Warriors fall in region opener to Station Camp

 The Warriors entered region play for the first time against the Station Camp Bisons.  Being back in a region allows the Warriors to compete for a playoff spot for this season. 

The Bisons and Warriors started the game off with solid defense and swapped possessions early in the game.  The Warriors’ Bray Frasier recovered a fumble that stopped a Bison drive on the very first series after the kickoff.  The Bisons from Station Camp took the ball back over after holding the Warriors on downs.  Christian Kelso, a defensive back for the Warriors stopped another drive from Station Camp as he intercepted the Bison pass after several players tipped the ball around.  This set up the Warriors’ first score of the game. 

The Warriors were facing a big fourth down and five yards to go when Tripp Pinion found Malaki Dowell on the screen pass.  Dowell fought his way down to the five-yard line and gave the Warriors a first down and goal from the five-yard line.  Jayvn Strode then fought his way into the endzone for the first score of the night.  With the D.J. Paul extra point, the Warriors took the lead 7-0, with 5:25 left to play in the first quarter. 

The Bisons from Station Camp got on the board when a Dowell pass was tipped and intercepted by Station Camp and then returned for a touchdown late in the first quarter.  The extra point was good, and the quarter ended with the score tied at 7.  The only scoring that took place in the second quarter was a D.J. Paul field goal from 31 yards.  The kick gave the Warrior the lead at halftime 10-7. 

The third quarter saw both teams play solid defense and saw both teams struggle to get the ball into the endzone.  The third quarter ended with the Warriors holding onto a slim three-point lead at 10-7.  The big play that led to the Bisons taking the lead came with 4:09 left to play in the game.  The Warriors faced a fourth down and were set to punt the ball away.  Keaton Steele stood ready for the snap.  The snap traveled over Steele’s head and was downed at the eight-yard line.  This gave the Bison’s great field position.  Station Camp did not let the opportunity waste away as they punched the ball into the endzone from two yards out.  The extra point was good, and, with 2:25 left to play in the game, the Bisons took the lead 14-10.  The Warriors’ offense could not get anything going in the last two minutes and saw a fourth down and two end with an incomplete pass to give the ball back to the Bisons.  Station Camp went into victory formation and ran the clock out, thus securing a hard-fought win in region play. 

The Warriors had some costly penalties that played a major role in this region game.  Jayvn Strode had two touchdowns called back for infractions.  The first was a Strode touchdown run that was called back, and the second was an electrifying punt return of 73 yards that was called back for a block in the back penalty.  The Warriors had six penalties for 45 yards, and Station Camp had six penalties for 50 yards.  Station Camp ran the ball for 188 yards and passed for 40 yards.  The Bison total offense for the night was 228 yards.  The Warriors forced five turnovers, while they gave the ball away three times on turnovers. 

The Warriors rushed for 166 yards and passed for 65 yards.  The Warrior total offense for the night was 231 yards.  Malaki Dowell led the Warriors with 26 carries for 146 yards.  Jayvn Strode rushed three times for 11 yards and a touchdown.  Tripp Pinion rushed one time for five yards, and D.J. Paul rushed one time for four yards.  Dowel was 0 for 3 passing with one interception.  Tripp Pinion was 7 for 11 for 65 yards in the passing department.  Paul had two catches for 11 yards, Strode had one catch for 17 yards, Simpson caught two balls for 11 yards, and Dowell caught one ball for 30 yards. 

The Warriors will host Cookeville in a non-region match-up, on Sept. 10, at Warrior Stadium.  Game time is set for 7 p.m.