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WARRIOR DOMINATE FIRST SCRIMMAGE OF 2007
Loyal
fans attend exhibition at Lima Stadium, Carpentor
seals win with four interceptions
By Joel Renner
Lima Warriors Staff
Reporter
5/13/07
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LIMA -
The Warriors
dominated to claim victory over the Ohio Storm
Saturday in the Lima Warriors first scrimmage of the
2007 season in Lima Stadium. Area fans came out to
see the first meeting against the Storm since a 38-0
Warriors victory on August 7 of 2004.
The Warriors
are well known for the outstanding defensive play, but
the offense may not be far behind at this point of the
season. Three different quarterbacks saw playing time
and all delivered strikes to the quick Warriors
receivers. Justin Henderson sailed a 30-yard pass
overtop the Storm defense to a streaking Kaene Runion
in the corner of the end zone for the Warriors initial
score and the Warriors never looked back. The Storm
was poised to put together some good offensive plays,
but the defensive captain Pierre Jackson and company
attacked the Storm quarterback all afternoon, causing
numerous turnovers, including four critical
interceptions by first-year defensive back Ty
Carpentor.
The
scrimmage marked the first time in the 2007 season
that the Warriors have gone full speed against an
opponent other than themselves and the players are
still getting used to the field surface.
“The players
are getting used to it and that’s why we made the
extra effort to have scrimmages here, to let our
players know what the surface will be like,” Warriors
coach John Parkins said. “Rather do it now than the
first game and I think it’s just a matter of letting
them get their cleats adjusted. I think it’s
definitely a fast and comfortable surface.”
Rookie
James Henderson and Runion also controlled the ball
during their time at quarterback including two
touchdown swing passes to Jeremy Bott.
Coach
Parkins is pleased with his overall depth chart
especially at the quarterback position.
“Justin
(Henderson) is doing great, James Henderson came in
today and really impressed me,” Parkins said. “He
(James Henderson) had some poise in the pocket and
Kaene came in and had some nice throws.
Jeremy
Bott put on the jets and ran away from defenders down
the sideline for a touchdown in the third quarter and
the Warriors defense held the lead.
“Our pass
protection was really good and when you give the
quarterbacks time to throw the ball, you can see
what’s going to happen,” Parkins said. “I think the
whole offense will be phenomenal to watch and they
have a lot of weapons.”
The Storm
struggled to advance the ball in the game and after
failing to push into the end zone on offense, the
Storm capitalized off a fumbled lateral from the
Warriors for their lone points of the scrimmage. The
Warriors fumble came during an interception return.
Colt Browne
is one of three newest members of the “Mansfield
Militia” group that has made an immediate impact for
the Warriors. Three previous Warriors players from
the Mansfield area brought in three more talented
athletes for the 2007 season, along with Browne who
caught three touchdown passes in the scrimmage,
including a spectacular Marvin Harrison like tip toe
diving catch on the side of the end zone for a
touchdown.
The
“X-Factor” Joe Butcher looked very fast in the
scrimmage on the Pro-Grass surface of Lima Stadium and
dodged Storm defenders every route ran. Butcher
caught two touchdown receptions and was a big part of
the many talented receivers the Warriors are sporting
for the upcoming season.
Butcher is
happy with the progress his team has showed thus far.
“Last year it took me personally a few games to get it
together,” Butcher said. “I think we’re playing
better overall as a team right now than we were last
season at this time.”
Brandt
Huttis made his debut after a season-ending car
accident kept him sidelined during the 2006 season.
Huttis looked hungry to win and broke up Storm passes
all game. The combination of Huttis, Yansey Donald
and Dustin Hunt and others might be the fastest
defensive secondary in the league. After a nine-month
lay off from hitting opponents other than teammates,
the Warriors delivered pounding bone-crushing hits
throughout the scrimmage.
The Warriors
were missing some players due to injury and work on
Saturday, including the anticipated performance of
rookie running back Zach Weber. Coach Parkins said he
would emphasize special teams, the receivers timing
and making sure offensively and defensively everybody
is where he needs to be.
“We are
going to tie up all the loose ends the next few weeks,
but we’ll be ready to go,” Parkins said.
The silver
jerseys of the Lima Warriors made possibly their last
appearance of the year as new, home and away uniforms
will debut for the upcoming season. The Warriors
season debut against the Delphos Dark Knights will
take place on June 2 at War Memorial Stadium in Ada.
“Come the first week of the season we’ll be ready to
go,” Parkins said.
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