Wawasee Retains Control Of 'W' Trophy
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE -ÊWarsaw hung with No. 9 (4A) Wawasee for three-and-a-half quarters as the two teams battled for the "W" Trophy Friday night at Warrior Field during Wawasee's homecoming.
A couple of ill-timed penalties and an interception, coupled with too much Joe Leach, did the Tigers in as they fell to the Warriors 42-21.
It was the fourth straight year Warsaw fell to their Kosciusko County and Northern Lakes Conference rivals.
Warsaw and Wawasee were tied at 21 after three quarters.
The Warriors quickly went up 28-21 when Leach, Wawasee's do-it-all quarterback, rushed for a touchdown from two yards out with 10:35 left in the game to cap an 11-play, 68-yard drive.
On the ensuing possession, Warsaw gave the ball right back to Wawasee when Tiger senior quarterback Tyler Akers' pass, intended for junior Daniel Conrad, was tipped by Wawasee's Tylor Trobaugh and picked off by Tanner Benzinger.
The Warriors took advantage by mounting another long drive for a touchdown. Once again, Leach closed the drive with his feet, this time from three yards out.
Wawasee, typically known for airing the ball out, rushed 12 straight times on the drive.
Leach led the way for Wawasee, as he rushed for 170 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries and was an effective 9-of 13-passing for 123 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
All 30 of Leach's rushing attempts were for positive yardage, as Warsaw's defense was unable to warp up the talented quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
Down 35-21, Warsaw took over on Wawasee's 48-yard line after Chas Simpson nearly broke the kickoff return for a touchdown.
Warsaw was unable to capitalize, as an illegal shift penalty early in the drive pushed Warsaw back. On third-and-14, Akers connected with the speedy Simpson on a screen pass but Simpson slipped on the wet grass for a 1-yard loss. Akers then was unable to hook up with Simpson on a deep route, giving the ball back to the Warriors.
Wawasee rounded out the scoring Friday when sophomore Tom Schwartz rumbled 47 yards for a touchdown with 2:14 left in the game to secure Wawasee's 42-21 win.
"We knew if we kept pounding the ball we would eventually break a big play," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld.
"Defensively in the second half they wore us down," said Warsaw coach Troy Akers. "That's why they're 6-1 and we're 1-6."
Big plays have been a problem for Warsaw's offense this year, but such wasn't the case Friday night.
The Tigers tied the game at 14-all in the second quarter when Akers found Simpson from 36 yards out with 41 seconds remaining.
Warsaw then tied the game at 21-21 in the third quarter when Akers handed the ball to Simpson on an end-around from 26 yards out and 2:54 left in the quarter.
Simpson caught five of Akers' six completions for 119 yards.
"We worked hard all week to figure out ways to get Chas involved," said Akers. "Everyone knows what a weapon he is, and despite popular opinion, we have tried to get him the ball this year."
Akers said he was pleased with the game plan his team had for Wawasee. Despite entering Friday night's contest with a 1-5 record, Warsaw was able to limit the Warriors' possessions and find enough offense to hang with Wawasee for 42 minutes.
The Tigers held Wawasee to just four possessions in the second half, but the Warriors were able to score on all four.
Warsaw, which entered its game with Wawasee having scored just 59 points, scored the most points it has all season.
The Tigers' previous high was in their 15-0 season opening win against Columbia City.
While Warsaw was able to put some points on the board, the Tigers couldn't contain Leach enough to pull of the upset and regain control of the "W" Trophy.
Leach's 293 all-purpose yards Friday pushed his season total to 2,273 with two more regular season games remaining.
The 6-foot-3 signal caller is also completing passes at nearly 64 percent while having thrown 15 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
On the ground, Leach is averaging 7.3 yards per carry, an amazing statistic considering sacks are counted against a quarterback's rushing total.
While Leach, who is making a case for a North-South All-Star Game nod, was dazzling, he also got help from the likes of Schwartz and a handful of receivers.
Led by 6-2, 220-pound senior Kyle Champoux, Wawasee's offensive line controlled the game in the trenches.
Five different players caught passes from Leach. Andrew Mock had just one reception for the Warriors but it came in the form of a 36-yard, first-quarter touchdown to give the Warriors an early 7-0 lead.
For Warsaw, 1-6 overall and 0-5 in the NLC, things don't get much easier, as a trip to Nappanee to play Class 3A defending state champion NorthWood looms on the horizon Friday.
While NorthWood is just 3-4 on the season, the Panthers have won three of their last four games after starting the season 0-3.
Kickoff for Friday's Northern Lakes Conference game is set for 7 p.m.
