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WARRIORS ONE STEP
CLOSER
Warriors Win First Game of Season in Shutout Victory
Against the Southwest Michigan Punishers
By
JOEL RENNER, University Independent
Lima Warriors Staff Reporter
6/4/06
– KALAMAZOO, MI
- Talk about defense!
In 15 of the
last 30 games the Lima Warriors defense has not
allowed any points.
The
Lima Warriors won its first game of the season on
Saturday, June 3 on the visiting field, Mayors
Riverfront Park, defeating the Southwest Michigan
Punishers 35-0 in the two squads first ever match up.
The Warriors will start the 2006 season with an
undefeated record while the Punishers will drop to
0-2.
The
Warriors shutout was a result of strong defensive and
offensive efforts combined with four turnovers made by
Southwest Michigan, which included three interceptions
and one fumble recovery on the part of Lima.
Last
year’s Minor League Football Association (MLFA)
Eastern Conference Running Back of the Year, Columbus
“Toledo” Mitchell started the scoring at 9:45 in the
first quarter, scoring a touchdown on an off tackle
run. Mitchell had a total of 78 yards in the game.
Second-year back Chris Brooks finished the game with a
total of 58 yards on the ground, scoring once in the
first quarter on a 38-yard scamper.
After
racing to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter,
the visiting team continued to challenge the
Punishers, who struggled to complete a total of 98
yards to the Warriors 355.
In the
second quarter running back Andrew Cleckley scored on
a seven-yard run with 7:30 remaining on the clock.
Wide
receiver Joe Butcher caught a three-yard reception in
the back of the end zone with six seconds left in the
first half, making the score 27-0 to end the first
half.
Second-year defensive end Troy Williamson also
finished strong with five and a half tackles, an
interception and half a sack.
The
Warriors rushed for a total of 249 yards on a very
balanced rushing attack. Six running backs carried
the ball in the ground game.
“Tonight is just the first taste of how spectacular
our running game is going to be,” said lineman Brock
Hartman. “Every single one of them has a different
style and they are all animals.”
Leading 27-0 late in the fourth quarter, the Punishers
put together a drive that found themselves feet away
from the end zone. The Warriors defense did what they
do best and had a four-play goal line stand denying
the Punishers the touchdown.
“If
they get a touchdown on the goal line, that is a hard
thing to swallow for our defensive players,” said
linebacker Jason Bott. “It shows the heart of the
defense.”
“The
veterans stepped up big time on that stop,” said
Alphonso “Biggie” Townsend.
The Warriors
then drove the ball roughly 98 yards and Butcher
scored the final Lima touchdown on a diving catch in
the end zone with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter.
“We said
lets stay focused and we need to get the maximum
points,” said running back Jeremy Bott.
Butcher
completed a 26-yard touchdown pass from fifth-year
quarterback Justin Henderson. Jeremy Bott then rushed
in the end zone for the two-point conversion.
“It was
textbook,” said Mitchell. “We did both running and
passing of the ball and then scored.”
Henderson finished with 106 yards passing and two
touchdowns, while completing eight of fourteen pass
attempts.
Southwest Michigan failed to capitalize on their final
offensive drive in the fourth quarter and was stopped
with a sack by Tony Mikesell with 0:14 ticks left on
the clock.
The Cornerbacks played a key role in the
game. Wayne LeGrant added five tackles, while Dustin
Hunt and Glenn White Jr. picked off passes to help
secure the shutout for the defense.
“The intensity of the game was
unbelievable,” said Hunt.
A pair of rookies helped to contribute on
the defensive side. Linebacker Pierre Jackson
recovered a fumble and defensive end Isaac Melton had
a half a sack.
“Having our 15th shutout out of 30 games
is amazing,” said Hartman. “I do not know of any team
that could have that type of defensive dominance.”
Kicker Fred Hallett was perfect on all
three extra point attempts in the evening.
Next Saturday, June 10, the Warriors will play their
home opener at 7 p.m. against the Western Ohio
Wranglers at Ada War Memorial Stadium.
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