Beloit, OH -- After a disappointing Week One performance, West Branch looked to bounce back Friday night as they hosted non-conference opponent New Philadelphia in the first game ever played on the new turf field at Clinton Heacock
Stadium. The Warriors built a 21-0 lead before the Quakers made things interesting late, but in the end Coach Cooper's squad held on for a 21-13 win.
Neither team found much success in the first half. Both offenses moved the ball at times, but drives stalled after failed fourth-down attempts. Late in the second quarter, West Branch finally broke through on the ground as Jeremiah Thomas powered in from one yard out to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead heading into halftime.
That momentum carried into the second half, where the Warriors continued to dominate on the ground. Thomas added a two-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, then completed the hat trick with his third score of the night to extend the lead to 21-0.
New Philadelphia refused to go away. With 2:32 left, quarterback Parker Rieger connected with T.R. Harriman on a 38-yard strike to put the Quakers on the board. They recovered the ensuing onside kick, and just moments later Rieger found C.J. Carlisle for a 16-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Zach Coffee, keeping the score 21-13.
This time the West Branch special teams unit came up with the answer, as Jake Weingart fell on the second onside kick attempt to seal the first win of the season for the Warriors.
Key Stats
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Grady First: 6–15, 71 yds passing; 14 carries, 73 yds rushing
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Jeremiah Thomas: 15 carries, 101 yds, 3 TDs
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Damon Edwards: 10 carries, 59 yds
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Defensive Leaders: Lex Black – 9 tackles; Clayton Day – 6 tackles; Zach Coffee – 5 tackles & blocked extra point
Next Up
The Warriors are back in action on Friday at 7 PM at Struthers.
