Warren Turns Goal-Line Stand Into Conference Win
Warren 38, DeWitt 14
DeWITT — DeWitt had the ball inches from the end zone late in the first quarter, trailing by three. Warren held at the goal line, took possession at its 1-yard line and drove the length of the field. The stand and ensuing touchdown gave the Lumberjacks control of Friday’s 8-4A Conference opener.
Warren’s Jacob Marshall intercepted quarterback Kaden Pippinger on DeWitt’s opening possession. The Lumberjacks later pinned the Dragons deep with a punt, and Jaxstyn Ingram scored from a yard out to put Warren ahead 7-0. Jacarlos Marquez added a 25-yard field goal.
DeWitt answered in one play. Pippinger threw a short pass to Rae Frye, who broke free for a 76-yard touchdown with 3:33 left in the first quarter. The Dragons then blocked a Warren punt and advanced to fourth-and-inches near the goal line. Warren’s defense kept the ball out of the end zone.
Starting at its 1, Warren worked downfield behind JaKoby Avery, who finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. Xa Cox returned the ensuing kickoff from near his goal line to the Warren 15, giving DeWitt an immediate reply. After a low snap disrupted the next play, Pippinger recovered and found Marshaun Bowers for a touchdown. Warren’s lead was down to 17-14 with 7:11 left in the half.
The Lumberjacks scored twice more before intermission. Jaxstyn Ingram recovered a mishandled fourth-down snap to give Warren the ball at the DeWitt 35, and quarterback Jackson Denton found Aiden Lewis on a short touchdown pass. With 38 seconds remaining, DeAngelo Herron broke through on fourth-and-one for a 41-yard score and a 31-14 halftime lead.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. DeWitt’s Kaiden Golden recorded a sack, and the Dragons drove into Warren territory, but the Lumberjacks made a fourth-down stop at their 19.
Early in the fourth, a DeWitt encroachment penalty extended a Warren possession on fourth down. Herron followed with a 3-yard touchdown run. Warren’s Asher Weaver intercepted a pass later in the quarter, and the Lumberjacks closed out the 38-14 win.
Scoring summary
1st Quarter
- Warren — Jaxstyn Ingram 1-yard run (Emanuel Pahuamba kick), 7-0.
- Warren — Jacarlos Marquez 25-yard field goal, 10-0.
- DeWitt — Kaden Pippinger 76-yard pass to Rae Frye (kick good), 10-7.
2nd Quarter
- Warren — JaKoby Avery 7-yard run (Pahuamba kick), 17-7.
- DeWitt — Pippinger pass to Marshaun Bowers (kick good), 17-14.
- Warren — Jackson Denton pass to Aiden Lewis (Pahuamba kick), 24-14.
- Warren — DeAngelo Herron 41-yard run (Pahuamba kick), 31-14.
3rd Quarter
- No scoring. Warren 31, DeWitt 14.
4th Quarter
- Warren — Herron 3-yard run (Pahuamba kick), 38-14.
Players who stood out
- DeAngelo Herron, Warren: Two rushing touchdowns, including a 41-yard run on fourth-and-one.
- JaKoby Avery, Warren: Capped a drive from Warren’s 1-yard line with a 7-yard touchdown run.
- Kaden Pippinger, DeWitt: Threw both Dragons touchdowns, including the 76-yard pass to Frye.
- Rae Frye, DeWitt: Turned a short catch into a 76-yard touchdown.
- Xa Cox, DeWitt: Returned a kickoff from near his goal line to the Warren 15, setting up DeWitt’s second touchdown.