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WARRIORS PROVE TO
HAVE MORE STRENGTH
The Strength’s defense was not able to stop the
Lima
offense
By
JOEL RENNER, University Independent
Lima Warriors Staff Reporter
7/9/06
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ADA
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The
Lima Warriors stomped the Macomb County Strength 41-6
Saturday during “Ladies Night” at War Memorial
Stadium.
The Warriors entered the game looking to improve their record
to 5-0 for the third straight season.
Macomb County
aimed to improve to 2-2 and even themselves to a .500
record.
The Strength’s chances were hampered early when the opening
kick bounced off a Strength player and kicker Fred
Hallett recovered the ball. The Warriors capitalized
when running back Jeremy Bott scampered in the end
zone from 16 yards at
10:30
in the first quarter. The extra point was good to put
the Warriors up 7-0.
The Strength later drove to the Warriors goal line where
cornerback Dustin Hunt nearly intercepted a pass in
the end zone. Hunt bounced back and made the tackle
on the fourth down attempt that kept the Strength from
scoring.
“Coach Inbody made the necessary adjustments and took away
what they were doing that first series,” said Coach
John Parkins.
Lima,
which averages 36 points a game, made the Strength pay
by putting together a 99-yard drive that finished with
Calvin Brown pounding the ball in from a yard out at
7:17 in the second quarter. The extra point was good,
and the Warriors led 14-0.
The Strength’s offense was not about to concede the
game. The Strength had a fine passing attack but big
interceptions from Wayne Legrant and Bobby Huttis
ended drives.
Kaene Runion played in his first game of the season for
the Warriors and shared time at the quarterback
position with Justin Henderson.
“It’s a good feeling to know that we have two capable
quarterbacks,” said Parkins.
The Strength’s defense was not able to stop the
Lima
offense and at 2:00 remaining in the second quarter
Runion pounded the ball in the end zone on a one-yard
quarterback sneak.
The extra point was good and it appeared that the
Warriors would go into the locker room with the
momentum, ahead 21-0.
The rest of the game proved to be largely a defensive
struggle for the Strength. The Warriors came out in
the third quarter where they left off and at
8:33
Henderson connected with Chad Birnesser on a nine-yard
strike for a touchdown. The extra point was good to
put the Warriors up 28-0.
“The play worked out pretty good because the
linebackers all blitzed in and I had a wide open
catch,” said Birnesser.
Jeremy Bott scored his second touchdown of the game at
6:33 in the third
quarter, on an eight-yard scamper. Bott gave credit
to those blocking for him.
“I honestly believe that we have the best offensive
line in the entire nation of semi-pro football,” said
Bott.
The final Warriors score came at
8:50
in the fourth quarter when Runion threw a 65-yard bomb
to Joe Butcher. The extra point was good and the
Warriors led 41-0.
Butcher commented to a teammate, “I am due for a
touchdown,” shortly before the thrilling play.
The Warriors defense was able to shut down the
Macomb
County offense the whole game until 42 seconds left in
the game when Brian Young connected with Will Parker
on a 13-yard strike for a touchdown.
Dustin Hunt led
Lima’s defense with six tackles while Adam Gill and
Eric Siefker both had a sack in the game. Gill was
named the defensive player of the game.
Chris Brooks was named the offensive player of the game.
Brooks carried the ball nine times for 66 yards and
set up touchdowns on big runs all day.
Eight Warriors players combined for 234 rushing yards and the
team was successful on all three fourth-down
conversions. Despite the talent at the running back
position, the players are unselfish.
“Our relationship is growing stronger and we don’t mind who
is in and who is out of the game,” said Bott.
Butcher led Warriors receivers with three receptions for 92
yards. Runion finished four for six attempts for 97
yards and 0 interceptions.
Kicker Fred Hallett played in his final home game and was
successful on five extra point attempts. The crowd
showed their appreciation with applause to Hallett’s
contributions to the team.
“It goes to show that we have really good fans,” said
Hallett.
The league did not play games last week due to the holiday
weekend, which posed a question of whether the
Warriors would be rusty going into this week’s game.
Questions were answered and the Warriors made a
statement. The Warriors had never won a game
following a week off prior to this win.
“I think the week off was good for us and gave everybody time
to heal any nagging injuries,” said Parkins.
The Warriors travel to Grand Rapid,
Michigan next Saturday to take on the Thunder at
7 p.m.
Grand Rapids is 4-1 after losing 35-34 on a missed
two-point conversion to Racine.
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