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Last year, the Warsaw and Concord football teams played two of the best games in all of the Michiana football season. On Friday night, the two sides met again for their first meeting of 2025. This one did not have the drama that last year’s clashes did, as the Minutemen dominated the second half en route to a 38-7 win to spoil the Tiger homecoming.
“Everything I was concerned about and thought could happen but I trusted wouldn’t, happened,” head coach Bart Curtis said after the loss. “I knew we were going to struggle to get their guys on the ground. I knew we have some glaring deficiencies on offense that have kind of been masked by who we’ve played. We can either get better or get used to it.”
The first half was a tough one for the Tigers. The Minutemen began the game by scoring the first 10 points on their first two drives, with a Warsaw turnover on downs mixed in between. The senior pairing of quarterback Bo Brunner and running back Reese Breveard were able to move the ball at will against the home team, marching down the field with ease in what was a six-minute opening drive.
It concluded with a 48-yard field goal by Nathan Potter to put the visitors on the board. After the Tigers were stopped on fourth down on their first drive, Concord got right back down to business, this time finding the end zone on a pass from Brunner to Chase Thompson. The junior took one heck of a lick when he caught it, but was somehow able to hold on to put his team up 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Quarterback Quinton Brock was the catalyst on the first Tiger drive that ended around midfield, using his legs to pick up a pair of first downs. On the second drive though, it was junior Michael Schenck who provided the spark. The fullback got a great block and darted up the middle of the field with nothing but green grass in front of him. He’d eventually be tracked down, but not before gaining 68 yards. A play later, Wyatt Harman punched it in from five yards out to put Warsaw on the board.
The Tigers had another big opportunity to jump in front a possession later, as an interception by Matthew Flores Ortega gave the ball right back to the home side at midfield. However, the Minutemen defense was ready this time, forcing a turnover on downs to avoid the crisis.
Instead, it would be Concord getting the last laugh before the half. After getting the ball back, Brunner was able to break loose for a 45-yard touchdown run with two minutes before the break to give the game its 17-7 halftime score.
Warsaw junior Matthew Flores Ortega looks for running room during Friday night's home game with Concord...Nieter
The first drive of the second half was a big one for the Tigers, but not for the right reasons. The team was able to get a first down on the drive, but would be stopped afterwards. Down 10, Warsaw elected to for it on 4th and 10 at their own 32. It was unsuccessful, giving the ball back to the visitors already in field goal range.
“They were going to score no matter where we gave them the ball. They could have gone 30 yards or 90 but the result was going to be the same. They were going to score,” Curtis said. “We’re not going to punt in those situations. Our offense needs the work and we needed the points.”
Given the short field to work with, the Minutemen got into the red zone in a hurry and soon found themselves in a goal-to-go situation. The visitors converted on it, with Brunner running in from four yards out for his second score of the night.
Now in a 24-7 hole, The Tigers found themselves in another 4th down situation in their own end. They elected to go for it again, and again, were stopped. Sensing blood in the water, Concord was quick to take advantage. Taking it in from 20 yards out this time, Brunner made it a hat trick on the night while also making it a 31-7 rout.
After an extremely tough third quarter, the Warsaw offense finally started to show some signs of life on its final drive of the half. Brock paved the way with his legs, as the team was able to reach the edge of the red zone as the fourth quarter got started.
As had been the case all night long though, the Minutemen were able to come up big on fourth down and get yet another stop. With the game already out of hand, Concord took its time on the following drive. Going on an extremely methodical drive, similar to the one that opened the game, the visitors scored their third touchdown on as many tries in the second half. This one came from three yards out by Breveard and extended the advantage to a commanding 38-7.
The Tigers got the ball one more time, but were unable to find a second score.
Warsaw (3-2, 2-1 NLC) is on the road against rival Plymouth next Friday.
“There’s a lot of football left to be played, but we’ve got to get better. If we don’t improve in these areas that we desperately need to, we’re just going to keep getting the same results,” Curtis said.
