Tigers Win Sectional Opener
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
On a night two losing streaks became a thing of the past, fans of Warsaw Community High School's football team got a glimpse of the future.
With a 28-21 win over visiting Carroll Friday in the first round of Class 5A Sectional 3 action, the Tigers halted their eight-game losing streak and picked up their first postseason win since 2002.
The seven-point win was highlighted by a 69-yard touchdown run from freshman running back Andy Conrad and a 45-yard touchdown catch by freshman tight end/quarterback Justin Clemens.
"I'm real proud of Andy and Justin," said Warsaw coach Troy Akers, whose Tigers improved to 2-8 on the season. "People saw a glimpse of the future tonight. We felt the freshmen class was a special group. Andy ran hard. We played a lot of running backs tonight, I'm proud of all of them. Justin had a big touchdown catch. He's stepped in and made plays at both tight end and quarterback."
The win advanced Warsaw to Friday's sectional semifinal game at Homestead. The Tigers and Spartans played in the second week of the regular season, with Homestead beating Warsaw 28-6 at Fisher Field.
Not only was the win over Carroll the first Warsaw victory since a 15-0 win over Columbia City in the Aug. 18 season opener, it was the first time since then that the Tigers have held a lead at any point in a game.
"The kids played hard, I'm very proud of them," said Akers. "Carroll is a formidable opponent. I think Carroll is better than their record, and I know we are. Defensively, we knew it would be a tussle, they have a good quarterback over there. This was a good high school football game. I'm happy for the coaches and the team and this school."
Friday's sectional contest was the first time the Tigers and Chargers have met on the football field.
The Chargers ended their season with a 2-8 record.
Trying to pump life into the running game, Akers started 6-foot-3, 210-pound linebacker Tommy Reinholt at running back.
In a way, it could be compared to the Chicago Bears putting Brian Urlacher in the backfield.
Reinholt, one of Warsaw's most physical defenders, carried the ball on the first four plays of the game.
Reinholt, who showed both speed and power with a 17-yard run on the Tigers' second play from scrimmage, tallied 70 yards on 11 carries before leaving the game with a leg injury.
All of Reinholt's yards came in the first half.
Akers said after the game it was too early to know Reinholt's status for next week's game at Homestead.
Senior quarterback Tyler Akers went down with a leg injury in the second half, his status was also unknown at press time.
After the game, Tyler Akers had ice on his knee and was using crutches.
"Their status is unknown right now," Coach Akers said of Reinholt and his son. "We'll have to wait and see. If there's any way Tommy Reinholt can play, he will. He's a warrior. If there's any way Tyler can play, he'll be there, too. It's too early to tell, we'll have to wait and see."
After junior running back Ben Davis put Warsaw's first touchdown on the board with a six-yard carry, Akers connected with Clemens for a 45-yard touchdown pass that gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead after freshman Matt Franco converted the extra-point kick with 2:17 remaining in the first quarter.
Junior Nick Roser scampered in from 10 yards out for Carroll's first score, with Jake Alexander's extra-point kick cutting the Tiger advantage to 14-7 wth 9:58 remaining in the first half.
Akers gave Warsaw another two-touchdown advantage when he and junior Daniel Conrad hooked up for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Franco's kick was good, putting the Tigers up 21-7 with 4:14 left in the second quarter.
The game's next two touchdowns, one by each team, came on long runs.
Carroll senior Tyler Phipps broke loose for a 48-yard scoring scamper with 2:48 to play in the first half, followed by Andy Conrad's 69-yard touchdown trot with 7:40 remaining in the third quarter.
The Chargers scored the last touchdown of the game with 11:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, a six-yard touchdown pass from senior Zach Taylor to junior Trace Hamil.
Warsaw survived a late scare, turning the ball over on downs with 2.9 seconds left in the game.
Taylor threw a ball up for grabs in the end zone and the Tigers were called for pass interference, moving the ball from Warsaw's 48 to the Tigers' 33. Though time had expired, a game can't end on a defensive penalty.
Taylor's pass attempt from the Warsaw 33-yard line, however, fell incomplete and Akers and his coaching staff and team began celebrating.
Taylor threw three interceptions in the game and was 12 of 26 through the air for 134 yards. He also carried the ball 17 times for 115 yards. The Chargers fumbled the ball four times, one of which was recovered by the Tigers.
Akers completed 5 of 14 passes for 103 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Tigers fumbled twice, with Carroll recovering one of them.
Clemens, who along with Andy Conrad led Edgewood to a 15-1 record while in middle school, caught two passes for 65 yards. Clemens also carried the ball five times for 24 yards, including one 16-yard gain when the Tigers needed 15 yards for a first down.
