What a difference a week makes.

The Warsaw Tiger football team traveled to Elkhart on Friday night and dismantled the Elkhart Memorial Crimson Chargers by a score of 28-13. It wasn't that close.

Phil Jensen's football teams win games by running the football. And run they did. Again, senior Zach Rooney carried the load for the Tigers carrying the ball an astonishing 32 times for 170 yards! Senior Peyton Balaz also pitched in with 17 big carries for 50 yards. Throw in a HUGE special teams play by senior Cameron Fritzel and a HUGE defensive play by none other than senior Cameron Fritzel and that is a recipe for success. Tigers win!

Rooney, Balaz and Fritzel stole the show last night. However, Warsaw's offensive line may have been the true hero. What the average fan may not know is that Coach Jensen went back in time and brought in a true superstar of his own. That superstar is none other than offensive line coach Mark Ingole (En - gole). Coach Ingole was a staple in Coach Jensen's staff many moons ago. He was an integral part of a staff that won back to back to back conference championships. Warsaw's offensive line dominated the game last night. It was Coach Ingole's first game back as the offensive line coach. Coincidence?

After a scoreless first quarter, Zach Rooney scampered into the end zone on a 4 yard run to give Warsaw a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing Memorial possession, Warsaw's defense stiffened and forced a Memorial punt. Cameron Fritzel blasted through the line and blocked the punt! If that wasn't enough, Fritzel scooped up the ball and ran into the end zone. The extra point was missed but Warsaw had a 13-0 lead.

With 43 seconds left until halftime, Memorial got greedy. Greedy may be a strong word but with a goose egg on the board in the first half Memorial tried going to the well one too many times. Again, it was senior Cameron Fritzel stepping in front of an errant Memorial pass, intercepting the football and rumbling for a 54 yard touchdown! Warsaw led 21 - 0 at the half!

Rooney barreled into the end zone again in the 3rd quarter. A Jeff Ballinger extra point and all of a sudden with 6:12 left in the 3rd quarter Warsaw led 28-0.

Memorial's Urston Smith returned the kickoff 80 yards to cut Warsaw's lead to 28-7.

It was gut check time for the Tigers and did they ever pass the test! Memorial scored a garbage touchdown late in the 4th quarter and the Tigers had their first victory of the season.

While the offensive guys get most of the "ink" on this night the Tiger defense was dominant. Led by Fritzel's HUGE plays, it was Tanner Dickerhoff and Zach Shepler who actually led the Tiger defense. Both Dickerhoff and Shepler were credited with 4.5 tackles to lead the defense. Dickerhoff also picked off his second pass of the year while Shepler had 3.5 of his 4.5 tackles for loss!

Jeremy Lehman also had 3.5 tackles for the Tigers and although the Furnivall name is synonymous with Tiger basketball, it was feisty Gabe Furnivall who pitched in with 3 tackles of his own and the first interception of his storied career!

Next up for the Tigers are the Northridge Raiders. It's the annual homecoming game for Warsaw and with the dominant performance last night it should be an electric atmosphere at Fisher Field.

Posted In: Boy's Sports > Football