It was a picture perfect Friday night for High School Football at Fishers Field at Warsaw High School. It was also the first NLC game for both Plymouth and Warsaw. In the end, a fade pass to the near back-corner of the endzone, proved to be a dagger for the Rockies as Tiger receiver Conner McCammack made a one arm grab for the game winning touchdown score as the Tigers beat Plymouth 20-19 in come from behind fashion.
“What a great game to coach!”, said Rockie Head Coach John Barron. “I’m frustrated with the outcome, but our boys played extremely hard against a strong physical Warsaw team.”
It was a tale of two halves for the Rockies who were dominate in the first 20 minutes of the game with a 2 touchdown lead thanks to two touchdown runs by sophomore quarterback Jack Barron. Then a late score by Warsaw with 35 seconds left in the first half changed the momentum in Warsaw’s favor into halftime.
“Yes that was a big score, but it wasn’t as though we went into the locker room thinking “O my goodness” we’re in trouble. We needed to make a couple stops on fourth down, and just didn’t. Warsaw seemed to make the big plays all night to their credit.”, added Barron. “After we scored to make it 13-0, our defense got a couple of stops including a missed field goal by them. So we were playing well even up to that point.”
After a 3 and out in the 2nd quarter, with 5 minutes left, Warsaw’s final drive of the half resulted in thier first score of the game to make the score 13-7 Plymouth leading. Tristian McClone scored from 4 yards out.
Both teams just traded possessions in the third quarter.
Plymouth had a drive going down to the Warsaw one yard line and on 3rd and goal, Michael H artman scored to give the Rockies a 19-7 lead. Plymouth went for a two point conversion and failed.
Momentum seemed to swing to Warsaw’s favor after the block as the Tigers scored on their next possesion when Tanner Balazs scored on a 64 yd run making the score 19-14.
Again Plymouth’s inability to stop a 3rd down and 4th down scenario allowed Warsaw to eventually get the game winning touchdown on a fade route to the corner of the end-zone. Warsaw QB Austin Head placed a perfect a ball to the corner over Plymouth defender Cam Eveland, where receiver Conner McCammack one armed it down just inside the out-a-bounds line for the game winner.
“I really can’t be that critical of this loss. We held their best runner (McClone) to just 62 yds on 31 carries. Sure he scored from four yards out, but we played very well over all. I’m not happy with our offensive line play last night. Way to many missed blocking assignments.”, said Barron.
Plymouth will host Northridge next Friday at the Rockpile. WTCA pre-show begins around 5:30pm.
