this was special," said Akers. "We're gonna celebrate this one and then get ready for Homestead. I'm very happy for the community and the former players."
While it was the Tigers who made big plays late, Rucks played a huge part in the Eagles' early success.
The 6-4 receiver scored a 93-yard touchdown on a pass from Levin Knach 21 seconds after Reinholt crossed the goal line.
He later scored on a 71-yard pass from Knack in the third quarter to give the Eagles a 21-7 advantage.
Rucks finished the game with five catches for 174 yards, while Kam Bailey reeled in four passes for 71 yards.
Knach, who scored Columbia City's other touchdown on a 32-yard run in the second quarter, ended 15 of 25 through the air for 264 yards. He threw one interception, a pick to Tiger senior J.W. Maierle.
Knach also led the Eagles on the ground, pounding out 53 yards on 10 carries. Matt Curry had 49 yards on eight carries.
While Friday's game was hardly a masterpiece, as the Tigers struggled at times with their offensive line play and special teams coverage, it was a win.
"In the early part of the season, someone is going to be 1-0 and someone is going to be 0-1," said Akers. "There were some things that were obvios first-game mistakes, and we could have folded up our tent but we didn't. We challenged them at halftime. And in the fourth quarter this team showed what kind of character it has."
Since 1990, the Tigers are 14-2 in season openers.
Warsaw is in action again Friday when the Tigers travel to Homestead.
The Tigers have been victorious over the Spartans the past four years.
WARSAW 26, COL. CITY 21
Col. City 7 7 7 0 - 21
Warsaw 7 0 7 12 - 26
CC W
First downs 12 17
Rushing yards 112 186
Passing yards 264 143
Comp.-Att.-Int. 15-25-0 7-15-1
Total offense 376 329
Fumbles/lost 3/2 3/0
Punts/avg. 3-31.3 3-38.3
Penalties/yards 6-34 2-30
First Quarter
W -ÊTommy Reinholt 4 run (Jake Rogers kick) 7-0, 5:43
CC - Levi Knach 93 pass to Kyle Rucks (Travis Preston kick) 7-7, 5:24
Second Quarter
CC - Knack 32 run (Preston kick) 14-7, 8:33
Third Quarter
CC - Knach 71 pass to Rucks (Preston kick) 21-7, 6:03
W - Mark Sudhoff 52 pass to Chas Simpson (Rogers kick) 21-14, 5:46
Fourth Quarter
W -ÊSudhoff 3 run (kick blocked) 21-20, 4:56
W - Sudhoff 24 run (conversion pass failed) 26-21, 4:45
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Col. City, Knach 10-53, Matt Curry 8-49, Spencer Pease 4-0; Warsaw, Sudhoff 18-56, Tyler Hamman 12-60, Reinholt 11-53, Dale Wood 4-20
Passing - Col. City, Knach 15-25-264, 2 TDs, 0 INTs; Warsaw, Sudhoff 7-15-143, 1 INT, 1 TD
Receiving - Col. City, Rucks 5-174, Kam Bailey 4-71, Andy Schuman 4-15; Warsaw, Mitch Reinholt 2-37, J.W. Maierle 2-28, Simpson 1-52, Jordan Fuller 1-20, Wood 1-6 [[In-content Ad]]
With a gutsy fourth-quarter effort, Warsaw's varsity football team left its mark on the brand new Tigers Athletic Complex Friday.
Led by senior quarterback Mark Sudhoff's never-say-die attitude, tough running by junior Tommy Reinholt and some key defensive plays, the Tigers opened the 2005 season with a 26-21 come-from-behind win over visiting U.S. 30 rival Columbia City.
The Tigers, who scored first in the contest when Reinholt scored the historic first touchdown in the new stadium on a four-yard run with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter, trailed 21-7 midway through the third quarter.
But with his team's back against the wall, the 6-foot-4 Sudhoff, who has suffered a number of injuries throughout his high school career, was strong and ignited the large crowd of Tiger fans with a 52-yard pass to junior receiver Chas Simpson. Senior Jake Rogers' extra-point kick brought the Tigers within seven, 21-14, with 5:46 remaining in the third.
Sudhoff then scored the final two touchdowns of the game on runs of three and 24 yards.
On the three-yard run, which came with 4:56 remaining in the game, the defense went to the east side of the field, following blocker Shaun Cabrera. Sudhoff executed a near-perfect ball fake and went to his left and scored easily. The extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving Warsaw down 21-20.
After a fumble on the first play of Columbia City's next drive, Sudhoff scored from 24 yards out, running untouched through the heart of the Eagles' defense. Sudhoff's two-point conversion pass attempt to senior Mitch Reinholt was tipped away by Columbia City's Kyle Rucks, who earlier in the game was the indvidual player who made big play after play.
