2007 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEW

The Warriors started 2007 with one goal, to win a championship, they are one game away from reaching that goal.

By Joel Renner

Lima Warriors Chief Staff Reporter

9/6/07 – LIMA, OH -- Football fans from all over the Midwest will flock to Lima Stadium on Sept. 8 to witness the top sporting event around and the winner will earn a chance to play in Florida for the semi-pro championship game.

Two undefeated teams will battle as the Lima Warriors (12-0) host the Beaver County Vipers (10-0) in the USFA Championship III at Lima Stadium on Saturday at 7 pm.

Perhaps the USFA’s most recognizable teams will square off, as Beaver County aims to win back-to-back championships and John Parkins has once again reached a league championship game, looking to help the Warriors complete their tremendous run and become the first ever team to finish undefeated in the USFA.

The Warriors have grown close as a team and are looking forward to playing the Vipers.  Offensive lineman John Lance says teamwork will lead them to a championship.

“I wouldn't want it any other way,” Lance said.  “To be labeled the best, you have to beat the best and they are the best the USFA has until someone knocks them off.  We all need to realize that playing like a family is what has got us to this point and is what's going to put us on top.”

Lima and Beaver County will play for the first time ever and fans of the USFA are excited when thinking how this will be one colossal first meeting.  The Warriors lone league championship game appearance came when they faced the Hardin County Wolverines for the 2005 OVFL championship.  Lima fell to the Wolverines 24-7 in one of the most memorable games in franchise history.

Last year, Lima finished 10-2 and beat the Motor City Warthogs 44-6 in the first-round of the playoffs, giving the fans a taste of what was to come this season.

The Warriors have been No.1 since the first MLFN poll.  Led by all-star Justin Henderson, they’ve run roughshod over their competition.  Only Cleveland and Akron stayed within 11 points of Lima.

Veteran quarterback Henderson propelled the team into the playoffs with a solid regular-season finale.  He capped the season with three touchdown passes against the Motor City Soldiers.  He finished with over 20 TD passes and seven interceptions.

The Warriors advanced to the championship game with a 32-21 victory over the Akron Jagz.  Even though the Warriors didn’t play their best football throughout the game and dominate as they did the whole regular season, they know that a win is a win.

“With all the penalties, mental mistakes and stinking up the field at times, we found a way to win against Akron,” defensive end Eric Deal said.   “I feel that was by far the worst football the Lima Warriors have played all year.  This is the biggest game in Lima Warriors’ history on Sept. 8.”

Beaver County, meanwhile, didn’t seem to dominate every week.  Vipers won at West Virginia by seven in June and squeaked by Penn Ohio 25-22 at home on June 23.

The Vipers rely on their defense, a unit that allows 11.4 points per game, but Lima’s defense may have the edge as they only give up 6.1 points per game and posted six shutouts.

Beaver County’s tremendous quarterback, Troy Iacobucci, led his team to the USFA championship last season, but never had to face the Warriors.

ReShaun Tarver’s tough running has complemented the Viper’s balanced attack, but unlike the explosive Warriors, the Vipers’ offense has its ups and downs.

The Vipers beat the West Virginia Gladiators 21-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals and earned respect from another opposing team.

“Our playoff game with them was some hard-hitting football,” said Gladiator’s owner Rich Maxwell. “We kept it close until the fourth quarter, but we have ourselves to blame for not scoring inside the red zone. The Vipers are a tough and well-balanced team.”

After a dismal 2007 season for Ohio teams losing in championships, the Warriors hope to provide some comfort to state residents with a semi-pro championship.  Fans who witnessed losses by Ohio State Football and Basketball, Cleveland Cavaliers, Columbus Comets and Columbus Destroyers in championships, hope that the team from Lima is victorious and represents the state of Ohio.

Bobby Huttis may have borrowed the nickname “Prime Time” from Deion Sanders, but he hopes to make big plays like Sanders did during his time on the field.

“When I close my eyes and try to picture who's being handed the MVP trophy...all I see is ‘Prime Time’,” said Huttis, referring to himself in the third person with a smile.  “As long as the MVP Trophy is handed to a Lima Warrior, then it's all good because we will be the champions.”

Defensive coordinator Rod Inbody looks to veterans like Jason Bott, Biggie Townsend, Adam Gill, Dustin Hunt and Pierre Jackson to contain the Vipers explosive offense. 

The Vipers are led by Vashawn Patrick who plays on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and cornerback.  Patrick is a former Kent-State product and spent time with the Buffalo Bills.  Last season he won the Championship MVP trophy after his role in leading the Vipers to a 10-2-1 record and a 17-6 win over Penn Ohio in the USFA Championship.

The Warriors are equally preparing for Iacobucci.  The 6’1” 185-pound Viper’ quarterback is known for using a jump-pass throughout the season that may be trend-busting and horizon-expanding, but has had success in the past.

As always, Lima’s coaching staff is at its best with what matters most in football.  Scouting, preparation and planning are all keys to winning football games.  But when it comes down to it, putting more points on the scoreboard than the other team is the only thing that matters and an arsenal of offensive talent mixed with a defense that tallied six shutouts is poised to pull that off.

“We are hoping and planning on finally sealing the deal and getting our long awaited championship here in Lima,” Huttis said.

The Warriors are exceptional at scoring and keeping opposing offenses out of the end zone.  Lima led the league in scoring offense and defense in the regular season.  The Warriors offensive attack has averaged a staggering 43.2 points per game while the defense has only allowed a suffocating 6.2 points per contest.  The Vipers (10.4) have put up comparable defensive numbers in their ten games played this season.

