Tigers Eye Regional Clash At Merrillville
November 13, 2019 at 11:18 p.m.
Tigers Eye Regional Clash At Merrillville
By Steve Krah-
The community has reveled in the Tigers’ first-ever sectional championship and first win against Penn.
“For the kids and the coaches, it was Saturday morning business as usual,” says Warsaw head coach Bart Curtis. “You try to develop a routine and try to stay within that routine. Players operate better when they know what’s happening.
“The weather has thrown us a curveball or two. We’ve tried to keep to as much of routine as possible.” The Tigers practiced outside Monday and then inside Tuesday. With 60 players doing the work, the field was cleared in phases.
But you won’t hear folks in the Warsaw camp bemoaning the ice and snow.
“We talk to our kids all the time about November football,” says Curtis. “We’re not going to complain about what November weather brings because our gear is still being used.”
For the third time in 2019, Warsaw travels into the Calumet Region. There was Michigan City in Week Two and Chesterton in Week 10. The Tigers now set their sights on an IHSAA Class 6A regional title tilt at Merrillville, where a familiar face will be on the opposing sideline.
The No. 12-ranked Tigers (9-2) meet the No. 4 Pirates (10-1) — coached by 2002 Warsaw graduate Brad Seiss — at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time Friday at Demaree Stadium.
Merrillville is coming off a 10-9 win against Crown Point. It secured the 12th sectional title in program history and the ninth since 2004.
Seiss became Pirates head coach in 2015 and has led the team to a pair of sectional crowns (2015 and 2019). Merrillville has claimed six regional titles — the last in 2012.
The focus for Seiss is on football and not on going against his alma mater.
“Other people make a bigger deal than what it really is,” says Seiss, who ran for 1,612 yards and 25 touchdowns and scored 28 total TDs in his senior season (2001) at WCHS. “We’re trying to advance to the semistate. It happens to be Warsaw that we’re playing.
“They’re worried about Merrillville. They could care less that I went there.”
Balance is the mark of the Pirates on offense. Merrillville likes to run about as much as it likes to pass and rotates two quarterbacks — seniors Peter Rodriguez and Aahric Whitehead — who able to do both.
“What we need to do, we do it,” says Seiss of the two-QB rotation. “We rolled with it all of last year and all of this year and it’s worked for us.
“(Rodriguez and Whitehead have) gotten better at the opposite what you think they are.” Rodriguez (121 carries for 881 yards and 15 touchdowns) is Merrillville’s leading rusher in a group that also includes senior running backs Damian Dixon (97 carries for 483 yards and five TDs) and Darius Schultz (78 carries for 308 yards and eight TDs).
While Whitehead (81-of-140 for 1,235 yards and 12 TDs) has been the best passer, Rodriguez (27-of-49 for 333 yards and one TD) has also been productive through the air.
“We’e got some really good playmakers on the outside,” says Seiss.
Senior receiver Jeremiah Howard (44 catches for 854 yards and eight TDs) is a Northern Illinois University commit. The receiving corp also features Armani Glass (24 catches for 324 yards and three TDs) and James Mitchell (11 catches for 126 yards and two TDs).
Blocking on the run and pass for the Pirates is gargantuan left tackle. Martes Lewis, a 6-foot-7, 325-pounder, is a University of Minnesota commit.
Junior kicker Austin Pupek is 29-of-36 on extra points and 1-of-2 field goal attempts.
Merrillville is averaging 31.1 points per game. Take away last week’s 10-point output and it’s 33.2.
The Pirates use multiple defensive sets, but they often go with three down linemen. Kenneth Grant, a 6-3, 335-pound sophomore who has started each game of his prep career, anchors the middle with senior Khris Walton (team-high 83 total tackles with 39 quarterback pressures and 10.5 sacks) and Nick Price (56 total tackles, 30 QB pressures and 7.5 sacks) on the ends.
“Our ends are really explosive,” says Seiss. “That’s the first thing that jumps out to most people.
