Lima Warriors Football

Lima has never played the Northwest Ohio Knights, but a highly anticipated United States Football League road game in front a sea of hostile fans clad in blue shouldn't be anything new to the Warriors. They're just hoping to keep the momentum rolling.

Looking to put its early-June loss against the Detroit Ravens in the rear view mirror, Lima returns to the road Saturday night against Northwest Ohio, which is undefeated.

The Warriors (3-1) expected to contend for a second national championship in three years behind a veteran defensive unit and a balanced offense, but their first major test of the season was a major disappointment. Lima was blown out 34-7 in Lima against the powerhouse Ravens on June 6, severely damaging its hopes for a second trip to a national championship game, but still hoping to claim a USFA Championship.

The Knights (4-0) have similar goals, especially after their non-divisional game against KY/OH Xtreme went far better than Lima's that week. Northwest Ohio beat the Xtreme 49-35 the same night the Warriors were trounced by Detroit and their other big game last Saturday against the Ohio Outlawz ended in their favor. After the Outlawz lost running back standout Tamon Ivory to injury, the Knights took advantage in winning 41-26.

 

The Warriors have seen snaps this year from veteran quarterback Kaene Runion, versatile Derrick Santos and highly touted wide receiver Bobby Huttis this season due to injury and late-game action, but the recently mobile Runion still has the starting role.

He looked poised running the offense in a dominating 23-0 shutout win over the Northwest Ohio Raiders on June 13, then throwing two more scores last Saturday in a 28-15 victory over the Kentucky Wolverines.

"We went out expecting to win, believing in what we were doing, and playing as a family," John Lance said.

Lima responded to its loss by making a major change in attitude.

"We have finally come together as a team and have become closer as a unit," Jeremy Bott said. "We all played our hearts out every play and it was awesome to watch and be a part of."

Against the Wolverines, Runion was aided by the play of Huttis at wide receiver, who tied Jeremy Bott for the team record of four touchdowns in a single game. Huttis briefly took over for the injured Runion at QB as he ran a touchdown up the middle and also caught three TD passes, giving the Warriors a pair of gifted athletes to challenge opposing defenses.

Runion was banged up after the game and said, "I'm so sore, but it hurts so good."

Lima's defense was the difference maker last game by shutting down the Wolverines offense. Kentucky scored its only points on an interception return for a TD and a safety before a botched punt and an incorrect late-hit, personal foul call was given to Jason Bott for hitting Kentucky's QB, which set up the Wolverines goal-line score with a minute remaining in the game.

"I am so proud of everyone of the guys and coaches," Jeremy Bott said. "We proved to ourselves and any other person, that we are on a mission and nobody will touch us if we play like we did Saturday."

Lima is attempting to win their sixth-straight divisional championship in nine years of existence and the Northwest Ohio Knights are the only thing standing in their way. It's simple. If the Warriors can beat the Knights in their two meetings and take care of business against the Blaze and the Raiders, they will win the division and make the playoffs.

This will really be Lima's first big, big test since Detroit and it's going to be a hostile environment for the Warriors. It's going to be an environment that some of the new players may have never been in and one the veterans will lead by example. We'll see how Lima handles it and plays under that pressure.

There may be even more pressure though on a Knights team looking to avoid its first loss of the season and trying to make a name for themselves in its inaugural run in the USFA. The lone undefeated team in the conference is no slouch. The three-year-old Knights won the Great Lakes Football League Championship in 2008. Northwest Ohio finished regular-season play 8-2 last year on its way to a 10-2 season.

"This game will go far to determine who has the inside track on winning the division and homefield in the playoffs," Warriors Vice President Devon Jones said.

With the Detroit Ravens, Grand Rapids Thunder and a visit to Lima still left on the schedule, the Knights know they have to win on Saturday or risk falling out of the western conference title hunt altogether.

 

Northwest Ohio will likely need a better performance from their quarterback than others have had  to beat the Warriors. The Knights offense tallied 41 points against the Outlawz, and now will face a Lima unit that ranks in the top of the league in total defense (14 points per game). The Knights have won their four games this season averaging nearly 45 points per game, but have given up 20.5 points per game and this is definitly the most talented defense they have seen thus far.