Tigers’ second half too much for Rockies
PLYMOUTH — What a difference a year makes.
In week three of the season in 2022, Warsaw put up 70 points in a game that was out of reach almost as soon as it began with a 49-0 score at halftime.
Friday night the outcome was similar at 41-7, but the route there was drastically different.
Plymouth took the kickoff and went on a 12-play 6-minute drive to take a 7-0 lead. At halftime, Plymouth went in down 17-7.
“I knew we were in the game,” said Plymouth head coach Adam Handley. “That’s all I can ask. Our defense played the best they could. People who weren’t here aren’t going to realize how the game went. The fans who were here and witnessed the game will realize that we are a better team.”
Very much better for three quarters.
In fact, the Rockies were in perfect position until a blocked field goal at 5:43 in the second quarter turned the momentum.
Warsaw would end up turning the ball over with a fumble recovery by Brady Coffin on their next possession but the Rockies would then go four and out and with the next possession Warsaw punched in a score with :34 on the clock.
“We have to shore up some things on offense,” said Handley. “We knew going in we were going to have to score in the 30s to stay in the game. That’s just part of it.”
“Overall I’m very, very pleased with the guy’s efforts. We are getting better.”
The running game was hitting on all cylinders for the Rockies in week one and two. Week three saw the playbook open up with the pass being Rockie quarterback Exzander Ramirez’s first option.
“We knew that (Warsaw coach) Bart (Curtis) was going to load up the box and make us throw the ball,” said Handley. “So we were able to run some of our read option stuff with a wrinkle which gives us the idea we can still run it if they give us the right look but if not we can throw it out to the bubble and that’s where we got all of our total offense.”
Ramirez, unofficially was 10-13 in the first half for 120 yards and scored the Plymouth TD after his 32-yard run set up a first and goal at the one.
Ramirez ended the night 17-22 for 179 yards with Aden VanDusen making six of those catches to lead the Rockie receiving corp.
The second half, in particular the last eight minutes would be the undoing of the Plymouth chances.
Warsaw enforced their will on the first drive of the half on a 10-play 70-yard drive for points.
Plymouth had a 10-play drive of their own that came up empty and from there it would be rough sailing.
“We took a shot and took a sack and tried a trick play with the reverse and got hurt on that but we had to throw everything at them,” said Handley. “A lot of guys were touching the ball. That’s a good thing.”
In all six Rockie receivers had the ball in their hand on the night as Ramirez spread the wealth around.
The breaks went to Warsaw in the last eight minutes and they took full advantage of every one.
“Obviously (Plymouth defensive coordinator Brent) Corbett was disappointed with a 41-7 outcome but we gave them some short fields, they had an interception, we had a couple of not-so-great punts, so they didn’t necessarily go on 80-yard drives,” said Handley. “We held them to two field goals and those are wins in a game like this.”
“I told the defense that I was very pleased,” said Handley, “Wawasee is going to get this film and realize they aren’t going to be able to just do what they want. We are going to go out and compete.”
The Rockies fall to 1-2 on the new season and will be on the road with another NLC opponent next week at Wawasee.
•WARSAW 41, PLYMOUTH 7
At Plymouth
Warsaw 7 10 10 14 — 41
Plymouth 7 0 0 0 — 7
SCORING
First Quarter
P — 6:02 1 yd run Exzander Ramirez (Carlos Carillo kick)
W — 4:18 15 yd run Luke Ransbottom (Mason Smythe kick)
Second Quarter
W — 10:27 46 y FG Smythe
W — :34 2 yd run Reed Zollinger (Smythe) W 17-7
Third Quarter
W — 8:14 1 yd run Zollinger (Smythe kick)
W — 2:11 52 yd FG Smythe (school record)
Fourth Quarter
W — 8:11 2 yd run Robbie Hoffert (Smythe kick)
W — 3:05 1 yd run Brody Duncan (Smythe kick)