“Our scoring defense has been really good. We’ve shut out some teams (Hobart and LaPorte, both 21-0).” Merrillville’s defense also features junior end Devin Sanders (57 total tackles and four sacks), senior linebacker Darion Johnson (55 total tackles with 23 QB pressures and 5.5 sacks) and junior linebacker Anthony Mitchell (five of the team’s 15 interceptions). The Pirates have 119 QB pressures, 32.5 sacks and eight fumble recoveries as a team.
Only a 29-28 loss to 5A’s Valparaiso in Week 7 keeps Merrillville (which led 28-10 late in the third quarter of that game) from being undefeated.
“They’re 10-1 for a reason,” says Curtis. “They have some serious speed in all facets of the game.” Curtis and staff continue to talk about the parts that make up the whole.
“The journey is the fun part. The game will take of itself,” says Curtis. “We’re excited that we have the opportunity to go 1-0. Our battle cry is to give us another Monday.”
Being “1-0” has a special meaning for the program.
“It has to do with everything you do,” says Curtis. “It’s how you do when lifting weights and in the classroom, how you act in the cafeteria or do take a play off in practice?
“I’ve got one shot to go 1-0 on this particular moment. That;s what we try to live by. All of those moments add up to Friday night and what we’re trying to do.”
How does Seiss see Warsaw?
“The first thing you see is how hard they play,” says Seiss. “They’re well-coached. The do a really nice job of running their offensive principles.
“They chew up clock and do a great job of ball control. They’re scoring a lot of points, too. They’re good at what they do.” The Tigers click the scoreboard at 34.5 points per game with seven games above that mark.
Warsaw, which averages 330 yards per game rushing with 45 TDs, is led individually on the ground by junior fullback Juan Jaramillo (280 carries for 1,524 yards and 18 TDs), senior quarterback Wyatt Amiss (132 carries for 771 yards and 11 TDs), senior halfback Blake Marsh (48 carries for 533 yards and seven TDs), senior halfback Keagan Larsh (37 carries for 287 yards and three TDs), sophomore halfback Julius Jones (19 carries for 220 yards and two TDs) and junior fullback Colton Wampler (22 carries for 121 yards and three TDs).
Jaramillo (one TD), Amiss (one TD) and Marsh (three TDs) all eclipsed the 100-yard mark against Penn. Jaramillo has 1,789 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returning).
While he did put the ball in the air once against Penn, Amiss (19-of-37 for 408 yards and five touchdowns) is the Tigers’ leading passer. Junior split end Luke Adamiec (eight catches 162 yards and one TD), Larsh (five catches for 150 yards and two TDs) and junior halfback Mason Martz (one catch for 57 yards one TD) are the top receivers.
Senior kicker Harrison Mevis, who has been selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game Jan. 2 in Orlando. Fla., is 50-of-50 on extra-point attempts and 6-of-10 on field goals with two of 40 yards or more. Of his 62 kickoffs, 51 have resulted in touchbacks.
Pacing Warsaw in total tackles are senior end Parker Davenport (68 with 8.5 for loss), senior linebacker Gage Lyon (63.5 with 6.5 for loss), junior linebacker Zach DeFord (59.5), safety Martz (52), junior cornerback Caden Silveus (40), junior tackle Mario Cortes (35.5 with 5.5 for loss), junior tackle Andres Adame (35.5 with 4.5 for loss) and senior linebacker Jack Wlliamson (32.5).
DeFord (2.5), Cortes (2) and Davenport (1.5) lead the way in quarterback sacks.
Led by cornerbacks Adamiec and Silveus with two each, Warsaw has intercepted eight passes. The Tigers have also pounced on 11 fumbles.
TRAVELING FAN NOTES – Pre-sale tickets are $8 and available in the Warsaw athletic office until 11 a.m. Friday.
Demaree Stadium gates open an hour prior to kickoff. The visiting entrance and parking lot are on the east side of the stadium.
