Warsaw 36
Northridge 14

As I said after last weeks dominant victory over Elkhart Memorial, Phil Jensen likes to run the ball.

I have changed my mind. Phil Jensen LOVES to run the football.

Friday night, in front of a large homecoming crowd, the Warsaw Tigers ran and ran and ran some more. The Tigers ran so much that they never attempted a pass in the second half. In the end and after amassing 331 rushing yards against an overmatched Northridge Raider football team, the Warsaw Tiger football team finds itself in the hunt for the NLC title. Final score, Warsaw 36-Northridge 14.

Sixty-one carries for 315 yards. Those gaudy rushing numbers were what Zach Rooney and his senior counter part Peyton Balazs were responsible for on Friday night. Rooney ran around Northridge 32 times for 175 yards and 4 touchdowns. His partner in crime, Peyton Balazs ran through Northridge 29 times for 140 yards and a touchdown.

The game started out strong for Rooney. In the first quarter alone, the speedy senior rushed 13 out of the Tigers first 20 plays. Rooney rushed for 78 yards in the first quarter scoring on runs of 31 yards and 5 yards respectively. It was 14-0 Tigers and they never looked back.

Northridge made things a little interesting. The Raiders marched the ball down the field and capitalized on a Tanner Love 1 yard run and all of a sudden it was 14-6. A personal foul call against the Tigers and the Ridge decided to go for the two point conversion. The conversion was good and all of a sudden the Tigers found themselves with a six point lead, 14-8.

Halftime score, Warsaw 14 Northridge 8.

In the second half it was all Tigers.

Warsaw tried putting the Raiders away, controlling the clock and pounding the football. Zach Rooney scampered in from five yards out and all of a sudden the Tigers looked like they were about to blow out their opponent for the second consecutive week. Warsaw 22 Northridge 8.

As Lee Corso says on College Gameday, "not so fast my friends."

Northridge answered the bell as senior Austin Bencsics ran the ensuing kickoff back for a 95 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good and entering the fourth quarter the mighty Tigers held an eight point lead, 22-14. To make matters worse for the Tigers, Northridge executed a perfect "pooch" kick and recovered the kickoff on the Warsaw 32 yard line. The momentum had shifted in favor of the Raiders.

Again, "not so fast my friends."

The jubilation on the Raider sideline was short lived. Northridge fumbled the ball on the first play after recovering the kickoff. Senior Lance Lybarger manhandled his blocker and pounced on the football!

A 34 yard touchdown run by Rooney and a 5 yard touchdown blast by Balazs...the Tigers had a homecoming win!

Leading the Tiger defense was senior Cameron Fritzel with five tackles. Sophomore Joe Carter gets some ink as he was credited with three tackles and his first interception! Jeremy Lehman also had a "pick" for the Tigers.

Next up for the the Tigers are the Goshen Redskins. Ironically, Goshen was the lone win for the Tigers last year. Goshen stands at 1-4 and 0-3 in the Northern Lakes conference.

Can the Tigers make it three in a row?

Posted In: Boy's Sports > Football