Warsaw Pounds Plymouth, Remains Undefeated

The Northern Lakes Conference football matchup between Plymouth and Warsaw didn't go quite the way everyone expected it to.

With both teams coming in 2-0 on the season, the game was supposed to be an old-fashioned barn burner. Supposed to be.

What actually happened was far from burning anything as the Tiger topped the Rockies 36-0 to remain undefeated in both the regular season and the NLC standings.

Warsaw took the lead late in the first quarter. Brad Seiss capped a 57-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Adam Sisson split the uprights to give Warsaw a 7-0 advantage.

That's where the score stood until just 39.9 seconds were left in the second quarter. Ryan DeGeeter hooked up with Chris Clay on a 4-yard pass to put Warsaw up 13-0 at the half.

The Tiger offense continued to click on all cylinders in the second half.

At the 8:07 mark in the third quarter, Sisson added three more points to Warsaw's score with a 29-yard field goal.

Then at the 5:19 mark, DeGeeter hit Jacob Wilson for 29 yards and another Tiger touchdown, making the score 22-0.

But the Tigers were not finished.

In the fourth quarter, Warsaw started a drive from Plymouth's 38-yard line and moved to the 4. DeGeeter got the job done on his own, running the last four yards for a touchdown at the 4:49 mark.

Tiger backup quarterback Ross Parker scored Warsaw's last touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run with 1:27 left in the game, putting Warsaw up 36-0.

While Warsaw's offense exploded for 36 points, the defense held the key to the game. The Tiger defense kept Plymouth from scoring inside the 10-yard line not once but twice in the first half. And those opportunities came back-to-back for the Rockies.

Plymouth moved the ball from its own 46-yard line to the Warsaw 6 in nine plays early in the second quarter. Two plays later, the Rockies had a third-and-goal situation from the 1-yard line. Plymouth fumbles the ball, and Warsaw took over from its own one.

Then later in the second quarter, Plymouth moved the ball from its own 45 to Warsaw's 5 before turning the ball over on downs.

"The score of this game was not indicative of how good either of these teams is," said Warsaw coach Phil Jensen. "We had a couple big stands at the goalline, and that's what propelled us to this point. The definitely had to win the time of possession battle."

Seiss led the Tiger ground attack with 113 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback DeGeeter completed 5 of 11 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Charley Craig led the Rockies with 14 rushes for 48 yards. Quarterback Jon Slein completed 9 of 17 passes for 67 yards.

The win keeps Warsaw's record a perfect 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the NLC, while Plymouth falls to 2-1 overall and 0-1 NLC.

"I told the kids that the toughest thing to do now will be to stay focused," said Jensen. "The excitement is startin gto grow in the town and at school. We're gonna have a lot of bandwagon jumpers. But we will have to continue to get better if we're gonna reach our goals."

Warsaw travels to Elkhart to play new NLC opponent Elkhart Memorial at 7 p.m. Friday.

WARSAW 36, PLYMOUTH 0

Plymouth (2-1) 0 0 0 0 - 0

Warsaw (3-0) 7 6 9 14 - 36

P W

First downs 14 11

Rushing yards 115 210

Passing yards 77 108

Comp.-Att.-Int. 11-19-1 5-11-0

Total offense 192 318

Fumbles/lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties/yards 4-40 2-20

First Quarter

W -ÊBrad Seiss 1 run (Adam Sisso Kick), 7-0 W (2:08)

Second Quarter

W - Chris Clay 4 pass from Ryan DeGeeter (kick failed), 13-0 W (39.9)

Third Quarter

W - Sisson 29 field goal, 16-0 W (8:07)

W - Jacob Wilson 29 pass from DeGeeter (kick failed), 22-0 W (5:19)

Fourth Quarter

W -ÊDeGeeter 7 run (Sisson kick), 29-0 (4:49)

W - Ross Parker 4 run (Sisson kick), 36-0 W (1:27)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Plymouth: Johnson Black 5-24, Jon Slein 11-3, Charley Craig 14-48, Kyle Davis 3-38, Aaron Garmon 1-2; Warsaw: Brad Seiss 18-113, David Muta 5-25, Ryan DeGeeter 3-14, Adam Sisson 2-44, Grady Randall 4-3, Ben Kreinbrink 1-3, Ross Parker 2-6, Ryan Hamilton 1-2

Passing - Plymouth: Slein 9-17-67, 0 TD, 0 INT, Andy Hutchinson 2-2-10 0 TD, 0 INT; Warsaw: DeGeeter 5-11-108 2 TD, 0 INT

Receiving - Plymouth: Kyle Davis 3-30, Zach Glassburn 2-30, Craig 4-7, Aaron Garmon 2-4; Warsaw: Chris Clay 2-37, Seiss 2-42, Jacob Wilson 1-29

Running Game Powers Valley

By Dale Hubler, Times-Union Sports Writer

NORTH MANCHESTER - A program trying to return to its glory days, Tippecanoe Valley's football team used an old fashioned power running game Friday in its win over Three Rivers Conference rival Manchester.

