Warriors Win Sectional Opener
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
South Bend - An old Al McGuire axiom states the last five minutes of the first half and the first five minutes of the second half are the most important minutes of a ball game, basketball that is.
No truer sentiment could have been concluded Saturday evening as the Wawasee Warriors doubled up the South Bend Washington Panthers 34-17, football that is.
The 4A sectional win upped Wawasee's record to 4-6, while Washington ended the season 4-6.
During the final five minutes of the first half, with Wawasee holding a 7-3 lead, the Warriors started a drive from their own 15-yard line. Wawasee used 10 plays, six runs and four passes, to go the 85 yards and the score, Doty to Bobby Likens from 11 yards out. On that drive, Warrior quarterback Brent Doty completed three passes to three different receivers and was helped by an interference call deep in Panther territory.
"Doty does a good job throwing to different receivers," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld. "He has the ability that many high school quarterbacks don't in finding the second and third guy. Besides, throwing to many different receivers helps keep the parents (of the Warrior receivers) happy."
Rietveld and the Warrior parents could not have been any happier as the first half came to a close. With the ball on their 49-yard line and facing a third down and 10 yards to go, Panther quarterback Stephen Wroblewski made the most costly mistake of the game as his intended pass was errant with just 30 seconds remaining. Warrior defensive back Peter Chang intercepted and ran the ball back 62 yards for a score and a 17-3 lead heading into intermission.
"That play was a back-breaker," said Rietveld. "That was the play of the game, not just to intercept but to return it for a score."
But there was still the business of the first five minutes of the second half to contend with for Wawasee.
The Wawasee defense, improved of late, took center stage much like the game itself as it was the only one occurring since all other teams played Friday. The Warriors limited the Panther offense to just 12 yards and did not allow a first down in the second half until the 4:17 mark of the third quarter. The Warrior defense forced three downs and a punt and also held on fourth down from their 30-yard line following a poor punt that put them in the position.
"Their kids played hard," said Washington coach Dustin Gill. "They tackled, well and they played the run well."
The run has been an Achilles' heel for Wawasee. Warsaw's Brad Seiss ran for more than 300 yards, and Plymouth's Charley Craig tallied more than 200 yards against this Warrior defense. Although Panther running back Andy Nyikos gained 108 yards, it took him 31 carries, which translates into a 3.5 average. The longest running play allowed by Wawasee was a 12-yard carry by Nyikos.
"The defense is playing so much better," Rietveld said. "I am so proud of those guys. I had a lot of confidence in those guys. We knew they had trouble throwing the ball and that helped our defense."
Washington attempted only nine passes and completed just three for a scant 42 yards.
The Wawasee offensive attack was led by running back Jimmy Meyer.
Meyer gained 95 yards on just 14 attempts and had a touchdown from 35 yards away at the 4:26 mark of the first quarter. The touchdown gave Wawasee a 7-0 lead.
The passing attack once again was efficient as Doty completed 12 of 21 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The second touchdown pass came from 15 yards out when Doty found Nate Edgington at the 8:49 mark of the fourth quarter, giving Wawasee a 27-10 lead. The touchdown pass was Doty's 21st of the season compared to 13 interceptions.
Senior Logan Lees emerged from his duties at linebacker to race 41 yards as a running back to ice the game 34-17 at the 1:29 mark of the final quarter.
The win means Wawasee will travel to familiar territory, Dunlap, to play the Concord Minutemen, a 34-27 winner over Northridge. In week four, Wawasee lost to Concord 27-14 in a turnover fest. The Warriors turned the ball over five times, while Concord coughed it up three times.
"Concord is a very talented team with (running back) Nick Matney and a lot of other weapons," Rietveld said. "I look for a close game and perhaps a little unfinished business."
It was also Concord who knocked out Wawasee a year ago in sectional play 43-13 in Syracuse.
McGuire also once said, "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings."
For Wawasee, the Warriors have staved off elimination and advance to round two Friday evening.
WAWASEE 34
SB WASHINGTON 17
Wawasee (4-6) 7 13 0 14 - 34
Washington (4-6) 0 3 0 14 - 17
WAW SBW
First downs 13 15
Rushing yards 184 238
Passing yards 123 42
Comp.-Att.-Int. 12-21-0 3-9-1
Total offense 307 280
Fumbles/lost 3-1 1-0
Punts/avg. 2-25 2-31
Penalties/yards 6-46 4-41
First Quarter
WAW - Jimmy Meyer 35 run (Chad Wooten kick) 7-0, 4:26
Second Quarter
SBW - Bokhart 22 field goal 7-3, 9:26
WAW - Bobby Likens 11 pass from Brent Doty (Wooten kick) 14-3, 9:26
WAW - Peter Chang 62 interception return (kick failed) 20-3, :18
Fourth Quarter
SBW - Wroblewski 2 run (Bokhart kick) 20-10, 11:00
WAW - Nate Edgington 15 pass from Doty (Wooten kick) 27-10, 8:49
SBW - Washington touchdown 27-17
WAW - Logan Lees 41 run (Wooten kick) 34-17, 1:29
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Wawasee: Meyer 14-95, Lees 2-46, Doty 5-43. Washington: Nyikos 31-108, Harris 9-25, Hyde 3-11, Piech 1-9, Muhammad 3-25, Bokhart 12-49, Wroblewski 3-11.
Passing - Wawasee: Doty 12-21-0-123. Washington: Wroblewski 3-9-1-42.
Receiving - Wawasee: Travis Klenke 4-28, Likens 3-28, Lees 1-41, Josh Roa 1-9, Brian Adkins 1-7, Edgington 1-15. Washington: Nyikos 1-5, McKinnies 1-17, Korpal 1-20. [[In-content Ad]]
South Bend - An old Al McGuire axiom states the last five minutes of the first half and the first five minutes of the second half are the most important minutes of a ball game, basketball that is.
