Punts and Penalties

5A #2 Ben Davis 6 - 5A #3 Warren Central 3

Giants win with a late 50 yard field goal!

The Good
If you like defense like I do this game was for you. Both defenses were very effective in taking away the others offense. Game Changers Antonio Allen of Ben Davis and linebacker Tim Kimbrough of Warren Central were truly dominant for their teams. Both are Division 1 College recruits and there performance showcased why! Both were all over the field making tackles as were their teammates. Outside of the 50 yard game winning field goal by Giant senior Sterling Steadham, both teams displayed very stingy defenses that were the highlight of a game that to days to complete because of inclimate weather

The Bad
Both teams offenses and penalties. The Giants out gained the Warriors 221-136, but the Warriors won in the penalty department with 15 penalties for 129  yards. Both teams punted the ball 8 times, but the penalty yardage is what really sticks out. Yes it was an lightening filled, error and penalty filled game for both teams, but the Warriors who lost 3 fumbles and committed 15 penalties for 129 yards yardage that nearly matched their total offensive output of 136 was not your typical Warren Central performance. "In 22 years, I've never seen in a game where the opponent didn't score an offensive touchdown and we lost the game," commented Warren Central Head Coach Steve Tutsie. "The defense played unbelievable. I don't know what the deal was offensively."


From my perspective
It is always tough to play a game that was postponed or cancelled from one day and resumed the next. Players especially high school players don't seem to handle it good. But, in a game that matches two of the State's top football programs everyone expects more. To say that the Warrior offense is disappointing is putting it mildly. 37 rushes for 122 yards and only 14 yards passing  is not what you are accustomed to seeing out of a program that has showcased some of the most dynamic rusher in the state over the past 10 years. I tip my hat to Mike Kirschner and his Giants for being aggressive  from Friday to Saturday and not intimidated. It marked the  second time the Giants defeated the Warriors in 11 tries and I must say that they were not the most talented team, but they were the most disciplined TEAM.

Next Week
The Giants (4-0) will host the Patriots of Terre Haute North (2-2)
Warren Central (2-2) will travel to North Central (1-3)