On Friday, September 7, the West Branch Warriors took on the Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs. To start the game, the Warriors received the opening kickoff. The Warriors opened up the game on the ground, with a few hard runs from Coby Kephart, but it resulted in a three-and-out and punted. The Bulldogs’ first drive was similar to the Warriors’, three runs and a three-and-out.
After a short gain, Conner Danko was sacked in the backfield on second down. The Warriors lined up on 3rd and 22, and Danko fired an interception to the Bulldogs, and the Warrior drive was cut short.
The Bulldogs came out and took a shot down the field, then the Bulldog quarterback broke off a 26-yard touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs then faked the PAT and converted, taking an 8-point lead.
The Warriors, however, were quick to answer. A drive led by a big gain from Troy Mentzer was capped off by a 12-yard receiving touchdown by Brayden Williamson. The 2-point was no good, the score stayed 8-6.
Claysburg, once again, responded. After a few short gains, the Bulldog quarterback broke off another touchdown run, this time from 48 yards out. The PAT was good, 15-6. The Warriors took over on offense, however, they didn’t get the first down, and couldn’t convert on 4th down.
The Bulldogs took no time to score, with a 55-yard reception for a touchdown. Going up by 16. The Warrior offense drove right back down the field. West Branch lined up on the 2-yard line, but the Claysburg defense put together a stand, keeping the Warriors out of the endzone on 4th down.
The Claysburg drive started on the 2-yard line but despite bad field position, the Bulldogs reached the end zone on just 5 plays. The offensive struggles for the Warriors continued, with the ensuing drive resulting in a punt.
The Warrior defense stopped the Bulldog offense on the next drive, forcing a 4th down incompletion. The Warrior offense, however, remained stagnant into the break. The Bulldogs opened up the half with another touchdown.
The Warriors, once again, had to punt the ball away. The Claysburg offense drove down the field to the Warrior 4 yard line, but a fumble recovered by Hansen Lannen gave the ball back to the Warriors.
After 2 more drives from both teams, Kurtis Fetters returned a kickoff to the endzone for a 76-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs kneeled out the clock, and secured the Warriors’ third loss of the season.
“We are a young team. We lack experience, but we are getting better and better every day. The scores haven’t shown it yet, but every day we are getting better. We have battled injuries all season. When we are healthy, look out,” says quarterback, Conner Danko.
The Warriors(0-3) are back in action on Friday, September 13, on the road to take on the Trojans of Mount Union(3-0).