Behind the legs of 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior workhorse running back Jon Rice, the Vikings came away a 27-14 winner in the conference opener for both teams. Valley is 2-1 overall, while the host Squires fall to 1-2.

"Rice did a great job of hitting the weights over the summer and making himself better," Valley coach Scott Bibler, who won his 65th game with the Vikings, said. "He's a good, strong kid with some quickness. When he gets that feeling, he does good things."

Rice rushed the ball 28 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow back Kevin Paxton pounded out 37 yards on 10 carries.

In a TRC battle known to be black and blue, the Squire defense forced Valley into a three-and-out in the game's opening drive. Manchester then started on its 26 yard line and put together a 15-play drive that took 7:45 off the clock. Senior running back Anthony Sorg put the finishing touches on the drive with a one-yard plunge to pay dirt at the 1:54 mark, giving the Squires a 6-0 lead.

Of Manchester's first 15 plays, nine of them were rushes by the 5-11, 170-pound Sorg.

"We tried to show them with that first drive that we could move the ball down the field," Manchester coach Al Bailey, now 75-88 with the Squires, said. "Later on in the game we just lagged, and Valley was up to the challenge. In the second half we started to establish some things again and we made some costly turnovers."

Leading the Vikings 14-7, Manchester started the second half with the ball and began marching down the field. On the sixth play of the drive, a run by Sorg, the Squires coughed up the ball. Valley recoverd on the 39, and with 4:23 remaining in the third quarter Rice plunged in from two yards out for his second touchdown of the evening. Chris Hurd made good on the extra-point attempt and the game was knotted at 14.

Ditching its running game for an all out passing attack, Manchester senior quarterback Michael Sorg threw an interception on the third play of the Squires' next drive.

Valley started the drive on the 42 and gained two yards on the first play on a carry by Rice. Six-foot-four junior Trey Eaton then caught a 33-yard pass from junior signal caller David Beyers. After some more smash mouth running, Beyers scampered in from one yard out with 11:23 remaining in the game. With Hurd's kick Valley led 21-14.

"The mistakes we had we're so inopportune," Bailey said. "I keep telling the kids every little mistake is crucial. Each mistake becomes the turning point in the game."

Anthony Sorg finished the game with 52 yards on 14 carries, while Dustin Westendorf led the team with eight carries for 58 yards.

Through the air, Michael Sorg was 6 of 16 for 58 yards with an interception. Manchester turned the ball over twice on fumbles.

"This is just a great win for our team," Bibler said. "Manchester is a good football team, and we knew that. For us to come out of here with a win is a great start for the conference race."

Valley hosts TRC foe Southwood Friday, while Manchester travels to conference rival Whitko.

TIPPECANOE VALLEY 27

MANCHESTER 14

T. Valley (2-1, 1-0) 0 7 7 13 - 27

Warsaw (1-2, 0-1) 6 8 0 0 - 14

TV M

First downs 13 12

Rushing yards 181 132

Passing yards 52 58

Comp.-Att.-Int. 4-7-0 6-16-1

Total offense 233 180

Fumbles/lost 0/0 2/2

Punts/avg. 3-32.7 2-48

Penalties/yards 3-20 2-20

First Quarter

M - Anthony Sorg 1 run (kick failed) 1:54, 6-0 M

Second Quarter

TV - Jon Rice 5 run (Chris Hurd kick) 4:25, 7-6 TV

M - Ferron Gaerte 2 catch from Michael Sorg (A. Sorg conversion run) :27, 14-7 M

Third Quarter

TV - Rice 2 run (Hurd kick) 4:23, 14-14

Fourth Quarter

TV - David Beyers 1 run (Hurd kick) 11:23, 21-14 TV

TV - Beyers 5 run (kick failed) :55, 27-14 TV

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Valley, Rice 28-125, Kevin Paxton 10-37; Manchester, Dustin Westafer 8-58, A. Sorg 14-52, Kyle Powers 4-16

Passing - Valley, Beyers 4-7-52-0; Manchester, M. Sorg 6-16-58-1

Receiving - Valley, Trey Eaton 2-42, Kyle Bruner 2-10; Manchester, Gaerte 3-40, Westendorf 2-10

Doty Huge In Wawasee Win

Times-Union Staff Report

MIDDLEBURY - Led by senior quarterback Brent Doty, Wawasee's varsity football team crushed Northern Lakes Conference rival Northridge 34-7 Friday.

Doty went 15 of 21 through the air for 281 yards, while rushing the ball nine times for 63 yards and four touchdowns.

The 27-point win improves the Warriors to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the NLC; Northridge falls to 1-2 and 0-1.

Senior Mike Ellsworth caugh seven passes from Doty for 133 yards, while Drew Evans caught four for 73 yards.

Wawasee will host NLC foe Concord next Friday.

