WARRIORS TRAIL FOR FIRST TIME

The Warriors were down early against the Patriots, trailing for the first time all season, but quickly rolled off 31 straight points.

By Joel Renner

Lima Warriors Chief Staff Reporter

7/22/07 – CINCINNATI, OH -- Coach Parkins is getting a lot of help in his dream of an undefeated season.

Quarterback Justin Henderson ran for a touchdown as well as connecting with Joe Butcher for a 48-yard first-half touchdown pass and a stingy defense powered the Midwest’s top-ranked Lima Warriors to a 31-6 victory over Southern Ohio on Saturday.

“The Warriors played a great first half,” coach John Parkins said after the Warriors (8-0, 7-0 USFA) stretched their regular season winning streak to 12.  “We clinched home field advantage in the playoffs and that feels good.”

Forget targeting on one of the Warriors receivers.  An array of receivers made plays on the day and two-caught TD passes as the offense piled up 185 yards through the air and another 85 on the ground.

A fluke play consisted of both good and bad news for the Warriors at 10:17 in the opening quarter. Safety Brandt Huttis jumped on a fumbled ball from Patriots’ running back Maurice Kidd; Huttis attempted to run after not seeing any tacklers in sight and was stripped by wide receiver Glen Robinson who sprinted to the three-yard line before linebacker Jason Bott made a touchdown saving tackle.

Southern Ohio actually got on the board first as fullback Sean Jones barreled his way into the end zone at 8:39 in the first quarter.  The extra point attempt failed and the Patriots led 6-0.

“It was the first time that we have trailed all season and the way that we responded made me proud to be a Warrior,” vice president Devon Jones said. “Our guys strapped on the helmets a little tighter, put on the "overalls" and went to work. Our defense took it as a personal insult to get scored on. As they usually do, they bent, but didn't break.”

As always, Henderson stayed humble and deflected praise to almost every other person on the team as the offensive line played strong. 

“The offensive line played probably the best game of the year. They controlled the action and set the tone,” Jones said.

Southern Ohio (5-2) mustered just 42 yards rushing, 22 yards passing and totaled 64 yards.  Pierre Jackson had one sack in the first half as the Warriors built a 24-6 lead, with Wayne LeGrant coming up from his cornerback spot for three tackles, two tackles for minus yardage and a sack, in addition to recovering a fumble.

The most electrifying play of the game might have been when Butcher caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Justin Henderson in the second quarter.  Butcher lined up on the right side, streaked to the middle of the field on a slant route where Henderson hit Butcher in stride and nothing was between “X-Factor” and a touchdown.  Butcher had fun when he even had time to high step the final 10 yards before performing his best Sugar Ray Leonard impersonation on the goal post pad.  The strike capped off a six play, 69-yard drive and the Warriors led 14-6.

“Justin was on fire today,” Parkins said.  “He did an outstanding job and put the ball right where it needed to be.”

With 52 seconds before halftime and starting on their on the Warriors’ 28 yard line, Henderson put together an unlikely drive down the field, including a deep pass to Jeremy Bott, where the 5’10” running back made a “Plaxico Burress”-type grab as he jumped up and snared the ball away from taller defenders to set up a 36-yard field goal by Ryan Elliot.

Henderson mixed an array of play-action fakes, runs and passes to completely befuddle the Patriots.

Henderson didn’t have to be all that sharp, but was against an Southern Ohio defense that couldn’t stop the Warriors from putting points on the board.  Despite some early incompletions, he was 7-of-12 for 185 yards without an interception.  His scoring strikes covered 48 yards to Butcher and 45 yards to Porfirio Sutton -- giving Henderson 15 TD passes this season with just six interceptions.

The early deficit didn’t faze the coaching staff.

“It was the first time we were behind all season and I was not nervous one bit,” Parkins said. 

Sutton’s touchdown reception was equally as impressive as Butcher’s when Henderson threaded the needle, placed the ball the only place it could be caught –over Sutton’s shoulder- and Sutton streaked up the Warriors’ sideline for a 45-yard touchdown to end the scoring at 31-0.

The Warriors accumulated 13 first downs and powered their way down the field at will.

Lima scored on its opening two possessions of the first half, “Our offensive line just ate these guys up and it was unreal,” Parkins said.

Southern Ohio quarterback Rick Staley continually scrambled away from Lima’s defensive pressure.  Staley threw for 22 yards with no interceptions, but did his most damage on the ground.

“The Patriots’ quarterback (Rick Staley) was mobile,” Parkins said.  “He was able to miss defenders, get outside the pocket and could have had a bigger game.”

Kicker Ryan Elliot had another solid performance after nailing all four point after attempts and the 36-yard field goal right before halftime.

The win marks the first time the Warriors have ever been 8-0 and look to continue their unbeaten streak next Saturday at Lima Stadium against the Delphos Dark Knights.