Senior Chas Simpson, who recently broke Warsaw's career receiving records, had two catches for 35 yards.
Andy Conrad led the Tigers with 86 yards on nine carries. Akers was credited with 22 yards on 11 carries, while Davis had 26 yards on four touches.
Roser led Carroll with seven catches for 71 yards. Phipps finished the game with 80 yards on 11 carries.
WARSAW 28, CARROLL 21
Carroll 0 14 0 7 - 21
Warsaw 14 7 7 0 - 28
C W
First downs 17 16
Rushing yards 218 235
Passing yards 134 103
Comp.-Att.-Int. 12-26-3 5-17-2
Total offense 352 338
Fumbles/lost 4/1 2/1
Punts/avg. 3-34.7 3-33.0
Penalties/yards 7-69 3-29
First Quarter
W - Ben Davis 8 run (Matt Franco kick) 7:23, 7-0
W - Tyler Akers 45 pass to Justin Clemens (Franco kick) 2:17, 14-0
Second Quarter
C - Nick Roser 10 run (Jake Alexander kick) 9:58, 14-7
W - Akers 13 pass to Daniel Conrad (Franco kick) 4:14, 21-7
C - Tyler Phipps 48 run (Alexander kick) 2:48, 21-14
Third Quarter
W - Andy Conrad 69 run (Franco kick) 7:40, 28-14
Fourth Quarter
C - Zach Taylor 6 pass to Trace Hamil (Alexander kick) 11:52, 28-21
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Carroll, Taylor 17-115, Phipps 11-80, Roser 3-19, Durane Harris 3-4; Warsaw, Tommy Reinholt 11-70, Akers 11-22, A. Conrad 9-86, Clemens 5-24, Davis 4-26, Cody Kindle 2-8, Justin Hanson 1-(-1)
Receiving - Carroll, Roser 7-71, Alexander 3-46, Justin Ashley 1-11, Hamil 1-6; Warsaw, Clemens 2-65, Chas Simpson 2-35, D. Conrad 1-13
Passing - Carroll, Taylor 12-26-134, 1 TD, 3 INT; Warsaw, Akers 5-14-103, 2 TD, 2 INT; Clemens 0-3-0 [[In-content Ad]]
On a night two losing streaks became a thing of the past, fans of Warsaw Community High School's football team got a glimpse of the future.
With a 28-21 win over visiting Carroll Friday in the first round of Class 5A Sectional 3 action, the Tigers halted their eight-game losing streak and picked up their first postseason win since 2002.
The seven-point win was highlighted by a 69-yard touchdown run from freshman running back Andy Conrad and a 45-yard touchdown catch by freshman tight end/quarterback Justin Clemens.
"I'm real proud of Andy and Justin," said Warsaw coach Troy Akers, whose Tigers improved to 2-8 on the season. "People saw a glimpse of the future tonight. We felt the freshmen class was a special group. Andy ran hard. We played a lot of running backs tonight, I'm proud of all of them. Justin had a big touchdown catch. He's stepped in and made plays at both tight end and quarterback."
The win advanced Warsaw to Friday's sectional semifinal game at Homestead. The Tigers and Spartans played in the second week of the regular season, with Homestead beating Warsaw 28-6 at Fisher Field.
Not only was the win over Carroll the first Warsaw victory since a 15-0 win over Columbia City in the Aug. 18 season opener, it was the first time since then that the Tigers have held a lead at any point in a game.
"The kids played hard, I'm very proud of them," said Akers. "Carroll is a formidable opponent. I think Carroll is better than their record, and I know we are. Defensively, we knew it would be a tussle, they have a good quarterback over there. This was a good high school football game. I'm happy for the coaches and the team and this school."
Friday's sectional contest was the first time the Tigers and Chargers have met on the football field.
The Chargers ended their season with a 2-8 record.
Trying to pump life into the running game, Akers started 6-foot-3, 210-pound linebacker Tommy Reinholt at running back.
In a way, it could be compared to the Chicago Bears putting Brian Urlacher in the backfield.
Reinholt, one of Warsaw's most physical defenders, carried the ball on the first four plays of the game.
Reinholt, who showed both speed and power with a 17-yard run on the Tigers' second play from scrimmage, tallied 70 yards on 11 carries before leaving the game with a leg injury.
All of Reinholt's yards came in the first half.
Akers said after the game it was too early to know Reinholt's status for next week's game at Homestead.
Senior quarterback Tyler Akers went down with a leg injury in the second half, his status was also unknown at press time.
