WARRIORS PLAY FOR NATIONAL TITLE

A perfect season and a league championship has earned the Lima Warriors an opportunity to play for the 1AA National Championship verse the Mid-Ohio Jets on October 27 in Ashland, Ohio.

By Joel Renner

Lima Warriors Chief Staff Reporter

10/22/07 – LIMA, OH -- In the days following the Mid Ohio Football League championship game, Mid Ohio coach Same Husein made no secret of his desire to want to play the national championship game in its original location of Homestead, Fl, against the top-ranked and unbeaten Lima.

Whether or not his campaigning was effective, Husein and Warriors’ president John Bell compromised on a neutral location in the state of Ohio.  The Jets can now focus on the task at hand as they’ll face off against the United States Football Alliance champion Lima Warriors on October 27th in Ashland, Ohio for the 1AA national title.

The state of Ohio has a rich football tradition in the high school, collegiate and professional levels and now the semi-pro level is about to get some well-deserved recognition as the (13-0) Lima Warriors and (15-0) Mid Ohio Jets battle at Ashland University Community Stadium.

Husein argued publicly early on that Florida was the clear choice to oppose the powerful Warriors, saying that the Minor League Football News always held the championship game in Florida and it was unprecedented to change the location even with two in-state teams squaring off.

Realizing the two teams playing for the title game would probably come from Ohio, the M.L.F.N. announced preemptively that Lima would host the title game.  Before changing their minds back to Florida for the site, Husein said on Sept. 18, “I know our players were looking forward to Florida.  That was our goal the whole season.  A game of this magnitude needs to be on a neutral field.”

The two organizations then both decided that a neutral site in the state of Ohio would best serve the fans, but other than protests from some players on both teams, who felt there was tradition in Florida, there seemed to be little outrage over the selection of a neutral site.  Ashland won’t be as comfortable as Lima Stadium was to the Warriors, where the Warriors received a relatively unprecedented home field advantage in semi-pro football in their first season in the new venue, but it will be a home away from home and an electric atmosphere this Saturday.

With an MOFL championships score of 46-12 over the Naptown Seminoles, Mid Ohio was rewarded by the M.L.F.N. for navigating their league schedule and coming out undefeated.  Lima is widely recognized as a well-organized team built around talented athletes that play as a team, but Mid Ohio considers themselves somewhat of a dynasty.

“We are undefeated,” Jets tight end Matt Montgomery said.  “We beat several good teams this year and crushed just about everyone we played. Our only close game was in Youngstown against the Steel Valley Hardhats (Jets won 21-14).  We earned our spot just as much as the Warriors did.”

Winning is nothing new to some of the Jets players’ as they head back to the national title game for the second time this year since many players played for the former Central Ohio Lions.  The Lions fell 37-9 to the Chicago Thunder in January

In Lima’s offense, who easily won the USFA’s top honor, Husein and the Jets are tasked with stopping a dynamic offense that even Beaver County’s defense, then highly-ranked in the league, couldn’t handle.

Warriors’ quarterback Justin Henderson guided the 13-0 Warriors past the Vipers 42-0 in their season finale at Lima Stadium on September 8th, completing 8 of 15 for 120 yards and two touchdowns.  Henderson was named M.V.P. due to his excellent performance.  In securing the spot in the national title game, Henderson, receiver Porfirio Sutton and running back Andrew Cleckley turned in numerous big plays and flashed the speed and talent that could prove a nightmare for the Jets.

That isn’t a completely comforting thought for Lima offensive coordinator Sean Liles, who holds Mid Ohio in high regard.

“Mid Ohio has done very well this year because of coaching,” Liles said.  “I’ve played against and coached against a lot of players they picked up this year and they are great guys. This game will be fun to coach for both sides.”

Approximately an 80-mile stretch on state route 33 connects the Lima Warriors and the Mid Ohio Jets, but both teams have paved their own road to the championship with years of hard work and with successful undefeated 2007 seasons building up to an movie script-like game on October 27th.

Lima looks to put to rest any question of the true No. 1 team in Ohio.  The incredible 2007 run has elevated the Warriors into a well-known powerhouse.  Once a ten-week schedule in the summer as has now turned into a year-round non-profit business with simple goals in mind, help the community, give back to fans and of course, win.

Mid Ohio Jets are led by a pair of former Ohio State players.  Defensive lineman Paris Long and guard Kevin Hyme both suited up for the Buckeyes while wide receiver Eric Robinson attended Toledo University, linebacker De Jaun Pratt played for Youngstown State University and quarterback John Abner shined at West Virginia Tech.

Fans across the state don’t wan to miss perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the hometown heroes of Lima playing in the highest stage possible at their level.  Warriors’ fans can’t wait until April to see your beloved Warriors.  A large crowd is expected to cheer on the heroes of the gridiron and help bring a championship back to Northern Ohio.

“The Jets are going to be the best team we have seen this year,” said lineman John Lance.  “They have names that have been around this league for what seems like decades now. They will have an O-line that has played together since I was 10. They have two of the best D tackles in semi pro, and perhaps the best QB in Ohio.”

As always, for those who can’t make the game, Aaron Matthews will bring the live webcast on www.limawarriors.com, starting at 6:30 pm for “The Best Show in Semi-pro”.

“The game will come down to turnovers,” Husein said. “Something both teams cause a lot of.  Either way, it will be a great game.”