Whether it was through the air or on the ground, Sudhoff had a part in all four Warsaw touchdowns at the brand new field Friday.
"He showed poise and character," Akers said of Sudhoff. "He showed leadership. He showed he's capable of doing what he did. We said a lot of people were going to touch the ball and that's what happened. We stuck Tommy Reinholt back there and he did a good job. We value him at free safety, but he ran the ball pretty well. We needed a lift, and we also got that from Woody (Dale Wood) and Tyler Hamman had some good runs."
In all, the Tigers rushed the ball 47 times for 186 yards.
Sudhoff led the way with 18 carries - once even running out of his shoe - for 56 yards. His total was brought down because of some big losses on sacks.
Hamman carried the ball 12 times for 60 yards, while Reinholt carried 11 times for 53 yards. Wood rushed for 20 yards on four carries.
Sudhoff finished the game 7 of 15 through the air for 143 yards and one touchdown.
Friday's win was obviously special for the Tiger players and coaching staff, not only because they beat the Eagles for the eighth consecutive year, but because they started a new era with a gutsy win.
Shortly after the gameclock wound down to zeroes, Akers took pictures of the scoreboard with a small digital camera.
Friday's game, at least the outcome and the heart his team showed, is something Akers will want to remember and cherish.
"Yeah, this was special," said Akers. "We're gonna celebrate this one and then get ready for Homestead. I'm very happy for the community and the former players."
While it was the Tigers who made big plays late, Rucks played a huge part in the Eagles' early success.
The 6-4 receiver scored a 93-yard touchdown on a pass from Levin Knach 21 seconds after Reinholt crossed the goal line.
He later scored on a 71-yard pass from Knack in the third quarter to give the Eagles a 21-7 advantage.
Rucks finished the game with five catches for 174 yards, while Kam Bailey reeled in four passes for 71 yards.
Knach, who scored Columbia City's other touchdown on a 32-yard run in the second quarter, ended 15 of 25 through the air for 264 yards. He threw one interception, a pick to Tiger senior J.W. Maierle.
Knach also led the Eagles on the ground, pounding out 53 yards on 10 carries. Matt Curry had 49 yards on eight carries.
While Friday's game was hardly a masterpiece, as the Tigers struggled at times with their offensive line play and special teams coverage, it was a win.
"In the early part of the season, someone is going to be 1-0 and someone is going to be 0-1," said Akers. "There were some things that were obvios first-game mistakes, and we could have folded up our tent but we didn't. We challenged them at halftime. And in the fourth quarter this team showed what kind of character it has."
Since 1990, the Tigers are 14-2 in season openers.
Warsaw is in action again Friday when the Tigers travel to Homestead.
The Tigers have been victorious over the Spartans the past four years.
WARSAW 26, COL. CITY 21
Col. City 7 7 7 0 - 21
Warsaw 7 0 7 12 - 26
CC W
First downs 12 17
Rushing yards 112 186
Passing yards 264 143
Comp.-Att.-Int. 15-25-0 7-15-1
Total offense 376 329
Fumbles/lost 3/2 3/0
Punts/avg. 3-31.3 3-38.3
Penalties/yards 6-34 2-30
First Quarter
W -ÊTommy Reinholt 4 run (Jake Rogers kick) 7-0, 5:43
CC - Levi Knach 93 pass to Kyle Rucks (Travis Preston kick) 7-7, 5:24
Second Quarter
CC - Knack 32 run (Preston kick) 14-7, 8:33
Third Quarter
CC - Knach 71 pass to Rucks (Preston kick) 21-7, 6:03
W - Mark Sudhoff 52 pass to Chas Simpson (Rogers kick) 21-14, 5:46
Fourth Quarter
W -ÊSudhoff 3 run (kick blocked) 21-20, 4:56
W - Sudhoff 24 run (conversion pass failed) 26-21, 4:45
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Col. City, Knach 10-53, Matt Curry 8-49, Spencer Pease 4-0; Warsaw, Sudhoff 18-56, Tyler Hamman 12-60, Reinholt 11-53, Dale Wood 4-20
Passing - Col. City, Knach 15-25-264, 2 TDs, 0 INTs; Warsaw, Sudhoff 7-15-143, 1 INT, 1 TD
Receiving - Col. City, Rucks 5-174, Kam Bailey 4-71, Andy Schuman 4-15; Warsaw, Mitch Reinholt 2-37, J.W. Maierle 2-28, Simpson 1-52, Jordan Fuller 1-20, Wood 1-6 [[In-content Ad]]