If ever there was a way to top the accomplishment of beating Manheim Central for the first time since 1983, Warwick's rematch with the Barons in Friday night's District Three Class 5A quarterfinal was it. With the clock showing zeros, Tanner Haines' 17-yard field goal attempt went true as the Warriors moved on to this week's semifinal matchup with Cocalico via a thrilling 31-28 triumph over Manheim Central in enemy territory.
As the two-time defending District champions, the fourth seeded Barons (9-3) hosted number five Warwick (10-2) at Elden Rettew Stadium and were looking to redeem a week three, 37-7 loss to the Warriors in a highly anticipated showdown. Behind Colton Miler's 166-yard, three touchdown effort, Warwick was able to keep things close throughout the game, but it was a clutch, special teams play that turned the tide.
Following a 33-yard scoring strike from Manheim's Evan Simon to J.D. Grube that tied the game at 28-28 with 6:19 to go, both defenses forced the other side into a punting situation. With just under two minutes on the clock, Warwick's Adam Martin burst through the Manheim line, blocking the kick and giving Warwick the ball with 1:55 to go.
With a little help from a series of Manheim penalties, the Warriors worked their way down to the Baron two-yard line, and with two seconds to play Haines drilled the game winner. The victory marks just the third post-season win for the Warriors in school history and sets them up for a good shot at winning District gold.
Manheim opened up a 7-0 lead when Simon found Ben Wagner for a 78-yard touchdown at the end of the first quarter, but McCracken, who passed for 171 yards and a touchdown tied the game in the second on a 33-yard pitch and catch to Caleb Schmitz. Schmitz led all receivers with 113 yards on eight catches for the night.
The Barons retook the lead when Colby Wagner plunged into the end zone from two yards out to make it 14-7, but Warwick answered on Miller's first score of the game from the two-yard line with 38 seconds remaining until halftime. The resulting PAT attempt was no good and the Warriors went into the locker room trailing 14-13.
Simon, who passed for 214 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 102 and one score, fired up the home crowd in the third when he made it 21-20 on his lone rushing touchdown following Miller's second score of the game. Facing third and long on the Manheim 36-yard line, Simon broke free on a quarterback keeper and scampered 64 yards into the end zone with 3:54 left in the quarter.
Miller's three-yard bull rush for his third touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter was followed by a successful two-point conversion on a pass from McCracken to Conor Adams (4-33) to make it 28-21 before Grube tied the game leading up to Haines' last second heroics.
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