After the game, Tyler Akers had ice on his knee and was using crutches.
"Their status is unknown right now," Coach Akers said of Reinholt and his son. "We'll have to wait and see. If there's any way Tommy Reinholt can play, he will. He's a warrior. If there's any way Tyler can play, he'll be there, too. It's too early to tell, we'll have to wait and see."
After junior running back Ben Davis put Warsaw's first touchdown on the board with a six-yard carry, Akers connected with Clemens for a 45-yard touchdown pass that gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead after freshman Matt Franco converted the extra-point kick with 2:17 remaining in the first quarter.
Junior Nick Roser scampered in from 10 yards out for Carroll's first score, with Jake Alexander's extra-point kick cutting the Tiger advantage to 14-7 wth 9:58 remaining in the first half.
Akers gave Warsaw another two-touchdown advantage when he and junior Daniel Conrad hooked up for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Franco's kick was good, putting the Tigers up 21-7 with 4:14 left in the second quarter.
The game's next two touchdowns, one by each team, came on long runs.
Carroll senior Tyler Phipps broke loose for a 48-yard scoring scamper with 2:48 to play in the first half, followed by Andy Conrad's 69-yard touchdown trot with 7:40 remaining in the third quarter.
The Chargers scored the last touchdown of the game with 11:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, a six-yard touchdown pass from senior Zach Taylor to junior Trace Hamil.
Warsaw survived a late scare, turning the ball over on downs with 2.9 seconds left in the game.
Taylor threw a ball up for grabs in the end zone and the Tigers were called for pass interference, moving the ball from Warsaw's 48 to the Tigers' 33. Though time had expired, a game can't end on a defensive penalty.
Taylor's pass attempt from the Warsaw 33-yard line, however, fell incomplete and Akers and his coaching staff and team began celebrating.
Taylor threw three interceptions in the game and was 12 of 26 through the air for 134 yards. He also carried the ball 17 times for 115 yards. The Chargers fumbled the ball four times, one of which was recovered by the Tigers.
Akers completed 5 of 14 passes for 103 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Tigers fumbled twice, with Carroll recovering one of them.
Clemens, who along with Andy Conrad led Edgewood to a 15-1 record while in middle school, caught two passes for 65 yards. Clemens also carried the ball five times for 24 yards, including one 16-yard gain when the Tigers needed 15 yards for a first down.
Senior Chas Simpson, who recently broke Warsaw's career receiving records, had two catches for 35 yards.
Andy Conrad led the Tigers with 86 yards on nine carries. Akers was credited with 22 yards on 11 carries, while Davis had 26 yards on four touches.
Roser led Carroll with seven catches for 71 yards. Phipps finished the game with 80 yards on 11 carries.
WARSAW 28, CARROLL 21
Carroll 0 14 0 7 - 21
Warsaw 14 7 7 0 - 28
C W
First downs 17 16
Rushing yards 218 235
Passing yards 134 103
Comp.-Att.-Int. 12-26-3 5-17-2
Total offense 352 338
Fumbles/lost 4/1 2/1
Punts/avg. 3-34.7 3-33.0
Penalties/yards 7-69 3-29
First Quarter
W - Ben Davis 8 run (Matt Franco kick) 7:23, 7-0
W - Tyler Akers 45 pass to Justin Clemens (Franco kick) 2:17, 14-0
Second Quarter
C - Nick Roser 10 run (Jake Alexander kick) 9:58, 14-7
W - Akers 13 pass to Daniel Conrad (Franco kick) 4:14, 21-7
C - Tyler Phipps 48 run (Alexander kick) 2:48, 21-14
Third Quarter
W - Andy Conrad 69 run (Franco kick) 7:40, 28-14
Fourth Quarter
C - Zach Taylor 6 pass to Trace Hamil (Alexander kick) 11:52, 28-21
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Carroll, Taylor 17-115, Phipps 11-80, Roser 3-19, Durane Harris 3-4; Warsaw, Tommy Reinholt 11-70, Akers 11-22, A. Conrad 9-86, Clemens 5-24, Davis 4-26, Cody Kindle 2-8, Justin Hanson 1-(-1)
Receiving - Carroll, Roser 7-71, Alexander 3-46, Justin Ashley 1-11, Hamil 1-6; Warsaw, Clemens 2-65, Chas Simpson 2-35, D. Conrad 1-13
Passing - Carroll, Taylor 12-26-134, 1 TD, 3 INT; Warsaw, Akers 5-14-103, 2 TD, 2 INT; Clemens 0-3-0 [[In-content Ad]]