|
ONLY ONE TEAM WILL REMAIN UNDEFEATED
Warriors look to keep
momentum going as they travel to Detroit for
division play.
By Joel Renner
Lima Warriors Chief Staff
Reporter
6/28/07
–
LIMA, Ohio
--
The
last time Lima ventured into Michigan, it suffered
one of its most heartbreaking losses under coach
John Parkins. That contest was the last time the
Warriors lost a game, but also against Grand Rapids,
a completely different team than they will face this
time around.
The
Warriors’ defense looks to continue strengthening
their case as the best in the United States Football
Alliance and help Lima remain unbeaten on Saturday
against another undefeated division opponent, Motor
City.
The Warriors
(4-0, 3-0 USFA) have established themselves as both
the team to beat in the USFA and in Ohio, outscoring
their first four opponents 133-7 and coming off of a
win against the Cleveland Lions who most considered
the top-ranked team in Ohio.
Defense,
meanwhile, may be what the Warriors continue to hang
their hat on this season. The squad has only
allowed 59 yards of rushing, one touchdown and three
interceptions in four games and allows an average of
77 passing yards per game. Their seven points
allowed is second only to the Lackawana Dynasty who
has not allowed a point thus far in three games.
Justin
Henderson has played solid but had his worst
statistical game of the season on Saturday against
then- No. 1-rated Cleveland, going 11-for-20 for 168
yards, one TD and his first three interceptions of
the season. However, it was enough for Lima to
maintain a 9-0 halftime lead and hold on for a 9-7
victory.
The win was
the second at Lima Stadium over a quality opponent
for Lima, which defeated conference-powerhouse and
then undefeated Akron 28-0 on June 9.
“My concern
coming off of a game like this is that their heads
are going to be high,” Parkins said of his
Warriors. “It’s going to be my job to keep them
down to earth, to keep them focused and to keep them
thinking one team at a time.”
The Warriors
have had four tests and they’ve passed them with
flying colors. The team has incrementally gotten
better and Saturday they face a tough Motor City
squad that shares the same hope of capturing the
North Division in the conference.
Visiting the
Soldiers (5-0, 3-0) is a test Lima hopes to pass
after the team’s last trip to Michigan was a long
one back, after losing 35-22 at Cedar Springs
Stadium on Aug. 26, 2006, the only defeat by more
than seven points in the last two years. Henderson,
who began that contest as Kaene Runion’s backup,
came up short on quality drives late in the game and
the season ended with some regret.
Henderson
became the starter at the beginning of the 2007
season. Lima is undefeated now and Runion is
playing outstanding at he tight end position,
including two dramatic touchdown receptions against
Northwest Ohio.
The Warriors
won a regular season meeting with a different team
from Detroit, the Motor City Warthogs 16-15 on July
29, 2006, at Ada. Runion, passed for 141 yards and
two touchdowns, and Andrew Cleckley ran for 58 yards
to lead the Warriors. Lima gained 158 yards on the
ground, while holding the Warthogs to 35. The
Warthogs and Soldiers might both be from Detroit and
the Soldiers are also expected to be tough as nails,
but nobody really knows what to expect in the first
match up.
Motor City
may prove tougher to defeat on its home field. The
Soldiers have won two of their last three games by
an average of 23 points at Detroit.
“I know it’s
going to be a battle,” defensive end Adam Gill
said. “It’s going to be brutal and tough work.
We’ve just got to keep our composure and if things
do go bad, we can’t lose our heads.”
None of
Motor City’s victories, however, have come against
top-ranked teams like Cleveland and Akron. The
Soldiers are in their first season as an
organization and look to make a name for them and
knock off their first ever No. 1 opponent.
The Soldiers
also have yet to face a high-caliber opponent this
season like the Warriors have. Their victories have
come over two non-conference games, and three USFA
teams – Northwest Ohio, Mt. Carmel, and Delphos with
a combined record of 1-11.
“We will
change nothing heading into next game because we
understand what coach Inbody’s (defensive
coordinator) game plan is and it’s successful,”
defensive end Isaac Melton said.
Melton was
one of many Lima’s defenders that came up big in
Saturday’s 9-7 victory over Cleveland, the Warriors’
biggest game this season. Two blocked field goals,
two missed field goals and numerous stands inside
the red zone are what the defense accomplished in
the game as their presence was felt by Cleveland’s
kicker and quarterback, Jon Hunek, all game.
Motor City
defeated the Dark Knights in their last game 26-20
and the Warriors won’t overlook the Soldiers despite
beating the same team 49-0 in the first week of the
season.
“This week
we’re going in against an undefeated team and we go
to their house,” Parkins said. “We know any team we
play in Detroit is going to be good. We’ve got to
keep focused and be down to earth. We’re not
unbeatable and you could see that, but it’s going to
be a fun season.”
Lima has won
seven of the last 11 meetings against teams from
Michigan. The Soldiers and Warriors will meet again
the last week of the season at Lima and both look to
make a point with a solid performance the first time
around. As always, the game will be broadcasted
live by Aaron Matthews and will be joined by Devon
Jones for the coverage at www.limawarriors.com.
|
Printer-Friendly
Format
