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Warrior Run outlasts Central Columbia 30-12

Tagged under: District 4, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| October 19, 2024

SOUTH CENTRE TOWNSHIP – Week 9 of Pennsylvania High School Football brought us to Blue Jay Stadium, where the Warrior Run Defenders (5-3) and the Central Columbia Blue Jays (2-6) would meet for the first time since the 2021 season. That last meeting between these two squads ended up coming down to the final minutes, as a go ahead touchdown propelled Central Columbia to a 27-26 victory. This season’s meeting, however, wouldn’t be as favorable for the Blue Jays.

The game began with a Blue Jays kickoff return by Crue Chipeleski, which was one miraculous tackle by Warrior Run kicker Gavin Hunter away from being a touchdown, instead the Blue Jays began the game at Warrior Run’s 39 yard line. An incomplete pass to Dylan Shultz on third down left Central Columbia staring at an early decision, a 4th and 7 from the Defenders’ 36 yard line. The offense opted to stay on the field and it turned out to be successful, as a 36 yard touchdown pass to Kole Hummer put the Blue Jays in front early 6-0.

Warrior Run wasted no time answering back, as just two minutes later, senior running back Eli Butler capped off the 5 play, 55 yard drive with a 5 yard touchdown run, putting Warrior Run in the lead 7-6. Warrior Run’s defense stiffened up forcing a three and out by Central Columbia, and giving Warrior Run’s offense possession at their own 28 yard line. The Defenders drove down the field in 11 plays, this time scoring on a 20 yard pass from James Keller to Samuel Hall, increasing Warrior Run’s lead to 14-6 as the game reached its first intermission.

Both teams exchanged a couple punts before we saw the game’s next action, which came on a 50 yard touchdown pass from Parker Day to Dylan Shultz, cutting Warrior Run’s lead down to 14-12. An incomplete pass on the two point attempt kept the Blue Jays trailing with 3:39 left in the first half. Warrior Run’s next possession would take up majority of the time that was left in the first half, as 10 offensive plays would leave just 13 seconds left on the clock, and after an incompletion on third down, the Defender’s were forced to line up for a 35 yard field goal attempt by Gavin Hunter which ended up hitting the crossbar, keeping the score at 14-12 heading into the locker room.

“Parker (Day) looks great so far, I think that’s the most throwing yards we’ve gotten in a half so far this year,” Blue Jays’ head coach EJ Smith said at halftime. “We’ve just got to fix things, we had a couple of bad snaps, had a couple of penalties, we’ve got to stop them on offense.’

“A little disappointed before the half, leaving points on the table, making mistakes. That’s big going into the half and we have to be better, we have got to execute, take care of the penalties, we’re really shooting ourselves in the foot there,” Defenders’ coach Derrick Zechman said when asked about the mood of the locker room at halftime. “The secondary definitely has to play better, we’re letting passes be completed. We’re in position to make plays, they’re just not making them and most of them are just jump balls.” That first half was the first time that Central Columbia had surpasses the 50 passing yard mark in a half all season, however, Warrior Run’s defense started locking things down in the second half.

Warrior Run opened up the second half with the ball and began at their own 42 yard line. The Defenders drove all the way down the field to the Blue Jays 7 yard line, where a 3rd and 4 play only gained two yards, leaving Warrior Run to have to settle for a field goal attempt by Gavin Hunter, who this time around split the uprights, increasing the lead to 17-12. Central Columbia’s opening drive of the second half didn’t result to much, however this punt by Dylan Shultz pinned Warrior Run all the way back at their own 7 yard line. Warrior Run’s drive didn’t lead to much either, after picking up an 11 yard gain on the first play, the Defenders punted the ball away just three plays later.

Central Columbia’s next drive featured back to back penalties of 5 and 10 yards putting the Blue Jays at a 1st & 25, where a pass for Alex Zeisloft down the left sideline was intercepted by sophomore cornerback Liam Moore, giving the Defenders great stating field position once again. 3 whole minutes later, Warrior Run finally found their way back to the end zone on a 4 yard pass to Cohen Zechman. The failed trick play on the two point conversion kept the game’s score at 23-12 headed into the fourth quarter.

Warrior Run’s defense definitely played a lot stronger in the second half, as they kept Central Columbia off the scoreboard for the rest of the night. Both sides’ offenses seemed to stall out in the fourth quarter. In the end, the Defenders ended up putting the final nail in the coffin with a 3 yard touchdown run by Eli Butler, making the final score 30-12.

“We got beat early, mostly on jump balls, they were doing a good job getting behind us and they were making plays, so we made some adjustments int the secondary, we’re getting some pressure, which definitely helped. The defensive line played great, great ball all game, especially the second half, we pretty much shut down the run game. Our defense has been the focal point of our team, they set up our offense really well,” Coach Zechman said after the win. “I think his win will help hopefully jump start us. It feels so long ago since we last had a win, especially losing the last two weeks in a heartbreaker, so hopefully this gets us jump started, gets us some confidence back and gets us playing.”

Both teams will close out their 2024 regular season campaign at home. Warrior Run (6-3) will face off against Milton (3-6) in their final regular season game, while Central Columbia (2-7) will close out the year with a home date against Bloomsburg (4-5).

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