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WARRIORS SET
SIGHTS ON CHAMPIONSHIP
Warriors Anxious to
get the Season Underway
By
JOEL RENNER, University Independent
Lima Warriors Staff Reporter
6/1/06 – LIMA -
The Lima Warriors plan to bring the Minor League
Football Association
(MLFA)
championship title to Lima this 2006 season.
The
Warriors have only lost four regular season games in
the past two years but were knocked out of the
playoffs both seasons with heartbreaking losses.
A
perfect 3-0 record in preseason action and not
allowing one single point on defense may be a sign of
a great upcoming season.
“Our
offensive line has improved throughout the preseason
and our defense continues to raise havoc,” said head
coach John Parkins. “We still have some things to
work on before our first game but I am confident that
we’ll be there quick.”
Warriors quarterback Justin Henderson has been a huge
asset for five seasons with the team. Despite a back
injury suffered in January, he has been relatively
healthy in his time with the squad. The huge
offensive line has given him a lot of protection.
Looking to improve upon his preseason efficiency
rating of 109.2,
Henderson
knows that he can count on the offensive line to work
with him in making positive changes throughout the
season.
Henderson serves as one of four team captains, all
veterans, for the 2006 season. Joining him are wide
receiver Joe Butcher, outside linebacker Jason Bott
and middle linebacker Davey Settlemire, who like
Henderson, will lead the team this season.
Settlemire was an MLFN first team All-American
linebacker and was named MLFA Eastern Conference
Linebacker of the year last season. He again will be
the quarterback of the defense this year because of
his good knowledge of the Warriors defense after
starting for the last six years.
Settlemire communicates with his teammates and is a
vital leader on the team.
Despite being a favorite to win the division again
this season, the Warriors are staying focused and
people are taking notice of the improvements that
Warriors football has made during Parkins’ four-year
tenure at Lima.
Five
returning Warriors were named to the (MLFA) All-League
selections after last season.
These
players are third-year punter Maciek Szaferski,
fourth-year safety Brandt Huttis, third-year kick
returner Joe Butcher, six-year linebacker Davey
Settlemire and six-year offensive guard Brock Hartman.
The
great honor of having so many players named to first
team selections came with winning many games last
season.
Szaferski has a promising upcoming season. The once
Dallas Cowboy is a hard worker and has been dedicated
to the program for the last three seasons.
Huttis, who was the 2005 (MLFN) Midwest Defensive Back
of the Year, finished the season with 14 interceptions
and returned five for touchdowns. Huttis averaged
over 25 yards per interception return and tallied up
326 yards on the returns.
Butcher was named (MLFN) Midwest Kick & Punt Returner
of the Year after last season. Butcher returned three
punts for touchdowns and averaged over 22 yards per
attempt. Butcher also averaged almost 38 yards per
kickoff return last year.
Hartman was also named (MLFN) Midwest first Team All-American
Offensive Lineman last season and was part of an
offensive line that blocked for 2,200 passing yards
and 27 rushing touchdowns in the 2005 season.
Every player for the Warriors contributes something special
to the team that has great expectations for the
upcoming season.
Another huge asset to the Warriors defense is their
cornerbacks. Dustin Hunt set a national record with
11 consecutive games with an interception in 2004.
Hunt forced four fumbles and had four interceptions
last season.
Cornerbacks Wayne Legrant and Glenn White, whom was named as
an (MLFN) Midwest Third-Team All-American last season
return to frustrate offenses all year with their
speed.
“Those
three are some of the best corners in the league and
their outstanding coverage is what allows our defense
the freedom to blitz like we do,” said Parkins.
Bobby and Brandt Huttis were involved in a car accident on
May 20 and will miss part of the season due to
injuries that will leave some large shoes to be
filled.
“I'll be at the game this weekend, but unfortunately not in
pads. I'm working to try n get back out there,” said
wide receiver Bobby Huttis. “That car accident
happened for some reason, but I'm still a little
confused as to why it had to involve Brandt and I
right before the start of the season.”
First up for the Warriors is the Southwest Michigan
Punishers.
The Punishers are coming off a season-opening, 22-20, loss
against the Michigan Renegades last week. The
Punishers played a tough game and are a game ahead of
the Warriors, but
Lima
is prepared for the match up.
After last week’s game in which quarterback Brian Hicks threw
for 168 yards and Steve Van Dam had 104 receiving
yards, it looks like the Warriors defense will have
the most difficulty against the Punishers passing
attack.
The Punishers seem to be a solid team and played well on both
sides of the ball in the team’s first appearance. The
Warriors need to focus on themselves and execution is
going to be key in the game.
The Southwest Michigan Punishers are a first year team
playing in an area that has attracted many great
athletes in the past and the new franchise is looking
to have success.
Kickoff is scheduled for
7 p.m. Saturday at
Mayors
Riverfront Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Warriors will then face the West Ohio Wranglers at
7 p.m.
June 10 at War Memorial Stadium in Ada for the home
opener.
Overall, the team is optimistic about the upcoming season.
“I'm looking forward to an even better season then last
year,” said defensive end Adam Gill. “The only thing
keeping us from a ring is ourselves.”
“I
can't wait to get this season under way, because I
believe that this is our year,” said linebacker Barry
Peel. “I am also very proud to be a Warrior and a
part of such a prestigious organization.”
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