Akers, who started after junior Ben Higgins started the past two games, was 6 of 13 for 121 yards with one interception and the touchdown to Simpson.
Ben Davis III was Warsaw's leading rusher with 53 yards on 13 carries. Tommy Reinholt rushed nine times for 24 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run for Warsaw's first score of the evening.
Wawasee, 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the NLC, travels to Elkhart Memorial Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
WAWASEE 42, WARSAW 21
Warsaw 0 14 7 0 - 21
Wawasee 7 7 7 21 - 42
War Waw
First downs 6 17
Rushing yards 131 322
Passing yards 121 123
Comp.-Att.-Int. 6-13-1 9-13-0
Total offense 252 445
Fumbles/lost 1-1 0-0
Punts/avg. 3-38 3-32
Penalties/yards 4-30 6-66
First Quarter
Waw - Joe Leach 36 pass to Andrew Mock (John Miller kick) 7-0, 2:46
Second Quarter
Waw -ÊLeach 2 run (Miller kick) 14-0, 8:40
War - Tommy Reinholt 1 run (Matt Franco kick) 7-14, 5:12
War -ÊTyler Akers 36 pass to Chas Simpson (Franco kick) 14-14, 0:41
Third Quarter
Waw - Leach 21 run (Miller kick) 21-14, 8:05
War -ÊSimpson 26 run (Franco kick) 21-21 2:54
Fourth Quarter
Waw -ÊLeach 2 run (Miller kick) 28-21, 10:35
Waw -ÊLeach 3 run (Miller kick) 35-21, 5:04
Waw -ÊTom Schwartz 47 run (Miller kick) 42-21, 2:14
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Warsaw, Ben Davis III 13-53, Tyler Akers 14-28, Chas Simpson 1-26, Tommy Reinholt 9-24; Wawasee, Joe Leach 30-170, Tom Schwartz 17-135, Andrew Mock 2-17
Passing - Warsaw, Akers 6-13-121 1 TD, 1INT; Wawasee, Leach 9-13-123 0 1 TD, O INT
Receiving - Warsaw, Simpson 5-119, Blaine Allen 1-2; Wawasee, Brandon Geiger 3-19, Mock 1-36, Nick Richardson 3-51, Lance Zimmerman 1-10, Trent Brown 1-7 [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE -ÊWarsaw hung with No. 9 (4A) Wawasee for three-and-a-half quarters as the two teams battled for the "W" Trophy Friday night at Warrior Field during Wawasee's homecoming.
A couple of ill-timed penalties and an interception, coupled with too much Joe Leach, did the Tigers in as they fell to the Warriors 42-21.
It was the fourth straight year Warsaw fell to their Kosciusko County and Northern Lakes Conference rivals.
Warsaw and Wawasee were tied at 21 after three quarters.
The Warriors quickly went up 28-21 when Leach, Wawasee's do-it-all quarterback, rushed for a touchdown from two yards out with 10:35 left in the game to cap an 11-play, 68-yard drive.
On the ensuing possession, Warsaw gave the ball right back to Wawasee when Tiger senior quarterback Tyler Akers' pass, intended for junior Daniel Conrad, was tipped by Wawasee's Tylor Trobaugh and picked off by Tanner Benzinger.
The Warriors took advantage by mounting another long drive for a touchdown. Once again, Leach closed the drive with his feet, this time from three yards out.
Wawasee, typically known for airing the ball out, rushed 12 straight times on the drive.
Leach led the way for Wawasee, as he rushed for 170 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries and was an effective 9-of 13-passing for 123 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
All 30 of Leach's rushing attempts were for positive yardage, as Warsaw's defense was unable to warp up the talented quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
Down 35-21, Warsaw took over on Wawasee's 48-yard line after Chas Simpson nearly broke the kickoff return for a touchdown.
Warsaw was unable to capitalize, as an illegal shift penalty early in the drive pushed Warsaw back. On third-and-14, Akers connected with the speedy Simpson on a screen pass but Simpson slipped on the wet grass for a 1-yard loss. Akers then was unable to hook up with Simpson on a deep route, giving the ball back to the Warriors.
Wawasee rounded out the scoring Friday when sophomore Tom Schwartz rumbled 47 yards for a touchdown with 2:14 left in the game to secure Wawasee's 42-21 win.
"We knew if we kept pounding the ball we would eventually break a big play," said Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld.
"Defensively in the second half they wore us down," said Warsaw coach Troy Akers. "That's why they're 6-1 and we're 1-6."
Big plays have been a problem for Warsaw's offense this year, but such wasn't the case Friday night.