There is no way to cross to the other side of the field once a fan enters the gate.
The community has reveled in the Tigers’ first-ever sectional championship and first win against Penn.
“For the kids and the coaches, it was Saturday morning business as usual,” says Warsaw head coach Bart Curtis. “You try to develop a routine and try to stay within that routine. Players operate better when they know what’s happening.
“The weather has thrown us a curveball or two. We’ve tried to keep to as much of routine as possible.” The Tigers practiced outside Monday and then inside Tuesday. With 60 players doing the work, the field was cleared in phases.
But you won’t hear folks in the Warsaw camp bemoaning the ice and snow.
“We talk to our kids all the time about November football,” says Curtis. “We’re not going to complain about what November weather brings because our gear is still being used.”
For the third time in 2019, Warsaw travels into the Calumet Region. There was Michigan City in Week Two and Chesterton in Week 10. The Tigers now set their sights on an IHSAA Class 6A regional title tilt at Merrillville, where a familiar face will be on the opposing sideline.
The No. 12-ranked Tigers (9-2) meet the No. 4 Pirates (10-1) — coached by 2002 Warsaw graduate Brad Seiss — at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time Friday at Demaree Stadium.
Merrillville is coming off a 10-9 win against Crown Point. It secured the 12th sectional title in program history and the ninth since 2004.
Seiss became Pirates head coach in 2015 and has led the team to a pair of sectional crowns (2015 and 2019). Merrillville has claimed six regional titles — the last in 2012.
The focus for Seiss is on football and not on going against his alma mater.
“Other people make a bigger deal than what it really is,” says Seiss, who ran for 1,612 yards and 25 touchdowns and scored 28 total TDs in his senior season (2001) at WCHS. “We’re trying to advance to the semistate. It happens to be Warsaw that we’re playing.
“They’re worried about Merrillville. They could care less that I went there.”
Balance is the mark of the Pirates on offense. Merrillville likes to run about as much as it likes to pass and rotates two quarterbacks — seniors Peter Rodriguez and Aahric Whitehead — who able to do both.
“What we need to do, we do it,” says Seiss of the two-QB rotation. “We rolled with it all of last year and all of this year and it’s worked for us.
“(Rodriguez and Whitehead have) gotten better at the opposite what you think they are.” Rodriguez (121 carries for 881 yards and 15 touchdowns) is Merrillville’s leading rusher in a group that also includes senior running backs Damian Dixon (97 carries for 483 yards and five TDs) and Darius Schultz (78 carries for 308 yards and eight TDs).
While Whitehead (81-of-140 for 1,235 yards and 12 TDs) has been the best passer, Rodriguez (27-of-49 for 333 yards and one TD) has also been productive through the air.
“We’e got some really good playmakers on the outside,” says Seiss.
Senior receiver Jeremiah Howard (44 catches for 854 yards and eight TDs) is a Northern Illinois University commit. The receiving corp also features Armani Glass (24 catches for 324 yards and three TDs) and James Mitchell (11 catches for 126 yards and two TDs).
Blocking on the run and pass for the Pirates is gargantuan left tackle. Martes Lewis, a 6-foot-7, 325-pounder, is a University of Minnesota commit.
Junior kicker Austin Pupek is 29-of-36 on extra points and 1-of-2 field goal attempts.
Merrillville is averaging 31.1 points per game. Take away last week’s 10-point output and it’s 33.2.
The Pirates use multiple defensive sets, but they often go with three down linemen. Kenneth Grant, a 6-3, 335-pound sophomore who has started each game of his prep career, anchors the middle with senior Khris Walton (team-high 83 total tackles with 39 quarterback pressures and 10.5 sacks) and Nick Price (56 total tackles, 30 QB pressures and 7.5 sacks) on the ends.
“Our ends are really explosive,” says Seiss. “That’s the first thing that jumps out to most people.
