Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
GOSHEN - Just two weeks ago, Wawasee was scratching its heads after getting pummelled 49-14 against Goshen. The Warriors had just given up a school-record 520 rushing yards to the Redskins, but the Warriors knew their defense wasn't that bad.
In the rematch Friday in the second round of Sectional 11 action, the Warriors were left wondering again. This time it was on the offensive side and how so many opportunities slipped away in a 28-11 loss to the Redskins.
Wawasee had a first down three times inside the Goshen 10-yard line and came away with a grand total of three points. Two of those chances came in the first half when Goshen led only 7-3 at halftime.
"We had the opportunities, we just didn't take advantage of them," Wawasee coach Gene Mitz said. "We had our chances."
All in all, Wawasee's performance against Goshen was a lot better than last time. Goshen had only 164 yards rushing this time around, and the Warrior defense kept the Redskins' duo of running backs Mason Ogle and Brett Sloop, from running crazy. Ogle had 91 yards and Sloop got 62.
"I thought the defense played well," Mitz said. "We have gotten better," Mitz said. "I am proud of the way we came back after last time. We just have to build on that for next year."
Goshen came out of the lockerroom in the second half and put together a backbreaking 7-minute drive that culminated in a 6-yard pass from Kyle Park to Jon Miller and a 14-3 Redskin lead.
"We needed to sustain something and answer their third quarter score," Mitz said.
The Redskins put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter when Park hooked up another Miller, Kevin this time, from 16 yards out to make it 21-3.
After blocking a Wawasee punt, the Redskins got another score a few minutes later on a 15-yard run by Mason Ogle to make it 28-3.
Wawasee got its only touchdown of the night when Brody Stipp caught a tipped pass from Jeff Beer from 6 yards out. Beer ran in the two-point conversion to make the final score of 28-11.
Beer had a good night passing the ball for the Warriors, completing 10 of 18 passes for 152 yards and no interceptions. But late in the game when Goshen knew the Warriors had to pass the ball in order to rally, the Redskins got to Beer for five sacks. The Redskins sacked Beer six times for the entire game.
"When you pass a lot you have to be able to complete the passes and protect the quarterback," Mitz said. "We try to be a balanced team, but we knew the play action could work against them."
Trailing 7-0 in the second quarter, Wawasee moved the ball to the Goshen 1-yard line helped by a 45-yard pass from Beer to Shawn Johnson.
On Wawasee's first try from the one, Johnson was stopped for negative one, then Luke Matz ran twice for a total of one yard, and then on fourth down from 3-yard line, Johnson was again stopped for a 1-yard loss.
Later on in the second quarter, the Warriors had first down on Goshen's 5-yard line. Two plays later, Goshen got to Beer and sacked him for a 15-yard loss back to the 20. Matt Stump salvaged the trip into Redskin territory with a 37-yard field goal with just four seconds left in the first half.
Wawasee marched to Goshen's 10-yard line in the fourth quarter trailing 28-11 with just over two minutes left in the game, but Beer was again sacked for a loss of eight yards on a fourth down play.
Wawasee finished 4-6 on the season with two wins coming on the field and two coming from forfeits from Carroll (Allen) and Plymouth.
Goshen (7-3) faces Plymouth Friday in the Sectional 11 championship.