The Tigers tied the game at 14-all in the second quarter when Akers found Simpson from 36 yards out with 41 seconds remaining.
Warsaw then tied the game at 21-21 in the third quarter when Akers handed the ball to Simpson on an end-around from 26 yards out and 2:54 left in the quarter.
Simpson caught five of Akers' six completions for 119 yards.
"We worked hard all week to figure out ways to get Chas involved," said Akers. "Everyone knows what a weapon he is, and despite popular opinion, we have tried to get him the ball this year."
Akers said he was pleased with the game plan his team had for Wawasee. Despite entering Friday night's contest with a 1-5 record, Warsaw was able to limit the Warriors' possessions and find enough offense to hang with Wawasee for 42 minutes.
The Tigers held Wawasee to just four possessions in the second half, but the Warriors were able to score on all four.
Warsaw, which entered its game with Wawasee having scored just 59 points, scored the most points it has all season.
The Tigers' previous high was in their 15-0 season opening win against Columbia City.
While Warsaw was able to put some points on the board, the Tigers couldn't contain Leach enough to pull of the upset and regain control of the "W" Trophy.
Leach's 293 all-purpose yards Friday pushed his season total to 2,273 with two more regular season games remaining.
The 6-foot-3 signal caller is also completing passes at nearly 64 percent while having thrown 15 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
On the ground, Leach is averaging 7.3 yards per carry, an amazing statistic considering sacks are counted against a quarterback's rushing total.
While Leach, who is making a case for a North-South All-Star Game nod, was dazzling, he also got help from the likes of Schwartz and a handful of receivers.
Led by 6-2, 220-pound senior Kyle Champoux, Wawasee's offensive line controlled the game in the trenches.
Five different players caught passes from Leach. Andrew Mock had just one reception for the Warriors but it came in the form of a 36-yard, first-quarter touchdown to give the Warriors an early 7-0 lead.
For Warsaw, 1-6 overall and 0-5 in the NLC, things don't get much easier, as a trip to Nappanee to play Class 3A defending state champion NorthWood looms on the horizon Friday.
While NorthWood is just 3-4 on the season, the Panthers have won three of their last four games after starting the season 0-3.
Kickoff for Friday's Northern Lakes Conference game is set for 7 p.m.
Akers, who started after junior Ben Higgins started the past two games, was 6 of 13 for 121 yards with one interception and the touchdown to Simpson.
Ben Davis III was Warsaw's leading rusher with 53 yards on 13 carries. Tommy Reinholt rushed nine times for 24 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run for Warsaw's first score of the evening.
Wawasee, 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the NLC, travels to Elkhart Memorial Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
WAWASEE 42, WARSAW 21
Warsaw 0 14 7 0 - 21
Wawasee 7 7 7 21 - 42
War Waw
First downs 6 17
Rushing yards 131 322
Passing yards 121 123
Comp.-Att.-Int. 6-13-1 9-13-0
Total offense 252 445
Fumbles/lost 1-1 0-0
Punts/avg. 3-38 3-32
Penalties/yards 4-30 6-66
First Quarter
Waw - Joe Leach 36 pass to Andrew Mock (John Miller kick) 7-0, 2:46
Second Quarter
Waw -ÊLeach 2 run (Miller kick) 14-0, 8:40
War - Tommy Reinholt 1 run (Matt Franco kick) 7-14, 5:12
War -ÊTyler Akers 36 pass to Chas Simpson (Franco kick) 14-14, 0:41
Third Quarter
Waw - Leach 21 run (Miller kick) 21-14, 8:05
War -ÊSimpson 26 run (Franco kick) 21-21 2:54
Fourth Quarter
Waw -ÊLeach 2 run (Miller kick) 28-21, 10:35
Waw -ÊLeach 3 run (Miller kick) 35-21, 5:04
Waw -ÊTom Schwartz 47 run (Miller kick) 42-21, 2:14
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Warsaw, Ben Davis III 13-53, Tyler Akers 14-28, Chas Simpson 1-26, Tommy Reinholt 9-24; Wawasee, Joe Leach 30-170, Tom Schwartz 17-135, Andrew Mock 2-17
Passing - Warsaw, Akers 6-13-121 1 TD, 1INT; Wawasee, Leach 9-13-123 0 1 TD, O INT
Receiving - Warsaw, Simpson 5-119, Blaine Allen 1-2; Wawasee, Brandon Geiger 3-19, Mock 1-36, Nick Richardson 3-51, Lance Zimmerman 1-10, Trent Brown 1-7 [[In-content Ad]]