Warsaw All-American kicker Andrew Mevis drills a PAT out of the hold of Kyle Hatch Friday night. The Tigers lost 52-27 to No. 11 Homestead in a Class 6-A sectional final.

WARSAW – It wasn’t the way that Warsaw football coach Phil Jensen wanted it to end for his beloved senior class Friday night.

But it sure wasn’t for a lack of fight or fortitude in them.

No. 11 Homestead, plain and simple, was simply a better football team than the Tigers.

Quarterback Jiya Wright accounted for five touchdowns as the Spartans sidelined Warsaw 52-27 in a Class 6-A Sectional 3 championship game at Fisher Field.

Homestead, which captured its fifth sectional title and second in a row, advances to play at No. 7 Carmel (7-4) in a regional game next Friday night. Carmel, which defeated No. 15 Fishers 23-10 Friday night, beat Homestead 41-7 in a regional contest a year ago.

The Tigers, who saw their dreams of the first sectional championship in program history end, finish at 6-5.

The Spartans, who move to 9-2, rode a big start and a fabulous finish to pull away from the game Tigers. Homestead raced to a 28-0 lead to open the contest and then outscored Warsaw 21-7 after the hosts had rallied within 31-20 late in the third quarter.

Michael Jensen lets a pass fly for Warsaw.

“We got beat by a better team tonight and there is no shame in that,” said an emotional coach Jensen. “Our kids gave us a great effort tonight and they never quit. I love this team. I’m proud of them and I thank them.

“Homestead is just really good. They are very physical on both sides of the ball. They are well coached and their team speed is outstanding.”

“We just could never find a rhythm.”

Wright, a junior, took over this season when star signal caller Drew Keszei suffered a season-ending ankle injury in week one. Keiszei, who had committed to Ohio University, threw for 2,748 yards and 30 touchdowns and ran for 773 yards and eight scores last season.

The Spartans, who won their sixth straight game Friday night, have not missed a beat with Wright directing a potent offense. He threw a pair of touchdown passes to help stake his team to its 28-0 lead Friday night.

The Tigers got on the board with just 39 seconds left in the opening half as senior quarterback Michael Jensen connected with senior tight end Jeremy David on a 76-yard touchdown toss.

Warsaw showed its heart and mettle in the third period. After Homestead made it 31-7 on a field goal on the opening possession of the second half, the Tigers responded. Jensen hit David with a six-yard scoring pass on a fourth and one play to cut the lead to 31-13 with 3:16 to play.  Zach Riley then came up with a huge interception and return to the Homestead two-yard line. Will McGarvey bulled in for a score to make it 31-20 with 2:23 remaining and the Tigers had all the momentum.

The key play of the night came early in the final period. After forcing a Homestead punt, the Tigers had the ball near midfield. The Spartans hit a scrambling Jensen, forcing a fumble that they recovered. Wright then scored on a one-yard run to make it 38-20 and then on a 25-yard run after an interception to make it 45-20. Jensen then had a three-yard touchdown run to make it 45-27 before Wright scored a final time on a 48-yard scamper with 2:37 left for the 52-27 final.

Wright, who entered the game with 781 yards rushing, had 18 carries for 147 yards as the Spartans rushed for 314 yards on 47 carries behind a big, fast, physical and veteran offensive line. He was also 10-19 passing for 119 yards. Shifty sophomore tailback Jordan Presley, who set the single-season yardage record last week, rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries. Presley now has 1,660 yards this season and 24 touchdowns.

“Their quarterback runs the ball well and they have a nice offensive line,” said Jensen. “No. 1 (Presley) is just an all-around really good football player.”

Will McGarvey heads upfield for the Tigers.

Homestead, which entered the game averaging 38 points and 280 yards rushing per game, outgained the Tigers 426-217. The Spartans had a 22-10 edge in first downs.

The Spartans, whose losses this season were to Class 5-A No. 1 and defending state champion Fort Wayne Snider and Class 4-a No. 8 Fort Wayne Dwenger, lead the series with Warsaw 11-6. Homestead has won four in a row versus the Tigers and seven of the last nine meetings.

Warsaw managed just 45 yards rushing on 27 carries against the fast and aggressive Spartan defense. Tico Brown, a 265-pound junior lineman, was a terror all night long for Homestead. Brown, who has Division I written all over him at the next level, was all over the field.

“He’s special,” said Homestead coach Chad Zolman of Brown. “He’s a player. He’s exceeded our expectations, Wright has gotten progressively better all season. And Presley has been special all year for us.

“It was a game at 31-20. They owned us in that third quarter. Fortunately, we got the fumble and that changed the momentum of the game back to us.”

Jensen, who was under pressure all game long, was 9-24 passing for 172 yards. McGarvey had 12 carries for 46 yards. David caught four passes for 90 yard and Tristan Larsh snared two for 33.

AJ Villarreal led the Warsaw defense with nine tackles. Lane McClone and David each had 6.5 for the Tigers.

The Tigers lose 20 seniors from a stellar, close-knit group. Included among them are record-setting quarterback Jensen, David, receivers D’Andre and Devin Street and All-American kicker/punter Andrew Mevis.

Coach Jensen, who completes his 17th season, knows what lies ahead for the Class of 2017.

“Greatness,” said coach Jensen. “These kids will go on from here and will do great things. That’s the type of young men that they are.”

Homestead quarterback Jiya Wright threw two touchdown passes and ran for three mores scores Friday night.