Lima needs to stick to its offensive identity and the Warriors will be fine.  Cleveland may be the only other defense that Lima has seen that is as talented as Beaver County, and the Warriors hung 9 points on the Lions to edge out the victory.  As talented as Beaver County is on defense, even the Vipers can’t hang with Lima when the Warriors are clicking on all cylinders.  Lima just brings too much to the table. 

How the Warriors beat Cleveland was a combination of spreading the Lions thin on defense as well as pounding the ball up the gut.  Cleveland came into the contest with a solid run defense and was known as the best team in Ohio, but Lima gashed the Lions for 131 yards and used seven different running backs.  Even without stud cornerback’s Glenn White and Yansey Donald – who missed the WFC championship game due to injury – the Warriors were still able to hold Akron in check offensively.  The Vipers rank high in the league against the run this year; however, the Vipers are going to have to pick their poison against the Warriors.

There are more “X-Factors” for Lima than just Joe Butcher’s nickname.  They have more on the line than just a championship.  Potentially playing for a national title and the crown of best AA semi-pro team in the country should be motivation enough.  However, Lima has even more to prove than being the number one ranked teak by the Minor League Football News.  The Warriors have only played one team (Cleveland) that was able to keep the game close.  Many have questioned whether Lima really is the hands down favorite for the number one spot.  Crushing Beaver County on Saturday’s largest stage for semi-pro football would certainly go a long way in validating the Warriors seeding.  How about beating the returning USFA champions during their back-to-back conquest?  According to the MLFN, Lima is ranked #1 and Beaver County is #2 so this game is a #1 vs. #2 matchup with the winner representing the USFA in the Sunshine Bowl at The MLFN Championship.  The winner will play on Sunday January 12 at Harris Field Stadium in Homestead, FL, which is a suburb of Miami.  The 2007 Warriors would be one of the most talked about teams in semi-pro history if Lima can pull off the victory and propel them onto an even higher level of excellence in the upcoming years.  How about that for motivation?

Warriors’ President, John Bell, addressed the team Wednesday and spoke about the importance of seizing this opportunity as this is the most important game since the franchise started in 2001.

“Seven years of sacrifice.  Are you ready for seven years of preparation to become a reality,” Bell said.  “You have earned it and now it’s time to show everyone else that you deserve it.  There is no place I would rather be than in Lima Stadium on Saturday night to stand with you guys as we hoist the trophy over our heads.   You have earned it...now take it.”

A fun fact in the midst of all of the stories is John Parkins’ record as a coach.  With a win, Parkins claims his 12 playoff game, 39 home victory, 61 overall win and first conference championship in five years of coaching the Warriors.  He has built an elite program and more applicants are expected to flock to the off-season tryouts after hearing about the success of the Warriors.

The kicking game could be a crucial part of this matchup.  Ryan Elliot has played tremendous in his first season for the Warriors.  Elliot converted 33-of-37 extra points and added 42 points in the regular season.  Brent Ridenour and Randy Ryan are two more solid kickers that are able to produce when called upon.  The Vipers kicking game is not as solid and the Warriors’ defense has not allowed a field goal in ten attempts and has only allowed one extra point all season.

Beaver County deserves to be playing for a USFA championship and feels that they have what it takes to play for the national championship.  The rest of the teams in the league had a shot at making this game, but they couldn’t get it done in knocking the two best teams in the USFA off their perch.  The Vipers have every right to be on the same field as the Warriors come Sept 8.  However, Beaver County enthusiasts might be in for a rude awakening if they think the Warriors are an inferior team.  Some people might have it in their heads that the WFC is a slower, weaker all around conference, but the solid teams that the Warriors played in the regular season have helped mold them into a championship team.  The Vipers are strong defensively, but Sean Liles’ offense is outstanding and can be complicated enough to defend for a whole game.  If the run game gets shut down, then Liles can open up the playbook for Justin Henderson to throw a barrage of formations at the Vipers defense.  Beaver County could hang with the Warriors much like Cleveland did in June, but eventually Lima will strike for big plays and wear the Vipers down. 

“The Vipers are for real and a very good team,” Parkins said. “They look as good as some of the top teams we have ever faced and we won’t take them lightly.”

Lima has to be able to score points and unfortunately the Vipers just don’t seem to have the firepower against this tremendous defense and a team who feels they are destined to win this championship.  The Vipers have a quick and experienced squad, but if the Warriors play to their capability, the USFA trophy will be theirs. 

The "Red Out" is back in effect for this Saturday's game.  Fans are encouraged to wear red to the game in support of the Warriors.  Also, the first 250 paid fans through the gate will receive a free red warriors t-shirt.  Gates to Lima Stadium will open at approximately 5:30 pm.  Kickoff is at 7:05 pm.

The winner of this game will likely face the Mid-Ohio Jets out of the Columbus area where a rare matchup between two teams from the same state could compete for the national championship.

“Usually I say playing on the road is not a big deal, but few venues are like Lima Stadium,” Jets owner Same Husein said. “There will probably be 1000-1500 screaming fans to watch this game. That could work to be a huge benefit for Warrior Nation.”

The Warriors players have bought into their motto of “One Team – One Goal” and plan on playing as a team with one heartbeat Saturday.

“We’ve got a chance to make history,” offensive lineman John Lance said. “We’ve got a chance to be a champion. All we have to do is take it.”