Dragons fall just short in Warren showdown

Warren 28, DeWitt 26

WARREN — Warren survived a furious DeWitt rally and a tense finish to claim a 28–26 win Friday in a 4A-8 opener.

The Lumberjacks sealed it when junior QB Jackson Denton zipped an 8-yard completion to Josiah “Jojo” Steen on 4th-and-7 with 1:29 left, then kneeled it out after forcing a goal-line fumble moments earlier. Warren also built advantages with Denton’s 7-yard strike to Bleyze Fellows and two short Aaron Davis touchdown plunges following long runs, while kicker Jacarlos Marquez was perfect on point-afters.

DeWitt (2-2) repeatedly answered behind RB Korri Graham’s bruising night. Graham barreled in from the 3 in the second quarter, then later threw a 54-yard touchdown to Terrell Dale on a perfectly timed fake punt to pull the Dragons within two after Xavier Cox’s conversion pass. The Dragons’ passing game found rhythm after halftime as sophomore QB/FB Kaiden Golden hit senior WR Travis London for a 31-yard score, and Cox sneaked in from the 1 to open the third.

Defensively, De’Sean Adams’ early fumble recovery stalled an opening DeWitt march, while the Dragons forced a takeaway in the fourth to set up the late go-ahead bid before Warren’s stand at the 2. Both sidelines mixed personnel effectively: Graham (RB/OLB), Cox (QB), Golden (QB/FB), London (WR/CB) and Dale (WR/CB) paced DeWitt’s skill group, while Denton (QB), Davis (RB/DB), Fellows (WR/DB), Steen (WR/DB) and Marquez (K) headlined Warren. Warren led 14–6 at halftime, 21–12 in the third and 28–18 after Denton’s 51-yard strike to Steen before DeWitt’s push.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter — None.
2nd Quarter Warren – Bleyze Fellows 7-yd pass from Jackson Denton (Jacarlos Marquez kick), Warren 7-0.
2nd Quarter DeWitt – Korri Graham 3-yd run (conversion failed), Warren 7-6.
2nd Quarter Warren – Aaron Davis 1-yd run (Marquez kick), Warren 14-6.
3rd Quarter DeWitt – Xavier Cox 1-yd run (pass failed), Warren 14-12.
3rd Quarter Warren – Aaron Davis 1-yd run (Marquez kick), Warren 21-12.
3rd Quarter DeWitt – Travis London 31-yd pass from Kaiden Golden (pass failed), Warren 21-18.
3rd Quarter Warren – Josiah “Jojo” Steen 51-yd pass from Denton (Marquez kick), Warren 28-18.
4th Quarter DeWitt – Terrell Dale 54-yd pass from Korri Graham (Xavier Cox to Lane Lay), Warren 28-26.

Players who stood out

• Korri Graham (RB/OLB, DeWitt) — rushing TD; threw 54-yd TD on fake punt.

• Travis London (WR/CB, DeWitt) — 31-yd TD catch.

• Jackson Denton (QB, Warren) — 2 TD passes; game-clinching 4th-down throw.

• Aaron Davis (RB/DB, Warren) — two 1-yd TDs; long runs set up scores.

• Josiah “Jojo” Steen (WR/DB, Warren) — 51-yd TD; late 8-yd 4th-down grab.