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WARRIORS ADVANCE
TO THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Lima
rides dominating defensive beating Northeast Missouri
41-7
By
DEVON
JONES
Lima Warriors Staff Reporter
8/27/05 – LIMA -
All
season long the Lima Warriors have leaned on the
defense to lead the way. In the biggest game of the
year, to date, they did not disappoint.
The
game, which was played at Lima Stadium, started off
with the Warriors taking the opening kickoff and
driving down the field using on a six play 29 yard
drive. It appeared as though they were in business,
until Andrew Cleckley put the ball on the ground and
the Cyclones recovered.
Northeast Missouri was eager to do something with the
Warriors’ gift, but could only go three and out. After
trading possessions, the Cyclones punted from deep
inside their ten yard line. The punt went off the
side of Tory Tate’s foot and bounced at the 10 yard
line. Jason Bott was “Johnny on the spot” and scooped
up the ball and rumbled into the end zone. Fred
Hallett added the extra point and the Warriors were up
7-0.
The
ensuing kickoff traveled into the end zone and was
attempted to be returned. The Cyclone’s return man was
tackled in the end zone on what appeared to be a
safety, but was ruled a touchback. The Cyclones, led
by first team all league selection, Mike McMullen,
wasted no time scoring. McMullen hit Claude
Viveretter in stride streaking down the center of the
field for an 80-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7.
The
second quarter, the game was blown wide open. Chris
Jones recovered a fumbled punt at the Cyclone 8 yard
line. Justin Henderson wasted no time in finding
Bobby Huttis for the score when Huttis made a
spectacular tight line catch in the corner of the end
zone. Fred Hallett added the extra point and the
Warriors surged ahead 14-7.
Five
minutes later, Henderson found Joe Butcher for
27-yards and with the extra point Lima was in control
21-7.
Glenn
White added two interceptions in the quarter and the
Warriors blocked a punt and a field goal. With just
39 seconds in the half, Henderson called his own
number from five yards out. The Warriors went in at
the half with a commanding 28-7 lead.
The
third quarter was a defensive struggle. The teams
traded possessions throughout the quarter and Davey
Settlemire added an interception.
The
fourth quarter the Warriors drove home the fact that
they are one of the best teams in the Minor League
Football Association. Jason Bott added a 7-yard
touchdown with just five minutes left. Fred Hallett
made his extra point and the Warriors were up 35-7.
Try
as they may, the Cyclones could get nothing going and
late in the game subbed Kenny King in for McMullen.
King fared no better, with time running down on the
clock, he was intercepted by Johnny Aldridge. As time
expired, Aldridge found his way 40 yards to the end
zone capping off a stellar day for the Lima Warriors.
Turnovers and the inability to convert in the red zone
kept this game closer than what it should have been
said head coach John Parkins after the game.
“I
can’t say enough about our defense and defensive
coordinator Rod Inbody,” added Parkins. “The defense
gave put the offense in great field position all day
long and did a great job stopping the Cyclones passing
attack.”
For
the third straight season the Warriors will be playing
for the Conference Championship. The Warriors
will travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan in two weeks to
face the only team that has defeated them this season.
The
Grand Rapids Thunder and Lima Warriors face off for
the MLFA. Eastern Conference title.
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