Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Typically, football coaches talk about three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. Warsaw without a doubt won the first two phases Friday night in its home opener as it easily disposed of Columbia City 33-0.
All the Tigers did was hold the Eagles to 99 yards of total offense and blank them on the scoreboard while they compiled 234 yards on the ground and another 155 through the air for a total of 389 yards.
In the third phase, Warsaw faltered twice. The Tigers missed on a PAT and a two-point conversion in the second quarter. But by that point, things were already going the Tigers' way.
Senior quarterback Greg Seiss scampered 13 yards with 6:24 remaining in the opening stanza to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead before Gabe Koser added the PAT. Sophomore Brad Seiss charged in from nine yards out at the 2:18 mark to, with Koser's kick, push Warsaw's advantage to 14-0.
Brad Seiss led all ground gainers with 108 yards on 16 carries. Included in that is also a 44-yard touchdown trot. Greg Seiss added 34 yards on the ground on seven carries and threw for 155 more on 9-of-15 passing with no interceptions. Brad Cormany led the Eagles with 10 yards on one attempt. Joel Cearbaugh added nine yards on four attempts.
Warsaw coach Phil Jensen spoke of another phase where the Tigers faltered in the first half.
"Three penalties kept us from scoring touchdowns," he said, "26-0 is great but one more touchdown puts away a very well coached team."
In all, Warsaw was whistled for seven penalties for 64 yards. Columbia City was called for three penalties accounting for 34 yards.
The Tigers put two touchdowns on the board in the second quarter, Seiss's 44-yard run and a 17-yard catch by Ross Kesler, to account for the 26-0 halftime lead. Warsaw didn't break the scoring column again until reserve quarterback Jared Scrafton broke a few tackles and jogged in from ten yards out.
"I'm real proud of them," said Jensen. "I told them at the beginning of the season regardless of what happens I'd be proud of what they've done. I told them tonight they'd probably hate me because I'm not going to give up and stop pushing them."
Warsaw's stingy defense held the Eagles to just 13 yards on the ground in the second half on 14 carries.
Jensen told his players earlier in the week to show him that they believed. Jensen believes. And he says his players are getting to that point.
"I saw some real good things," he said, "that (win) is a great foundation. Don't tell them how good they are. Wait until we win a conference championship. Wait until we win the sectional. Wait until we win state, then we're the best."
Warsaw (1-0) will be at Tippecanoe Valley (1-0) Friday at 7 p.m.
WARSAW 33, COLUMBIA CITY 0
Columbia City 0 0 0 0 - 0
Warsaw 14 12 0 7 - 33
CC War
First Downs 6 19
Rushes-yards 22-32 51-234
Passing yards 67 155
Comp.-Att.-Int. 22-67-1 15-155-0
Total offense 99 389
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-0
Penalties-yards 3-34 7-64
Punts-yards 4-45 0-0
First Quarter
W - Greg Seiss 13 run (Gabe Koser kick), 6:24
W - Brad Seiss 9 run (Koser kick) 2:18
Second Quarter
W - B. Seiss 44 run (kick failed), 11:09
W - Ross Kesler 17 catch (PAT failed), :38
Fourth Quarter
W - Jared Scrafton 10 run (Koser kick), 1:26
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Col. City, Joel Cearbaugh 4-9, Seth Hoppe 7-5, Brad Cormany 1-10; Warsaw, B. Seiss 16-108, David Muta 11-38, G. Seiss 7-34, Scrafton 4-31, Mike Moore 10-25
Passing - Col. City, Hoppe 9-22-67-1; Warsaw, G. Seiss 9-14-155-0, Scrafton 0-1-0-0
Receiving - Col. City, Fuller 6-42, Cearbaugh 2-21, Cormany 1-4; Warsaw, Ross Kesler 5-70, Jon Dock 1-39, Nelson 2-29, B. Seiss 1-16
