Mind Of McKrell: Week 7 Provided Plenty Of Highlights
Posted
Aaron McKrell-amckrell@timesuniononline.com
Wow.
That’s probably the best way I can describe Week 7 of area high school football.
There were upsets, thrilling comebacks, trophies won and lost, and, of course, electrifying plays.
Let’s break it down.
Warsaw 49, Wawasee 16
The traveling ‘W’ Trophy was up for grabs, and neither team wanted to go home without it. The Tigers and Warriors traded touchdowns like football cards (if anyone has a LeBron James rookie card, I’d very much like that for my collection. Trust me, I’ve got cards in return).
It has been said that football games ultimately come down to a few plays. There were two such plays in this matchup. Interestingly enough, both occurred at the 29-yard line.
It was late in the first quarter, and the Tigers had just scored on Josh West’s run from six yards out.
Then, we saw something that was as rare as seeing Bigfoot riding a unicorn to escape from Dracula: a Harrison Mevis kick that was actually able to be returned.
The return proved costly for the Warriors, as their fumble was recovered by the Tigers just 29 yards shy of the end zone.
A few plays later, Warsaw turned a 7-3 lead into a 14-3 advantage.
The most crucial play of the game came late in the second quarter.
The Warriors were down 21-10, but were playing as well offensively as they have all year.
Wawasee had a first down at the Warsaw 29-yard line when Warsaw coach Bart Curtis, brilliant strategist that he is, called a timeout.
The Warriors’ momentum was stalled, and they lost 11 yards while recovering a fumble on the next play.
On 2nd and 21, Warsaw’s defense broke through to put pressure on Wawasee.
The result? An interception by Warsaw’s Caden Silveus that was returned to midfield.
The Tigers ran Curtis’ patented triple option very well, and showcased their seldom-seen passing game when West found Wyatt Amiss for the 15-yard touchdown pass.
What could have been a 21-17 game was 28-10 heading into the locker rooms. Warsaw rode that momentum to a three-touchdown third quarter, while Wawasee was deflated. The Tigers won the battle for the traveling ‘W’ Trophy for the fourth straight year.
Triton 37, North Judson 29
The Trojans’ 37-29 win over the Bluejays was another example of how big one or two plays can be, and how crucial gaining and maintaining momentum is on the gridiron.
I wasn’t there to see it, but I trust Triton coach Ron Brown’s description of Delano Shumpert’s touchdown haul before the half as a “Superman catch.” The senior running back is supremely athletic, and I have no doubt he laid out for that ball.
An electrifying play like that, especially in a back-and-forth game, and just before halftime, can make all the difference.
Give credit to the Trojans’ defense for shutting down North Judson in the second half, so that Triton had to score just once more to seal the win.
Tippecanoe Valley 13, Rochester 7
Warsaw and Wawasee weren’t the only ones who battled for a trophy. After giving up the Bell Trophy last year, the Vikings were in danger of letting the Zebras keep it until at least 2019.
And yet, two phenomenal, Immaculate Reception-like plays put the Bell Trophy back in Akron.
Late in the fourth quarter, Valley’s Noah Miller threw a pass that was tipped in the end zone by Viking receiver Alex Morrison and landed in the hands of Jace Potter to put Valley on the board.
Yet another tipped pass, this time from Potter to Morrison at the Rochester 1-yard line, allowed Wes Melanson to punch it in to seal the win.
Not only did the Vikings pull off a spectacular comeback, they upset the then-Class 2A No. 11 team in the state.
That’ll do, Vikings. That’ll do.
Whitko 46, Manchester 28
It’s always sweet to see a team that has struggled win a game. The Wildcats picked up their first win in 706 days and put up 18 more points than they had scored all season.
The Wildcats ran by committee, but give extra credit to Cade Berg for a 100-yard rushing performance with two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions.
Whitko’s fortitude to not to give up on its season after such a tough stretch is nothing but impressive.
On the other hand, it also would have been special to see Manchester’s seniors earn a win on senior night.
At the very least, Squires senior Delton Moore had another monster game with 153 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
Last week set the bar high for area football. Each team showed heart and competitive fire. It was satisfying to see that, particularly from the teams that have struggled.
I’ve just got one question for all local high school football teams.