WAWASEE 34, NORTHRIDGE 7

Wawasee (2-1, 1-0) 6 14 14 0 - 34

Northridge (1-2, 0-1) 7 0 0 0 - 7

W N

First downs 17 9

Rushing yards 178 116

Passing yards 281 43

Comp.-Att.-Int. 15-25-1 6-17-2

Total offense 359 159

Fumbles/lost 0/0 0/0

Punt avg. 38.0 34.0

Penalty yards 35 15

First Quarter

N - Josiah Boomer 90 kick return (Brian Rhodes kick) 11:48

W - Brent Doty 4 run (kick failed) 4:28

Second Quarter

W - Doty 1 run (conversion pass failed) 11:18

W - Doty 2 run (Doty coversion run) :00

Third Quarter

W - Mike Ellsworth 43 pass from Doty (Ben Champoux kick) 10:20

W - Doty 2 run (Champoux kick) 6:14

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Wawasee, Doty 9-63, Drew Evans 13-53, Jordan Swain 3-43; Northridge, Chris Harrell 15-64, Boomershine 12-43

Passing - Wawasee, Doty 15-21-281-1; Northridge, Adam Smith 6-17-43-2

Receiving - Wawasee, Ellsworth 7-133, Evans 4-73, Nate Edgington 2-54; Northridge, Thomas Babcock 2-34

Whitko Edges Southwood In TRC Opener

Times-Union Staff Report

WABASH - Trailing Three Rivers Conference opponent Southwood 7-6, Whitko's varsity football team got a five-yard touchdown run from Brandon Waterson with 5:07 remaining in the third to pick up a 12-7 win Friday.

Waterson finished the game with the game with 60 yards on 14 carries, while Burl Haywood led the ground game with 23 carries for 97 yards.

Haywood scored Whitko's first touchdown, a one-yard plunge with 3:02 left in the second stanza.

The Wildcats are now 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the TRC, while Southwood falls to 1-2 and 0-1.

Whitko host conference rival Whitko next Friday.

WHITKO 12, SOUTHWOOD 6

Whitko (2-1) 0 6 6 0 - 12

Southwood (2-1) 0 7 0 0 - 7

W S

First downs 13 11

Rushing yards 181 88

Passing yards 48 93

Comp.-Att.-Int. 2-4-0 7-19-1

Total offense 229 181

Fumbles/lost 4-2 2-0

Punts/Ave. 2-28 4-31.5

Penalties/yards 3-10 3-10

Second Quarter

W - Burl haywood 1 run (pass failed), 6-0 W (3:02)

S - Bryant Paul 2 run (Nick Ehret kick), 7-6 S (0:55)

Third Quarter

W - Brandon Waterson 5 run (pass failed), 12-7 W (5:07)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Whitko: Burl Haywood 23-97, Brandon Waterson 14-60, Alan Robbins 8-15, Brad Walpole 5-8, Dustin Boardman 1-1; Southwood: Colby Halderman 9-21, Bryant Paul 10-22, Tyler Kroft 4-21, Nick Ehret 3-21, Troy Loe 1-2, Josh Schoeff 3-1

Passing - Whitko: Brad Walpole 2-4-48, 0 INT, 0 TD; Southwood: Shoeff 7-19-93, 1 INT, 0 TD

Receiving - Whitko: Alan Robbins 1-28, Brett Lukens 1-20; Southwood: Tyler Kroft 4-57, Cory Rogers 1-17, Colby Halderman 1-15, Zac Beals 1-4

Culver Pummels Triton

Times-Union Staff Report

CULVER - After a 44-0 drubbing by Northern State Conference foe Culver, Triton's varsity football team falls to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the NSC.

The host Cavaliers used an explosive running game to pick up the easy win.

Culver's started the game by scoring a safety, and then put the game away on the ground. Chad Hooker rushed four times for Culver, tallying 103 yards, while Ron Jelinek carried the ball seven times for 73 yards.

In all, the Culver offense racked up 296 yards on the ground on 39 plays. The Cavalier defense held the Triton offense to -23 yards for the game on 42 total plays.

Triton will be at NSC opponent Bremen next Friday.

CULVER 44, TRITON 0

Triton (1-2, 0-1) 0 0 0 0 - 0

Culver (2-1, 1-0) 16 21 7 0 - 44

T C

First downs 3 9

Rushing yards -23 296

Passing yards 0 18

Comp.-Att.-Int. 0-4-0 1-4-0

Total offense -23 314

Fumbles/lost 4/1 1/0

Punt avg. 6/33 1/30

Penalty yards 0-0 2-14

First Quarter

C - defense scored safety

C - Kevin Hunicutt 20 run (Jim Brugh kick)

C - Ron Jelinek 11 run (Brugh kick)

Second Quarter

C - Chad Hooker 74 run (Brugh kick)

C - Jelinek 35 run (Brugh kick)

C - Tim Day fumble recovery (Brugh kick)

Third Quarter

C - T.J. Montgomery 1 run (Brugh kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Culver, Hooker 4-103, Jelinek 7-73, Montgomery 10-53

Passing - Culver, Chris Carlson 1-4-18-0

Receiving - Culver, Jacob Smith 1-18