Warsaw Football: Defense Does The Trick For Tigers
GOSHEN – The Warsaw defense set the tone from the start Friday night.
From there, they dominated the rest of the way too.
The Tigers pitched their first shutout in almost two years as they stifled host Goshen 21-0 on a sweltering evening at Foreman Field.
The duo of Jaxon Wagoner and Lane McClone led the way as Warsaw earned a much-needed win in the Northern Lakes Conference matchup.
The Tigers, who have now beaten Goshen 10 straight times, improve to 3-3 overall and go to 2-2 in the NLC. Goshen drops to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in league play.
It was all about a solid, workmanlike effort all the way around on this night for the Tigers.
Warsaw held the RedHawks to a paltry 63 total yards, including just 24 rushing. Goshen averaged just 0.9 yards per carry on the ground in the contest. The RedHawks have scored just 62 points in their six games.
Warsaw’s last shutout came back on October 2, 2015 when they blanked NLC and county rival Wawasee 21-0 at Fisher Field.
The Tigers stopped the RedHawks on downs at the Goshen 46-yard line on the opening series of the game. The hosts, who have struggled all season offensively, went for it on fourth-and-two for some strange reason and tailback Rene Gutierrez was stopped cold by a big hit from lineman Wagoner.
Warsaw then put up the only points they would need on the ensuing drive. Junior Bryce Garner, starting in place of the injured Will McGarvey at tailback, bulled in from a yard out with 4:47 to play in the opening period. The Tigers kept the drive alive as senior quarterback Tristan Larsh scrambled to the one on a fourth-and-one play from the Goshen 10.
“I’m just real proud of the team effort tonight,” said Warsaw coach Phil Jensen. “We needed this one. This was a big moment with what we have coming up (Wawasee, NorthWood, Concord) to close out the regular season.
“I’m real pleased with the mentality that our guys showed in this heat tonight. I’m proud of the character they have showed with the injuries and some of the other things that have been going on.”
Warsaw added two more scores in the second quarter to ice the win. Larsh broke free from a would be tackler in the backfield and raced 31 yards for a touchdown with 7:50 to play before half to make it 14-0. The Tigers then got a huge break as a snap on a Goshen punt attempt sailed high and was downed at the Goshen five-yard line. Junior backup quarterback Josh West, who was filling in after Larsh had to leave the game after being hit on a play on the previous possession, then scored on a five-yard keeper with just 54 seconds left.
The Larsh touchdown jaunt came after Goshen had drove the ball from its own 20 deep into Tiger territory. The RedHawks missed a field goal and then Larsh calmly directed an 80-yard scoring drive for Warsaw.
“A big turning point was when they missed the field goal after their long drive and we go right down and score to make it 14-0,” remarked Jensen. “It was also real big to score on that final possession right before halftime.
“We just got a big defensive effort. Jaxon Wagoner stepped up for sand had a big night and Lane (McClone) just plays big for us. He plays the middle very well. That’s why we went to this defense this season.
“Tristan Larsh had a big night. He’s just had a great attitude. We’ve been looking for the right combinations for him all year. Bryce ran hard and got us some tough yards.”
Warsaw outgained Goshen 239-63 in total yards and had a 17-6 edge in first downs. Larsh was 10-14 passing for 85 yards and had 14 carries for 80 yards. Garner finished with 40 yards on the ground on 15 carries.
Warsaw was 7-14 on third-down conervison, while Goshen was just 2-9. Zach Riley had five receptions for 30 yards and Eli Owen four catches for 34 yards for the Tigers.
Junior lineman Wagoner had 8.5 total tackles, including 4.5 for loss and two sacks. McClone, a senior stud at linebacker who was all over the field once again, along with the duo of Kendal Miller and Jack Tucker were the next three highest tacklers.
Junior Trenton Sands had an interception for the Tigers.
Senior Gutierrez led the Goshen offense with 56 yards rushing on 14 carries.
The RedHawks were without starting quarterback Wesley VanHooser. The sophomore injured an ankle in last week’s loss to Concord.
Goshen also lost its top rusher in Liam Morales early in the game. The senior tailback went to the bench following the third play of the contest and did not return.
Warsaw hosts Wawasee (1-5, 0-4) and Goshen plays at Northridge (6-0, 4-0) next Friday night in NLC action. Wawasee lost 34-6 to Plymouth for its fifth straight loss and Class 4-A No. 6 Northridge beat Class 4-A No. 5 NorthWood 24-14 in conference play Friday night.