SYRACUSE – Wawasee initiated new-look Warrior Field in style Friday with a 53-34 win against visiting Lakeland.
It was the first football game of the season for both squads and the first at Wawasee for head coach Mike Eshbach.
It was also the first contest on the Warriors’ new turf field and T-shirts were handed out with the slogan “Same House. New Carpet.”
Evan Eshbach tossed three touchdown passes – one each to Jacob Hand, LeShaun Morris and Dylan Hepler-Fink as the Warriors gained 270 of their 365 offensive yards through the air.
Wawasee had 226 total yards (129 passing) in the first half.
Hand and Keyan Peete tallied two touchdowns each, while Eshbach, Hepler-Fink and Morris had one each.
Lakeland wound up with all but 40 of its 400 yards on the ground, with Aaron Kreider (34 carries for 186 yards and three touchdowns) and Nolan Isaacs (17 totes for 165 yards and one TD) carrying most of the load for the Keith Thompson-coached Lakers.
The visitors amassed 208 rushing yards and 34 passing before halftime.
The other Lakeland trip to the end zone was taken by Coby Mitchell on a pass from quarterback A.J. Poe.
The high-scoring contest saw Wawasee lead 22-14 after one quarter, 36-22 at halftime and 46-22 after three quarters.
It was the first time the Warriors beat the Lakers in three varsity football meetings. Lakeland prevailed in 1995 in LaGrange and 1996 in Syracuse.
Both teams play again Friday, with Wawasee at West Noble and Churubusco at Lakeland.
WAWASEE 53, LAKELAND 34
L 14 8 0 12 – 34
W 22 14 10 7 – 53
L W
1st downs 23 20
Rushing yds 360 95
Passing yds 40 270
Comp-Att-Int 3-14-1 19-30-1
Total yds 400 365
Fumbles/lost 5-2 0-0
Penalties/yds 12/80 10/65
Punts/avg. 3/48.0 1/19.0
First Quarter
W – LeShaun Morris 42 pass from Evan Eshbach; Aaron Evans run, 10:02, 0-8.
W – Keyan Peete 60 run; Brayden Johnson kick, 8:38, 0-15.
L – Adam Kreider 1 run; Kreider run, 4:29, 8-15.
W – Jacob Hand 82 kickoff return; Johnson kick, 4:17, 8-22.
L – Nolan Isaacs 10 run; pass failed 1:13, 14-22.
Second Quarter
W – Peete 4 run; Johnson kick, 10:47, 14-29.
L – Kreider 14 run; Kreider run, 7:05, 22-29.
W — Eshbach 6 run; Johnson kick, 2:01, 22-36.
Third Quarter
W – Dylan Hepler-Fink 39 pass from Eshbach; Johnson kick, 9:25, 22-43.
W – Johnson 35 field goal, :25.4, 22-46.
Fourth Quarter
L – Coby Mitchell 6 pass from A.J. Poe; run failed 10:46, 28-46.
W – Hand 18 pass from Eshbach; Johnson kick, 4:01, 28-53.
L – Kreider 3 run; run failed, :38.8, 34-53
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Lakeland, Adam Kreider 34-186. Nolan Isaacs 17-165, Lawton Yoder 5-18, A.J. Poe 1-(minus) 4, Team 1-(minus) 5; Wawasee, Keyan Peete 10-71, Jacob Hand 2-15, Aaron Evans 6-9, Evan Eshbach 2-0.
