WARRIORS HOPE TO TOY WITH SOLDIERS

Detroit comes to Lima with only one loss this season, to Lima in week 4.

By Joel Renner

Lima Warriors Chief Staff Reporter

8/2/07 – LIMA, OH -- Lima’s offense has been just as dominant as the defense as the Warriors continue their march toward the playoffs.

The top-ranked Warriors (9-0, 8-0 USFA) look to keep rolling over opponents when they host Motor City (8-1) on Saturday.

Lima’s showdown in the second round of the playoffs on Aug. 18 looms, but the Warriors have been aware of the ramifications of this season’s championship run long enough now to avoid looking ahead.  That’s been apparent throughout the season, as the Warriors have won every game by at least 25 points, with the Cleveland game being the lone exception.

The Warriors recorded their fifth shutout of the season with a 67-0 victory over Delphos at Lima Stadium on Saturday.  Since giving up a season-high 20 points to West Virginia on July 14, Lima has allowed only six points over the last two games.

“This is the division championship game,” Lima coach John Parkins said.  “There’s a lot more riding on the game than people think.”

The Warriors held Delphos to 16 yards of total offense and –55 on the ground and had five interceptions.

The Warriors earned a first-round bye in the playoffs with last week’s win over Delphos.  With the playoffs to follow Motor City, the chances seem slim that a focused Lima squad would not be unbeaten going into the second round matchup—a game that’s almost certain to be an electric atmosphere in front of the home crowd at Lima Stadium.

“Motor City is not out of it,” Parkins said.  “They have a chance to come in and beat us and get home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  If we do what we did last week, we’ll be fine.”

Parkins' team, which is looking to extend its regular-season winning streak to 14 games and 10 against USFA opponents, leads the conference in points allowed per game (4.3) and has shut down passing attacks (78.8 yards per game), along with a solid rushing defense (2.2) and overall continue to limit offenses with their stats allowed in total defense (81.0).

Lima’s offense looked as good as the defense last week, gaining 295 yards against the Knights.  Justin Henderson was 4-for-7 for 47 yards with a touchdown pass and a TD run, while Jeremy Bott rushed five times for 100 yards and a touchdown.  The Warriors lead the USFA with 42.8 points per game.

Motor City is looking to pose more of a threat to Lima, after losing the first meeting 32-6.  The Soldiers have won their last four games since the initial meeting on June 30.

The four straight wins have Motor City feeling confident especially after their 57-22 victory over Northwest Ohio last week.

“If they beat us, they would get the first seed and completely turn the tide on us,” Parkins said.  “They’re talented, but as long as we stay focused we’re the better team.”

Motor City quarterback Willie Taylor was 5-for-12 for 72 yards the first time against the Warriors.  Lima, though, held the Soldiers to 48 yards in the game and sacked the Soldiers’ QB nine times in the rout.

The Soldiers did manage to hold Lima’s potent passing attack to 63 yards, well below its 149.2 average coming into the game.

Motor City looks to even the series and still hopes for a slim chance at obtaining the No.1 seed heading into the playoffs.  The Soldiers would have to beat Lima by a larger margin of victory than Lima did to them in the initial meeting, but isn’t likely to happen with former president Brock Hartman in attendance for the second week in a row.

The Warriors will arrive early on Saturday as they host the second annual Warriors football clinic starting at 12 p.m.  The clinic is free for 8-12 year olds.

“I’m expecting between 75-100 kids,” Parkins said.  “We’ve had a great response from a lot of the local midget coaches.  We’re going to make it fun and the kids are going to come away with some great football knowledge and a smile on their face.”