Beloit, OH -- Clinton Heacock Stadium has seen a lot of Friday nights. Few will be remembered quite like this one.
Through a steady downpour on Homecoming, the West Branch defense shut out Alliance 29-0, handing the Warriors their 200th win at the stadium and improving them to 8-1.
The Warriors are now 200-93-3 all time at Clinton Heacock Stadium. The win also clinched at least a share of a seventh straight EBC title for West Branch.
The Gary Andreani Loyalty Award helmet stays in its case in Beloit for another year. West Branch has not lost to Alliance since 2019, winning seven straight in the series.
Andreani spent 13 years at West Branch as an administrator and football coach. He coached linebackers and receivers on the Warriors' 1994 state championship team. A graduate of Alliance High School and Mount Union College, he belonged to both sides of this rivalry. His contributions, spirit and enthusiasm will always be remembered.
First Half
With rain coming down from the opening kick, the West Branch defense set the tone early. Alliance ran 25 plays in the first half and managed just 79 yards, four first downs and four punts. The Warriors swarmed to the ball on a slick field, wrapping up ball carriers and giving the Alliance offense nowhere to go.
Grady Hirst found the first opening on offense midway through the first quarter, slipping free for a 36 yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good, leaving it 6-0.
Cruz Leone pushed the lead to 9-0 early in the second quarter, splitting the uprights from 29 yards out on a soaked field. The Warriors went to the locker room with that lead and without a single penalty in the first half, a tough feat with a wet ball and sloppy footing.
Second Half
A one score game in the rain can turn on one mistake. The West Branch defense made sure it never did. Alliance gained just 69 yards after halftime, and that stout defensive performance carried over into the second half. Every time Alliance tried to build momentum, the Warriors were waiting behind the line of scrimmage.
The offense finally broke through late in the third quarter. Hirst powered in from 6 yards out with 3:34 left, and Drake Stryffeler ran in the two point conversion to make it 17-0.
Hirst found the end zone for a third time early in the fourth, scoring on a 7 yard run for a 23-0 lead. Gavin Marshall added a 9 yard touchdown run to set the final, and the defense finished the job, keeping Alliance off the scoreboard for all four quarters.
Offensive Highlights
- Grady Hirst ran for 93 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries
- JJ Marra ran for 83 yards on eight carries, averaging more than 10 yards per carry
- Gavin Marshall ran for 47 yards and a touchdown on seven carries
- Drake Stryffeler ran for 33 yards on three carries and added a two point conversion
- Cruz Leone connected on a 29 yard field goal
- West Branch ran for 250 yards on 39 carries in the rain and finished with 13 first downs
Defensive Highlights
- The Warriors pitched a shutout, holding Alliance to 148 total yards, 11 passing yards and 8 first downs
- West Branch forced six punts, recorded two sacks and eight tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble
- Alliance averaged just 3.3 yards per carry on 42 rushes
- Owen Bloss led the way with 14 tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss
- Drake Stryffeler made 12 tackles and recorded a sack
- JJ Marra made 10 tackles, including three for loss
- Damon Edwards made seven tackles and recovered a fumble
- Tyler Sprowl made five tackles, including two for loss, and Jackson Shinn added four tackles and a tackle for loss
- Gavin Marshall made six tackles and Landon Coffee added three
What's Next: West Branch (8-1) closes the regular season at home against rival Salem (8-1) next Friday, Oct. 23, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Clinton Heacock Stadium. The Totem Bell trophy is on the line, along with the league crown. A win would give the Warriors their seventh straight EBC championship outright and keep the Totem Bell in Beloit.
