Coming into the game 3-1 off of a respectable loss to one of the nations best programs in IMG Academy (FL), Ben Davis appeared to be the heavy favorites against a Warren Central squad that lost to Fort Wayne Snider and Carroll at the start of the season.
However, the Warriors made it clear from kickoff they wouldn’t go down without a fight as they returned the opening kickoff 93 yards all the way to the house. On the ensuing drive, Miami (OH) commit would find 2025 4-Star wide receiver Mark Zachery before Alijah Price would scamper into the endzone to even it up 7-7 within the first minute of the game.
As Warren Central started their next drive, starting quarterback Keith Jackson would suffer a brutal injury that would force him to be carted off the field shortly after gashing the Ben Davis defense. The Warriors would continue to pound the ball in their option offense as Jaylan McMoore would punch it into the endzone to take the lead 13-7 after a blocked PAT. J
ust about two minutes of gametime later, Alijah Price would find the endzone once again cutting through the Warren Central defense for a big 35 yard touchdown run. As if the quarter could not get any crazier, after forcing a Ben Davis punt, Ladre Harris would break a tackle and sprint 70 yards all the way to the endzone to put the Warriors up 20-14.
As the second quarter began, the two teams would exchange possessions before Ben Davis defensive back, Alvin Contreas, would read the eyes of the quarterback and return it all the way to the endzone for the 21-20 lead. Despite pressure from Jordyn Barlow and Tyrone Burrus, Gostkowski was able to drive down the field and find Alijah Price down the seam for his third touchdown of the half as the Giants would take a 28-20 lead into halftime.
To start the third quarter, Ben Davis would call Mark Zacherys name all the way down the field until they got down to the one yard line. A couple penalties and negative plays back the Giants up to attempt a 32 yard field goal which was doinked off the goal post to keep it a one score game. The scoring would be at a stand still until James Clark would score right up the middle for Warren Central after some hard running from J-Shon McCullogh to tie it up 28-28 following the successful two point conversion.
After the tying score with 9 minutes left, a couple of loud bangs were heard across the stadium resulting in both teams sprinting to the locker room and fans going into a frenzy. The campus police department would soon rule it as fireworks being shot and promptly resume the game.
After a failed onside kick by Warren Central, Ben Davis would take over in great field position but would settle for a Ben Rudolph field goal to put the Giants up 31-28.
Despite giving the ball right back to Ben Davis on a short punt the following drive, the Warren Central defensive line would meet in the back field taking down Gostkowski to force a fourth and fifteen. Up three points just outside of field goal range, Coach Russ Mann would elect to go for it which would result in an incompletion to Mark Zachery and Warren Central ball with a minute and a half left to play. After a huge completion, Warren Central would draw yet another penalty on Ben Davis before getting to the 12 yard line on a completion to Airic Hester.
On third down in the waning seconds of a potential upset, Warren Central would attempt a pass down the seam that would be swatted away by Elijah Hurns to force a field goal attempt. With the game on the line, the Warriors would rely on their kicker who would be just barely wide left from 30 yards out as Ben Davis would survive the upset bid, winning 31-28.
For one of the top teams in 6A, not much could go right during the three point win against Warren Central. However, first year head coach Russ Mann will have the Giants building off this night.
“We will be looking at the tape to see if we were in the wrong position, wrong response, not in the right hole or if we lost any technique,” Mann said. “[In terms of the penalties], we had been really good at that. We had seven all season, maybe. I think we might have gone for a school record tonight.”
Although the field was littered with yellow flags all night, the game as a whole may not have been as close if Kent State linebacker commit Nylan Brown would have been active.
“Without a doubt [he would have changed the outcome],” Mann said. “He has a voice that we all listen to and we learned how life is without him today. Although defensively we gave up two scores, but [if] Keith Jackson doesn’t go down at the beginning of the game those option runs end up being different, hopefully he is alright.”
Despite all the craziness on and off the field, at the end of the day Ben Davis will be going into next week 4-1 and that is all you can ask for.
“We got lucky to win this one,” Mann said. “With all the penalties we had it probably had something to do with coming off the IMG game. We knew as a staff it would be very difficult for the 15,16, 17 year olds to match the energy that was brought into our school and community last week. But, this is a humble win that will help us find the mistakes and clear things up.”
Whether it was luck, penalties or just Warren Central rising up to the occasion for a rivalry game, one thing that was not a flaw was the performance of Alijah Price who continues to have high expectations for this season.
“We have to start strong,” Price said. “We did not start strong today. We just have to believe in ourselves, we are the best team in the state and we have to believe that.”
Game Awards
Impact Play of The Game: Elijah Hurns PBU- How much more pressure can you have in a rivalry game under the lights up just three points with the opponent at the 12 yard line. Hurns’ goal line break up saved the game for Ben Davis.
Unit of The Game: Warren Central Return Unit- A kick return touchdown to start the game and a punt return touchdown not long after. Not many other units can beat that.
Player of The Game: Alijah Price- What more do I need to say outside of the three first half touchdowns? Mark Zachery and Drew Evans both had good games for the Giants as well, but it is hard to beat being responsible for over half of the scoring.
“Shout out to my line,” said Price. “Just doing what we practiced all week, and just being patient reading the blocks. When I get in the open field, I will make something happen.”