The oldest rivalry in Northern Indiana, Warsaw and Plymouth met for the 101st time in 100 years at Tiger Field Friday night. Four quarters weren’t enough to declare a winner, with overtime being needed. The game came down to its final play, with the Pilgrims electing to go for two and getting it to stun the Tigers with a 33-32 victory to give the home side some homecoming heartbreak.
“I give them all the credit, they deserved to win this game,” Warsaw head coach Bart Curtis said after the contest. “I told anybody that would listen that they were going to come here this week believing they could win and they did.”
The game began disastrously for the Tigers, as fullback Brody Duncan put the ball on the turf on the first play of the game to give the Rockies the ball at Warsaw’s 30. The visitors took full advantage of the early miscue, taking the ball all the way into the end zone after a series of missed tackles got the team to the goal line. Finn Holm did the honors, running it in from three yards out to put the Rockies on the board just two minutes into the game.
Things didn’t get any better for Warsaw on the team’s next drive, as this time quarterback Brody Duncan fumbled just a few plays into their second drive of the game. Getting the ball on the Tiger side of the field once again, Plymouth moved the ball down the field, with quarterback Exzander Ramirez picking up a big third down conversion with his leg. This time though, the Tiger defense bent but did not break, holding the visitors to a field goal that made it 10-0 with four and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter.
“We started off extremely poorly and we were lucky to only be down 10 after turning the ball over twice on our first two drives,”: Curtis said.
Needing something to go their way, Warsaw finally had a big play of their own on the ensuing kickoff. Fielding the kick at the two, Tristan Wilson followed his blockers and broke loose, getting all the way down to the Plymouth 47 before finally being taken down. The Tigers were finally able to take care of the ball, methodically moving down the field before being faced with a 4th and 3 at the Rockie 23. The home side elected to go for it, and the gamble paid off. Brock kept the ball himself, found the edge, and took it all the way to the house for Warsaw’s first seven points of the game with a minute and a half left in the first.

    Looking to the end zone, senior Quinton Brock scores Warsaw's first touchdown during Friday night's home game against Plymouth...Nieter
Getting the ball right back, Plymouth picked up a first down on their next drive, getting near midfield as the second quarter began. The Tigers were finally able to pick up a defensive stop here, halting the Rockies on fourth down to get the ball at midfield.
As they did the drive prior, the Warsaw offense moved the ball slowly, but effectively up the field until they were just outside of the red zone. Then, another chunk play ended up in the end zone, as Evan Davis broke free for a 29-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers their first lead of the game. Mason Smythe’s extra point was blocked, making it a 13-10 game with seven minutes left in the half.
There would be no more scoring in the second quarter, as both teams went three-and-out on their following drives. Plymouth got the ball back just before halftime, and a long run by Ramirez put the ball deep into Warsaw territory, but time ran out before the visitors were able to do anything with it.
The Rockies got the ball to begin the second half, and while the visitors only gained about 10 yards on the drive, they used about four minutes of clock to do so. The punt that followed put Warsaw at their own 27 as the offense got back to work. It looked as if it was going to be a quick possession for the home side, as Tucker Reed made a series of defenders miss en route to a 72-yard touchdown run. However, a penalty for a helmet-to-helmet hit was called on the play, bringing it all the way back. To make matters even worse, the tables were turned even further as yet another Warsaw fumble was recovered by Plymouth to give the Rockies the ball just outside the red zone.
It didn’t take long for the visitors to turn a turnover into points for the third time in the game. After picking up a pair of first downs to put the ball at the one, the Rockies broke out the old fumblerooskie play that saw Holm break the plane to give Plymouth the lead at 17-13 with four and a half minutes to go in the third.
Looking to get back in front, Warsaw imposed its will on their next drive. Playing some smashmouth football, the Tigers were able to move the ball down the field until being forced to deal with a 4th down and long near midfield. The home side rolled the dice once again, and for the second time in the game, it worked. Brock kept it himself, following his lead blocker Robbie Hoffert to pick up a crucial first down as the third quarter wrapped up with the team still driving.
The possession reached the red zone early into the fourth quarter, with Daylon Fitzpatrick getting the ball inside the 10 to set up a goal-to-go situation. It took him three more carries from there, but Fitzpatrick finally reached the end zone from a yard out to reclaim the lead for the Tigers. Once again though, Smythe’s extra point attempt was blocked, keeping the lead at just two at 19-17.
With a little less than nine minutes to go in the game, the Rockies got the ball back. At perhaps the biggest point in the game, the Warsaw defense showed up and got a stop. The Tigers forced a three-and-out by Plymouth, which was followed by a poor punt that gave the home side the ball at the visitors’ 49 with seven minutes left.
In no particular hurry, Warsaw took its time on the ensuing possession, using almost all of the play clock on each play before snapping. After the second first down of the drive, just over four minutes remained in the game. The Rockie defense finally was able to force a fourth down with just under three minutes to go in the game. Instead of settling for a field goal attempt in the wind, the Tigers elected to go for their third conversion of the game. They’d get it, and then some. Brock dropped back and connected with Grady Nelson, who broke free and took it all the way to the end zone for a touchdown that made it an eight-point affair with 2:45 left. It could have been a two-possession game, but Curtis elected to go for two.
“I screwed up there. I should have called a timeout there and tried to get the PAT situation fixed,” Curtis said. “We could have made it a two-score game, but I was a little gun shy after how easily they blocked our last two attempts.”
Plymouth would not go away quietly. A pair of big passing plays put the Rockies at the Warsaw 40. A quarterback draw by Ramirez on the third play of the drive went for 20+ and suddenly after just 50 seconds, the visitors were at the 15. Soon, the Rockies were knocking on the door at the one-yard line, and after a few tries, with 34 seconds left, Plymouth finally got into the end zone to get within a two-point conversion of tying things up. Rolling to the left on the play, Ramirez connected with Gradyn Metsker to tie things up at 25 all.
“It was deja vu,” Curtis said. “We scored way too early, just like last week.”
Getting the ball back, the Tigers elected to take a knee and send things into overtime.
Warsaw began the extra period with the football. On third down, Duncan broke the plane to give the team the lead from the one. This time, Smythe was able to convert on his extra point to make it a 32-25 game with Plymouth getting the ball.
“The offense played well when we didn’t turn the ball over,” Curtis said.
On the second play of the drive, Ramirez connected with Metsker yet again, and the receiver did the rest, rumbling his way to the end zone for the score. The Rockies elected to go for the win, going for two to end the game one way or another. It ended in heartbreak for Warsaw, as Ramirez found the outside and made it all the way into the painted area to walk things off.
Warsaw (3-3, 2-2 Northern Lakes Conference) plays its final home game Friday against Mishawaka.
“We have to play a lot better defensively. Plymouth ran the ball at will on us and Mishawaka runs the ball exceptionally well,” Curtis said. “We’re going to have to match their physicality and play a whole lot better."