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After righting the ship a tad with a big home win over NorthWood last week, the Warsaw football team remained at home for the regular season finale against Northridge on Friday night. After honoring 14 seniors before the game, the Tigers gave their upperclassmen the greatest gift of all in their final regular season game at Fisher Field: a victory. Using a big second half, Warsaw finished off the campaign with a 34-19 win over the Raiders.
Less than one minute into the game, Brody Duncan got the scoring started for the Tigers with a five-yard run to make it 7-0 after just 49 seconds of action.
After taking the early punch to the mouth, Northridge responded well. The visitors did not give up another offensive touchdown in the first half and scored two of their own. Four minutes into the second quarter, a four-yard run by Austin Horn put the Raiders on the board. However, the Tiger special teamers were able to block the kick and keep their team in front.
With just fifteen seconds left in the first half, Northridge took its only lead of the night. Quarterback Karsyn Rumfelt connected with Hayden Gorball for a five-yard passing score that made it 12-7. It stayed that way as the ensuing two-point conversion failed.
The Raider lead lasted all of 12 seconds, as just before the half, the Tigers were able to steal momentum right back as Tucker Reed, who had two kickoff returns for touchdowns against Northridge in last year’s game, returned the kick that followed the score 88 yards to the house with just three seconds left in the second quarter. After another blocked kick, Warsaw took a 13-12 lead into the break.
The third quarter was a big one for the Tigers, as they were able to blow things open with a pair of scores. Midway through the period, Duncan added his second score of the night, this one from just a yard out. About four minutes later, quarterback Quinton Brock threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Harman to extend the lead to 21-12.
Warsaw junior Wyatt Harman races down the field during the third quarter as Tucker Baber of Northridge gives chase...Nieter
Warsaw put the finishing touches on the victory with a two-yard run by Michael Schenck with three minutes to go in the game. The Raiders were able to add one final score in garbage time on a 15-yard TD pass to Tre Copeland with 71 seconds left.
The Tigers ran for 227 yards in the win. The leader on the ground was Duncan with 62 yards. Brock ran for 53 yards, Schenck for 46 and Reed for 39 on just four carries.
Warsaw (6-3) will have next week off before facing off against Northern Lakes Conference foe Concord (8-1) in the team’s sectional opener on 10/31. Due to ongoing construction at Jake Field, the game will be played at Penn High School.
