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WARRIORS WRAP UP
PRESEASON
Columbus Blackhawks
held to negative 18-yards total offense
By
JOEL RENNER, University Independent
Lima Warriors Staff Reporter
5/21/06 – LIMA -
Sixty-two points and three shutouts in preseason
action show that the Lima Warriors are ready for a big
2006 season.
With the regular season less than two weeks away, the
Warriors concluded their preseason with an outstanding
scrimmage against the Columbus Blackhawks Saturday
afternoon at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
Quarterback Justin Henderson directed the Warriors offense
all day and capped off the game with a 59-yard
touchdown toss to Porfirio Sutton to beat
Columbus 18-0.
The win was the third at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park this
preseason. The Warriors backers in the crowd
witnessed a recurring sight as
Lima dominated the defensive side of the game by not
allowing any points by the opponent. Coach John
Parkins was very pleased with the defense.
“They’re so confident and aggressive and it’s a huge
advantage to the team,” Parkins said.
Running back Jeremy Bott who in the opening drive, blasted up
the middle and had a fifty-five yard touchdown run
said:
“My fullback (Mark Strahm) made me a great block on a
linebacker and I turned it up field and was gone.”
The reality of it is that the 18-point victory does not do
justice to the Warriors effort. The Blackhawks were
stopped drive after drive in a lopsided matchup.
Henderson took the Warriors to an early 12-0 lead
after he directed a 10-play, 47-yard touchdown drive
when he lobbed a pass around the goal line to Joe
Butcher. Butcher made a diving catch in the back of
the end zone that replays would have confirmed the
amazing catch was in bounds.
Rookie Porfirio Sutton continued to shine as he led the team
in receiving with 74 yards and a touchdown reception.
The Warriors once again had a balanced running attack as
Jeremy Bott, Andrew Cleckley, Toledo Mitchell, Mark
Strahm and Chris Brooks carried the ball for 135 yards
in the scrimmage.
The Blackhawks quarterback was pressured all game as the
Warriors had seven sacks in the afternoon. Josh
Huddleston, John Lance, Adam Gill, Jason Bott, Pierre
Jackson and Eric Deal contributed in the sacks.
Safety Adam Forney intercepted a pass and returned it 25
yards to highlight a stellar performance by the
Warriors defense who held the Blackhawks offense to
negative 18 yards in the scrimmage.
The Warriors offense tallied up 298 total yards and averaged
over nine yards per play.
Offensive lineman Brock Hartman was pleased with the
preseason play and development of players, but knows
that there is always something to work on before the
regular season.
“When you practice as much as a college team does in two
weeks, it makes it tough to get your timing down,”
Hartman said. “I think after a good four quarter
game, we’ll be firing on all eight cylinders.”
The Warriors go on the road to play their first regular
season game on June 3 against the SW Michigan
Punishers in
Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Punishers are a first year
squad, but are expected to be tough.
“Kalamazoo
has always had spectacular teams up in that area,”
said Hartman.
The Warriors coaching staff has done a fine job preparing the
players for games.
“The coaches have done a great job and all we have to do now
is execute, we have the talent to win, we just have to
make it happen, said Hartman. “I think the team is
ready to play.”
“Game play is totally different from scrimmages,” said
cornerback Dustin Hunt.” “It should be fun and an
exciting game to start the season.”
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