WARSAW – It’s been talked about all week. Likely all summer and most of the offseason. Friday night, they got to do something about it. The annual brouhaha that is the W Game saw Warsaw retain the W trophy and keep the stickers on the helmets after pulling away, 35-13, Friday night at Fisher Field.

A pair of swings in momentum made the difference for Warsaw, fending off a pesky Wawasee team trying like mad to give the Tigers any possible look of deception.

Nearing the end of the first half with the score tied at seven, Wawasee had the ball deep in Warsaw territory in what looked like at least three points. But a wide throw by Parker Young was picked off by Jack Tucker and returned deep into Warrior territory. After Wawasee sacked quarterback Tristan Larsh, the QB hit Zach Riley for a pass to the eight. WIth 7.4 seconds left in the half, Luke Adamiec caught a slant pass, diving into the endzone for a touchdown.

“It was a huge boost (to get the Adamiec touchdown) going into the lockerroom,” said Warsaw head coach Phil Jensen. “They are marching down and about to score, and we take it the other way and score. Knowing they are going to get the ball starting the second half. To keep them from scoring, we get a score, that was absolutely huge for us.”

Larsh later busted open for a 48-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 21-7 lead, but Jesse Landeros picked off Larsh on the next series and took in the pick-six. A missed extra point left the game 21-13.

Warsaw hoisted the W trophy for the fourth time in five years Friday night. (Photos by Mike Deak)

With Wawasee believing it could pull the upset, Warsaw held the Warriors on its next possession, and Larsh again found wide open spaces. His 40-yard sprint made it 28-13, and with Wawasee officially in chase mode at that point, the trophy felt a little more secure.

“Tristan proved tonight that every time he touches the ball, he can go the distance,” Jensen said. “That’s why he touches the ball on every play. He is quite a weapon. He also threw the ball very well for us. Threw a couple really nice passes for scores.”

Larsh would add his third rushing touchdown in the fourth on a 12-yard bust up the middle, capping a 197-yard rushing night. Toss in a 31-yard touchdown pass to Riley in the first quarter, and Larsh totaled 67 passing yards and 264 total yards. Riley finished with 53 yards on three catches.

Wawasee opened the game in stunning fashion. After a muffed handle on a snap, Warsaw punter Harrison Mevis had his punt blocked and Landeros scooped it up and took it to the house. Landeros had a huge night for the Wawasee defense, also making four tackles and recovering a fumble. Zak Linnemeier was another key contributor to the Wawasee defense with 10 solo tackles.

The Warriors tried to create offense however it could, running a double reverse in the first quarter, using receiver Jacob Hand in the wildcat formation, even bringing in Aaron Evans to quarterback in the second half after suffering a tough injury last week against Plymouth. Wawasee managed 228 total yards, 106 of those from Alec Rosbrugh on 20 carries.

But the game was and is about more than stats and plays, as the W Trophy signifies bragging rights for a year. Warsaw claims the trophy for the 20th time in a series now 32 years strong. The Reiff family, who donated the trophy in 1986, had Tom Reiff on hand Friday to present the trophy to the Tigers.

“It’s tradition,” Jensen said. “It’s a championship within a championship for these two teams. Obviously this game still matters to a lot of people, and to still have Mr. Reiff coming out here giving away the trophy, that means an awful lot to me, my staff and my program.

“We get to keep our W’s. That means quite a lot to me. There is nothing more painful than watching seniors tear W’s off those helmets after a loss.”

Warsaw moves to 20-12 all-time against Warsaw in W Games and have held the trophy four of the past five years.

Warsaw (4-3, 3-2 NLC) will take on NorthWood next week in its final home game of the regular season while Wawasee (1-6, 0-5 NLC) will host Memorial. The Panthers crushed the Chargers 65-14 at Memorial Friday night.