Lima Warriors Football

(ATHENS, MI) – The opening week of the 2009 season was a successful one for the Lima Warriors as they defeated the Battle Creek Blaze 28-14 before a record crowd at Athens High School in Athens, Michigan a suburb of Battle Creek. 

The win was the Warriors eighth season opening victory in nine openers.  The Warriors got on the board with a Dion Pearson one yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Battle Creek then answered back when Randy Tessin hauled in a 24 yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7 where it remained going into halftime. 

 Following the break, The Warriors let their special teams do the work, following an attempted pooch punt by the Blaze, which was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Chris Brooks, the Warriors defense was able to get the back to the offense where Pearson added his second score of the night. The ensuing kickoff was returned 83 yards for a score, 14 points in 18 seconds, the Warriors added a Myron Gregory touchdown late in the fourth to put a cap on the victory. 

The win was also the first for new head coach B.J. Queen, who despite the win, saw things that can improve, “I was glad we got the win on the road, but there were some things that we need to work on at least on the offensive end.  Rod’s (Inbody) defense was solid and they came up with some big plays and helped give us good field position”, said Queen, who also praised the play of newcomers Mel Griffin and Kyle Dickerson, who both played college football together at the University of Findlay.

Battle Creek was also impressed with the Warriors as well, “We hold Lima at the top-of-the-food-chain and are hungry to climb to that status. Obviously we have much work ahead of us, after 12 franchise game’s, we are both grateful and appreciative of your comments in regards to our organization.  I hope Saturday was the start of a long (and competitive) rivalry between our organizations’.  Lima is always the point of comparing other teams to what we believe is the standard of professionalism in semi-pro football. We're working to climb to that level, said Blaze Co-Founder Jason Doubleday.

The Warriors now turn their attention to the Detroit Ravens, who come to Lima Stadium as a newcomer to the USFA.  The Ravens started their season with a 27-0 win over the Metro Detroit Wolverines last weekend.  The Ravens are no strangers to success as they won the 2007 AAA National Championship.  “Now we have to amp it up even more because we are playing a team that is every bit as talented and athletic as we are. The room for mistakes is gone and we have to capitalize on any that they make” said Warriors Vice President Devon Jones

The Battle of National Champions will kick off at 7:05 at Lima Stadium.  Tickets are now only five dollars and children 12 and under still get in free.  The game will also be available at www.limawarriors.com.

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