Lima Warriors Football

B.J. Queen saw Lima edged out in the United States Football Alliance Playoffs as an assistant coach after the team won the national and USFA Titles the previous year.

Undeterred and now head coach, Queen and the Warriors hope to start on the road toward a long USFA playoff run-- and a better finish -- when they take on a team that finished 3-6 in the 2008 USFA campaign.

The powerhouse Warriors kick off their season Saturday, May 30 on the road against Battle Creek, the second-year organization from Michigan.

Queen, who was named the offensive coordinator in December 2008 inherits a team with a 23-2 record the last two seasons. Queen’s previous head coaching experience includes stints at Pandora Gilboa and most recently Upper Sandusky High School. Queen has also worked as an assistant at the high school and college level at Div.III powerhouse, Mount Union University.

Lima hopes to return to greatness from two-years ago after impressive victories in USFA and national title games and sailing through the 2007 season 14-0.

The Warriors, though, were beat 20-17 by Grand Rapids in a second-round playoff game last year. After dominating in 2007, they were still only one late-drive away from advancing to the western conference finals last year, but finished the season 9-2.

Despite that heartbreaking defeat, Lima is expected to start 2009 off with a bang and looks primed to contend for the title again -- despite the perception that it's an organization going through a rebuilding season.

The veteran Warriors are ready to take the team back to a championship.

"I know that a leader is a person that is supposed to lead by example and to tell the truth, thats what needs to happen," quarterback Kaene Runion recently told his team. "So jump on everyone, it's going to be a heck of a season."

Some of the Warriors players have showcased their talents during the offseason. Lima wide receiver Joe Butcher made the final cut of 4th and Long, an upcoming reality television show on Spike TV hosted by former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin, and he will be leading a Warriors offense that should be among the leauge's best. Butcher, along with offensive lineman standout Kris Stafford also participated in a tryout in early May with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

Lima's defense is always talented and only allowed 8.2 points per game last season, and returns many familiar faces, including star outside linebacker Yansey Donald who missed 2008 with an injury.

The Warriors took a small step back offensively last year with Justin Henderson having an off-year at quarterback, after leading Lima to championships the previous year. Henderson was excellent as the starter at times in the regular season, although injuries didn't allow the dual threat to scramble out of the pocket as in past seasons.

Henderson, however, didn't need to run much, as the Warriors had an array of running backs to do that. Tailbacks Myron Gregory,  Dion Pearson and rookie David Phillips are expected to see the bulk of the carries this year.

A player who could be a huge asset for the team on offense, defense and special teams will begin the season as the second-string quarterback on the team's depth chart. However, Derrick Santos, a Lakota High School standout, seems unlikely to spend much time on the bench and help out in various areas.

While Runion is the starter, Santos is expected to be heavily involved in the game plan as Lima looks to become the first team in the league to win two USFA titles. Queen will look to Santos to periodically bring an element of mobility and athleticism to Lima's offense.

Santos' presence aside, with a veteran team that hasn't been challenged often during the regular season in the past two years, the focus in Lima is on avoiding an early letdown.

Queen knows that nearly 30 guys on the roster right now are entering three or more years with the team and there may be a little challenge in the coaching staff's eyes to make sure those guys enter the season focused.

A poor game seems unlikely against Battle Creek. The Blaze, who obtained two of their three wins last season in blowout fashion against former USFA squad and undermatched Ada Dark Knights, are facing the Warriors for the first time.Battle Creek is an improving organization and prepared for the Warriors in a scrimmage against the LakeShore Cougars of the Great Lakes Football League on May 16.

Quarterback Dusty Ploehn, running back Chris Hurst, wide receiver Robbie Crockett and offensive lineman Marco Adams will lead the Battle Creek offense this year. On May 30, the game will be dedicated to Dalton Otis of Athens, Michigan. Otis was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, and the Blaze are making donations to the family from the profits they earn during the game. The Blaze are a non-profit, charitable organization raising funds for the fight against cancer, with 100-percent of their earnings going to charity.

Lima hasn't lost to a Michigan oppenent on the road since the Grand Rapids Thunder knocked them out of the playoffs (35-22) in 2006, and has won all of its season openers since 2001.

Comments

Name *
Email (For verification & Replies)
Code   

Submit Comment