Earlier this season Warwick accomplished something that was almost four decades in the making when the Warriors defeated Manheim Central 37-7. It was their first win versus the Barons since 1983. Getting the upper hand on a team like Manheim is difficult enough, and doing it twice in one season is a tall task for anyone. However, Warwick looks to do just that when they travel to Manheim's Rettew Stadium this Friday night in a District Three Class 5A quarterfinal matchup.
A defeat of Mechanicsburg in the opening round of the playoffs was the requisite for the rematch between the two neighbors and the Warriors checked that box with a 34-6 romp over the Wildcats this past Friday at home. Colton Miller continuously chewed up yardage for Warwick on the way to a 157-yard, three touchdown night on the ground and a membership in the 1,000-yard club to boot.
The fifth seeded Warriors (9-2) took it to No. 12 Mechanicsburg (6-5) early, scoring on the opening drive of the game on a Miller one-yard plunge just 3:53 into the first quarter. Miller, who finished with 1,091 yards and 27 touchdowns on the season, added his second of the night on Warwick's next possession, bulling his way in to the end zone on another one-yard romp. David Hnasko broke free on a 43-yard scoring run in the second quarter for a 20-0 halftime advantage.
Things became sloppy for Warwick, however, with Miller fumbling twice and quarterback Joey McCracken throwing two interceptions despite completing 13 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown. Both sides also combined for 20 penalties with Warwick amassing 138 yards on 11 calls as play began to get chippy later in the game.
Utilizing a no-huddle style offense in the second half, the Wildcats began to have some success against a Warrior defense that mostly held them in check while surrendering only 203 yards of total offense. On the other hand, Warwick put up 430 total yards while running for 279.
After the break, Mechanicsburg took the kickoff and marched 73-yards before Nicholas Morrison caught a four-yard scoring pass from quarterback James Anderson to make it 20-7 and then recovered a forced fumble on its own 40. Clamping down, however, Warwick's defense held the Wildcats to a three-and-out.
Making them pay with another scoring drive capped off by Miller's second touchdown of the game, this time from the three-yard line, to go ahead 27-7, the Warriors added one more in the fourth when McCracken hooked up with Caleb Schmitz for a 29-yard pitch-and-catch and the 34-7 end result.
CROSS COUNTRY
Saturday's PIAA Class 3A Championship race saw Anna Martin finish in 16th place for a medal, but early on it did not appear that she would even crack the top 50. Running 71st and clocking in at 6:07 after the first mile, Martin found another gear and was able to gain substantial ground on the pack, working her way into 28th at 12:33 after the second mile before crossing the line in 19:08.
Jeremy Bell represented the boys and also made huge strides during his race where he finished the first mile in 5:23.3 and was in 177th before racing through the second at 11:13.6 and 147th. He wound up finishing 108th with a time of 17:13.7.
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