“Our scoring defense has been really good. We’ve shut out some teams (Hobart and LaPorte, both 21-0).” Merrillville’s defense also features junior end Devin Sanders (57 total tackles and four sacks), senior linebacker Darion Johnson (55 total tackles with 23 QB pressures and 5.5 sacks) and junior linebacker Anthony Mitchell (five of the team’s 15 interceptions). The Pirates have 119 QB pressures, 32.5 sacks and eight fumble recoveries as a team.
Only a 29-28 loss to 5A’s Valparaiso in Week 7 keeps Merrillville (which led 28-10 late in the third quarter of that game) from being undefeated.
“They’re 10-1 for a reason,” says Curtis. “They have some serious speed in all facets of the game.” Curtis and staff continue to talk about the parts that make up the whole.
“The journey is the fun part. The game will take of itself,” says Curtis. “We’re excited that we have the opportunity to go 1-0. Our battle cry is to give us another Monday.”
Being “1-0” has a special meaning for the program.
“It has to do with everything you do,” says Curtis. “It’s how you do when lifting weights and in the classroom, how you act in the cafeteria or do take a play off in practice?
“I’ve got one shot to go 1-0 on this particular moment. That;s what we try to live by. All of those moments add up to Friday night and what we’re trying to do.”
How does Seiss see Warsaw?
“The first thing you see is how hard they play,” says Seiss. “They’re well-coached. The do a really nice job of running their offensive principles.
“They chew up clock and do a great job of ball control. They’re scoring a lot of points, too. They’re good at what they do.” The Tigers click the scoreboard at 34.5 points per game with seven games above that mark.
Warsaw, which averages 330 yards per game rushing with 45 TDs, is led individually on the ground by junior fullback Juan Jaramillo (280 carries for 1,524 yards and 18 TDs), senior quarterback Wyatt Amiss (132 carries for 771 yards and 11 TDs), senior halfback Blake Marsh (48 carries for 533 yards and seven TDs), senior halfback Keagan Larsh (37 carries for 287 yards and three TDs), sophomore halfback Julius Jones (19 carries for 220 yards and two TDs) and junior fullback Colton Wampler (22 carries for 121 yards and three TDs).
Jaramillo (one TD), Amiss (one TD) and Marsh (three TDs) all eclipsed the 100-yard mark against Penn. Jaramillo has 1,789 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returning).
While he did put the ball in the air once against Penn, Amiss (19-of-37 for 408 yards and five touchdowns) is the Tigers’ leading passer. Junior split end Luke Adamiec (eight catches 162 yards and one TD), Larsh (five catches for 150 yards and two TDs) and junior halfback Mason Martz (one catch for 57 yards one TD) are the top receivers.
Senior kicker Harrison Mevis, who has been selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game Jan. 2 in Orlando. Fla., is 50-of-50 on extra-point attempts and 6-of-10 on field goals with two of 40 yards or more. Of his 62 kickoffs, 51 have resulted in touchbacks.
Pacing Warsaw in total tackles are senior end Parker Davenport (68 with 8.5 for loss), senior linebacker Gage Lyon (63.5 with 6.5 for loss), junior linebacker Zach DeFord (59.5), safety Martz (52), junior cornerback Caden Silveus (40), junior tackle Mario Cortes (35.5 with 5.5 for loss), junior tackle Andres Adame (35.5 with 4.5 for loss) and senior linebacker Jack Wlliamson (32.5).
DeFord (2.5), Cortes (2) and Davenport (1.5) lead the way in quarterback sacks.
Led by cornerbacks Adamiec and Silveus with two each, Warsaw has intercepted eight passes. The Tigers have also pounced on 11 fumbles.
TRAVELING FAN NOTES – Pre-sale tickets are $8 and available in the Warsaw athletic office until 11 a.m. Friday.
Demaree Stadium gates open an hour prior to kickoff. The visiting entrance and parking lot are on the east side of the stadium.
There is no way to cross to the other side of the field once a fan enters the gate.
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