ELKHART – The Warsaw Tigers didn’t need any late-game heroics this time. A week after they rallied for a thrilling win over rival Plymouth, the Tigers didn’t leave any doubt Friday in a 28-0 victory over the host Elkhart Memorial Crimson Chargers. Scoring a touchdown in each quarter, and holding Memorial to 127 yards of total offense, the Tigers improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Lakes Conference. Memorial, which has scored just 20 points in four games this season, fell to 1-3 and 1-2. “Our defense is very aggressive,” said Warsaw coach Phil Jensen, whose team has defeated Memorial by the same score two years in a row. “We have pretty good team speed, and the defense isn’t afraid to get after it.” Warsaw’s defense held the Crimson Chargers to nine first downs, 72 rushing yards on 38 carries and to 55 yards through the air. The Tigers also came away with two interceptions of Memorial quarterback Trevor Trowbridge, one by Brett Fancill and the other by Kyle Heckaman, as well as a blocked punt by Gabe Furnivall. “They’re playing with their ears pinned back,” Jensen said of his defense. “The first week they were waiting, now they’re aggressive and getting after it.” The Tigers had nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage, as they disrupted Memorial’s offensive flow the majority of the game. Offensively, Warsaw controlled the clock and the tempo with its ground game. Workhorse running back Tristan McClone carried the ball 28 times for 146 yards and three touchdowns. He scored on an 18-yard run in the first quarter, a 4-yard run in the second quarter and on a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter. Fullback Jason Taylor scored on 5-yard run in the third quarter and finished the game with 53 yards on 10 carries. With the game well in hand, Ross Armey racked up 59 yards on five carries in the fourth quarter “I thought the offensive line took over in the second half,” said Jensen. “I challenged them at halftime, and we came out and put together a long drive for a score.” Warsaw finished the game with 265 yards on the ground. As a result of the win, the Tigers are among just two teams still unbeaten in NLC action, joining Concord, which is 3-0 in conference play. Warsaw hosts Northridge for Homecoming Friday at Fisher Field. Northridge suffered its first loss of the season Friday, falling 21-14 at Plymouth. “The biggest thing in high school sports is taking care of yourself, both mentally and physically,” said Jensen. “Coach (Tom) Wogomon has done a good job at Northridge. We have to keep getting better too.”
WARSAW 28, ELKHART MEMORIAL 0 W 7 7 7 7 — 28 EM 0 0 0 0 — 0
W EM 1st downs 15 9 Rushing yds 265 72 Passing yds 19 55 Comp-Att-Int 2-9-2 7-14-2 Total yds 284 127 Fumbles/lost 0/0 1/1 Penalties/yds 4/40 5/45 Punts/avg 3/26 4/18
First Quarter W – Tristan McClone 18 run (Caleb Klusman kick) 4:40, 7-0 Second Quarter W – McClone 4 run (Klusman kick) 10:31, 14-0 Third Quarter W – Jason Taylor 5 run (Klusman kick) 7:30, 21-0 Fourth Quarter W – McClone 1 run (Klusman kick) 9:15, 28-0 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing — Warsaw, McClone 28-146, Taylor 10-53, Ross Armey 5-59; Memorial, Kane Rickey 14-42, Jaylin Rhodes 6-23, Trevor Trowbridge 8-8. Passing — Warsaw, Austin Head 2-9-19, 0 TD, 2 INT; Memorial, Trowbridge 6-10-53, 0 TD, 2 INT, David Doyle 1-1-2, Rickey 0-3-0. Receiving — Warsaw, Chad Goon 1-14, Tanner Balazs 1-5; Memorial, Nathan Troutman 3-20, Doyle 2-3, Rickey 1-26, Chris Kale 1-6