No truer sentiment could have been concluded Saturday evening as the Wawasee Warriors doubled up the South Bend Washington Panthers 34-17, football that is.
The 4A sectional win upped Wawasee's record to 4-6, while Washington ended the season 4-6.
During the final five minutes of the first half, with Wawasee holding a 7-3 lead, the Warriors started a drive from their own 15-yard line. Wawasee used 10 plays, six runs and four passes, to go the 85 yards and the score, Doty to Bobby Likens from 11 yards out. On that drive, Warrior quarterback Brent Doty completed three passes to three different receivers and was helped by an interference call deep in Panther territory.
"Doty does a good job throwing to different receivers," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld. "He has the ability that many high school quarterbacks don't in finding the second and third guy. Besides, throwing to many different receivers helps keep the parents (of the Warrior receivers) happy."
Rietveld and the Warrior parents could not have been any happier as the first half came to a close. With the ball on their 49-yard line and facing a third down and 10 yards to go, Panther quarterback Stephen Wroblewski made the most costly mistake of the game as his intended pass was errant with just 30 seconds remaining. Warrior defensive back Peter Chang intercepted and ran the ball back 62 yards for a score and a 17-3 lead heading into intermission.
"That play was a back-breaker," said Rietveld. "That was the play of the game, not just to intercept but to return it for a score."
But there was still the business of the first five minutes of the second half to contend with for Wawasee.
The Wawasee defense, improved of late, took center stage much like the game itself as it was the only one occurring since all other teams played Friday. The Warriors limited the Panther offense to just 12 yards and did not allow a first down in the second half until the 4:17 mark of the third quarter. The Warrior defense forced three downs and a punt and also held on fourth down from their 30-yard line following a poor punt that put them in the position.
"Their kids played hard," said Washington coach Dustin Gill. "They tackled, well and they played the run well."
The run has been an Achilles' heel for Wawasee. Warsaw's Brad Seiss ran for more than 300 yards, and Plymouth's Charley Craig tallied more than 200 yards against this Warrior defense. Although Panther running back Andy Nyikos gained 108 yards, it took him 31 carries, which translates into a 3.5 average. The longest running play allowed by Wawasee was a 12-yard carry by Nyikos.
"The defense is playing so much better," Rietveld said. "I am so proud of those guys. I had a lot of confidence in those guys. We knew they had trouble throwing the ball and that helped our defense."
Washington attempted only nine passes and completed just three for a scant 42 yards.
The Wawasee offensive attack was led by running back Jimmy Meyer.
Meyer gained 95 yards on just 14 attempts and had a touchdown from 35 yards away at the 4:26 mark of the first quarter. The touchdown gave Wawasee a 7-0 lead.
The passing attack once again was efficient as Doty completed 12 of 21 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The second touchdown pass came from 15 yards out when Doty found Nate Edgington at the 8:49 mark of the fourth quarter, giving Wawasee a 27-10 lead. The touchdown pass was Doty's 21st of the season compared to 13 interceptions.
Senior Logan Lees emerged from his duties at linebacker to race 41 yards as a running back to ice the game 34-17 at the 1:29 mark of the final quarter.
The win means Wawasee will travel to familiar territory, Dunlap, to play the Concord Minutemen, a 34-27 winner over Northridge. In week four, Wawasee lost to Concord 27-14 in a turnover fest. The Warriors turned the ball over five times, while Concord coughed it up three times.
"Concord is a very talented team with (running back) Nick Matney and a lot of other weapons," Rietveld said. "I look for a close game and perhaps a little unfinished business."
It was also Concord who knocked out Wawasee a year ago in sectional play 43-13 in Syracuse.
McGuire also once said, "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings."
For Wawasee, the Warriors have staved off elimination and advance to round two Friday evening.
WAWASEE 34
SB WASHINGTON 17
Wawasee (4-6) 7 13 0 14 - 34
Washington (4-6) 0 3 0 14 - 17
WAW SBW
First downs 13 15
Rushing yards 184 238
Passing yards 123 42
Comp.-Att.-Int. 12-21-0 3-9-1
Total offense 307 280
Fumbles/lost 3-1 1-0
Punts/avg. 2-25 2-31
Penalties/yards 6-46 4-41
First Quarter
WAW - Jimmy Meyer 35 run (Chad Wooten kick) 7-0, 4:26
Second Quarter
SBW - Bokhart 22 field goal 7-3, 9:26
WAW - Bobby Likens 11 pass from Brent Doty (Wooten kick) 14-3, 9:26
WAW - Peter Chang 62 interception return (kick failed) 20-3, :18
Fourth Quarter
SBW - Wroblewski 2 run (Bokhart kick) 20-10, 11:00
WAW - Nate Edgington 15 pass from Doty (Wooten kick) 27-10, 8:49
SBW - Washington touchdown 27-17
WAW - Logan Lees 41 run (Wooten kick) 34-17, 1:29
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Wawasee: Meyer 14-95, Lees 2-46, Doty 5-43. Washington: Nyikos 31-108, Harris 9-25, Hyde 3-11, Piech 1-9, Muhammad 3-25, Bokhart 12-49, Wroblewski 3-11.
Passing - Wawasee: Doty 12-21-0-123. Washington: Wroblewski 3-9-1-42.
Receiving - Wawasee: Travis Klenke 4-28, Likens 3-28, Lees 1-41, Josh Roa 1-9, Brian Adkins 1-7, Edgington 1-15. Washington: Nyikos 1-5, McKinnies 1-17, Korpal 1-20. [[In-content Ad]]