Moments Like Warsaw Football Had Friday Are Precious
September 4, 2019 at 3:28 a.m.
Moments Like Warsaw Football Had Friday Are Precious
By Roger Grossman-
Not the least of them was I wanted to be “the voice” of a team and have my voice associated with a historic and memorable moment for that team that would be remembered past my own lifetime.
Last Friday was definitely one of those moments.
Warsaw’s thrilling road upset of Michigan City at historic Ames Field was as improbable as they get.
A defense that returned only one player from their front seven and no defensive linemen held a vaunted Wolves offense, which hung 60 points on Griffith the week before, to only three touchdowns and 224 yards of offense.
This defense doesn’t start a player over 200 pounds, but they have held their own through two games and spent a lot of time visiting with opposing quarterbacks in their backfield.
That alone plays into the strength of the defense: the secondary.
Record-setter Blake March picked off the ninth pass of his career Friday, and now stands alone at the top of the all-time Tiger bandit list after passing Sterling Watkins, who played almost 50 years ago.
Going into the season, the prevailing thinking was that Warsaw would likely have to win some shootouts in order to duplicate last year’s seven win season and within striking range of the NLC summit. Well that has not been the case at all so far. The defense has been up to the task.
It seemed fitting that after the missile launched from the right leg of Harrison Mevis with 4:20 left to play put the Tigers back in the lead 20-19, the defense would have to make one more stop in order to seal the deal. As they ran out onto the field for what would be the final time, I remember saying “well, they clearly have improved from where they started in training camp to today, but do they have one more big series left in them?”
They had spent most of the second half on the field taking body blows from the Wolves ground game. They were exhausted and it was showing. What would unfold?
They stopped them on four downs and took over inside the Michigan City 30. When they had sacked the QB to end that fourth down play and the last legitimate shot MC had, Tiger football players bodies were scattered across the field turf at Ames Field like they were volunteers at a natural disaster training scenario. Some with arms raised in jubilation, some rolling pain from having paid the price for victory.
And when Marsh took a third down hand-off and dragged defenders with him past the first down marker, the victory was secured, and more than 100 students rushed the opponent’s field soon after to start the party.
I have been proud of a lot of teams I have covered over my 28 years of broadcasting games in this area, but I don’t know if my feeling from Friday night has ever been surpassed—or if it ever could be.
As a reward, these Tigers have received the warm embrace of a community that is on fire for fall Fridays again.
But practice started Monday evening with the harsh reality that Plymouth was coming Friday. As much as they had accomplished at Michigan City and in their pre-conference schedule, their biggest goals were all still out in front of them. The next one is staring them right in the face, and it wears a big, red “P” on its collective helmet.
Since that unbeaten regular season of 2001 under Phil Jensen, Warsaw football has started a season 2-0 six different times (including this season).
The Rockies ended the Tigers’ bid for 3-0 all five times.
We have heard a lot of discussion about Warsaw and winning its first football sectional, and that certainly is one of those big goals that is still sitting out there in 2019. But winning the Northern Lakes Conference has been just as elusive since those three straight titles in 1999, 2000 and 2001. For the Tigers, that quest begins each year with Plymouth.
Beat the Rockies, and you leap an immediate hurdle in that quest. Don’t, as Warsaw has not done in 13 of the last 16 seasons, and you put yourself in a hole that you cannot count on anyone helping you out of.
Friday’s game will be the 100th game between the Tigers and Rockies since 1919. The atmosphere should be electric.
I hope you come…and bring your headset radio along with the hope we can make some more memories together.
Not the least of them was I wanted to be “the voice” of a team and have my voice associated with a historic and memorable moment for that team that would be remembered past my own lifetime.
Last Friday was definitely one of those moments.
Warsaw’s thrilling road upset of Michigan City at historic Ames Field was as improbable as they get.
A defense that returned only one player from their front seven and no defensive linemen held a vaunted Wolves offense, which hung 60 points on Griffith the week before, to only three touchdowns and 224 yards of offense.
This defense doesn’t start a player over 200 pounds, but they have held their own through two games and spent a lot of time visiting with opposing quarterbacks in their backfield.
That alone plays into the strength of the defense: the secondary.
Record-setter Blake March picked off the ninth pass of his career Friday, and now stands alone at the top of the all-time Tiger bandit list after passing Sterling Watkins, who played almost 50 years ago.
Going into the season, the prevailing thinking was that Warsaw would likely have to win some shootouts in order to duplicate last year’s seven win season and within striking range of the NLC summit. Well that has not been the case at all so far. The defense has been up to the task.
It seemed fitting that after the missile launched from the right leg of Harrison Mevis with 4:20 left to play put the Tigers back in the lead 20-19, the defense would have to make one more stop in order to seal the deal. As they ran out onto the field for what would be the final time, I remember saying “well, they clearly have improved from where they started in training camp to today, but do they have one more big series left in them?”
They had spent most of the second half on the field taking body blows from the Wolves ground game. They were exhausted and it was showing. What would unfold?
They stopped them on four downs and took over inside the Michigan City 30. When they had sacked the QB to end that fourth down play and the last legitimate shot MC had, Tiger football players bodies were scattered across the field turf at Ames Field like they were volunteers at a natural disaster training scenario. Some with arms raised in jubilation, some rolling pain from having paid the price for victory.
And when Marsh took a third down hand-off and dragged defenders with him past the first down marker, the victory was secured, and more than 100 students rushed the opponent’s field soon after to start the party.
I have been proud of a lot of teams I have covered over my 28 years of broadcasting games in this area, but I don’t know if my feeling from Friday night has ever been surpassed—or if it ever could be.
As a reward, these Tigers have received the warm embrace of a community that is on fire for fall Fridays again.
But practice started Monday evening with the harsh reality that Plymouth was coming Friday. As much as they had accomplished at Michigan City and in their pre-conference schedule, their biggest goals were all still out in front of them. The next one is staring them right in the face, and it wears a big, red “P” on its collective helmet.
Since that unbeaten regular season of 2001 under Phil Jensen, Warsaw football has started a season 2-0 six different times (including this season).
The Rockies ended the Tigers’ bid for 3-0 all five times.
We have heard a lot of discussion about Warsaw and winning its first football sectional, and that certainly is one of those big goals that is still sitting out there in 2019. But winning the Northern Lakes Conference has been just as elusive since those three straight titles in 1999, 2000 and 2001. For the Tigers, that quest begins each year with Plymouth.
Beat the Rockies, and you leap an immediate hurdle in that quest. Don’t, as Warsaw has not done in 13 of the last 16 seasons, and you put yourself in a hole that you cannot count on anyone helping you out of.
Friday’s game will be the 100th game between the Tigers and Rockies since 1919. The atmosphere should be electric.
I hope you come…and bring your headset radio along with the hope we can make some more memories together.
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