The biggest game of the regular season went down this last Saturday. Featuring the last two UTFL champions, the Warriors from last fall and the Fallouts from this past spring, the game also was a battle of unbeatens. With the #1 seed on the line heading into the playoffs, it was bound to be a game of epic proportions. It was not, however, the Warriors day and the Fallouts came out on top. The game began with the Warriors receiving the ball. After a couple of short completions, QB Jeff Wissler let a pass get away from him and threw his first interception all year. On the next play, the Fallouts’ QB found his receiver open in the endzone, but the receiver bobbled the pass enough to raise some controversy about whether he had control of it before going out of bounds. But without trained officials, painted lines, or video replay, there was nothing that could overturn the touchdown.
On the Warriors next possession, under a lot of pressure, Wissler attempted to throw the ball away, but luck was not on the Warriors side this day as the ball ended up in the Fallouts‘ hands again. During the next series, LB Don Johnson was able to force the Fallouts’ QB to fumble, but the fumble unfortunately went out of bounds. A few plays later, the QB was able to run in for a touchdown, putting the Warriors down 14 early. The Warriors again looked on the brink of a short offensive series, but on 4th and long, Wissler was able to find RB IK Ubani open in the flat, and Ubani took it for a big gain. On the next play, Wissler found Geurts in the flat who outraced the defense to the endzone for the score.The Fallouts were able to bounce right back as their QB showed off his elusiveness and ran for a long touchdown to put the score at 6 to 20. The Warriors were able to put together a long drive together, but on a fourth and short situation, the Warriors gambled and tried to go deep but the pass fell incomplete. The Fallouts, with time short in the half, were able to find the endzone once more on a long pass to put the score at 6 to 28 at half.
The second half did not start any better as the Fallouts took the ball and were once again able to score on a long pass. Down 28, the Warriors were determined to not give up as Wissler hit WR Bryan Engstrom deep across the middle. Engstrom outraced the Fallouts’ defense to the endzone for the Warriors’ second touchdown of the day. The Fallouts made sure that would be the Warriors’ last as they put together a long, time-consuming drive that was capped by another touchdown pass. The Warriors’ highlight of the series was when LB Sebastian Tautalatasi saw a WR reverse coming and destroyed the receiver, sending him for a back flip and an early exit from the game. With little game time left, the Warriors tried their best to put up another score, but time ran out and the Fallouts took the victory, 12 to 40.
The gameball goes to LB Don Johnson who recorded 3 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles, and a forced fumble. While the loss was unfortunate, the Warriors have learned from the loss and will be better prepared to compete when it really matters. The Warriors will enter the upcoming playoffs as the #2 seed and will have a bye for the first round of the playoffs. They will play the winner of the West Jordan WolfPack and the Ogden Knights in two weeks time.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Sunday, October 2, 2016
10/1/16 Warriors vs Ogden Knights Recap
Last Saturday, the Warriors welcomed the newest UTFL team, the Ogden Knights, to the league. The Knights (0-2) were hoping to make a statement against the undefeated Warriors, but the Warriors have learned never to take a team lightly. The Warriors’ offense took the field first, and after a couple of long runs from RB IK Ubani, QB Jeff Wissler hit WR Scott Bryson in the corner of the endzone for the td. Wissler then hit Zach Geurts for the 2-point conversion to put the Warriors up 8 to 0. The defense then took the field and forced a quick turnover-on-downs, highlighted by a Mike Pierce and Vic McKenzie sack. With great field position, the Warriors scored again quickly as Wissler hit Ubani in the flat for the score followed by a conversion to WR Bryan Engstrom. The defense again quickly put an end to the Knights’ drive when Ubani came around the end to force a fumble which was covered up by Steve Hansen. Once more in great field position, Wissler scored quickly with a pass to Geurts, then ran in the conversion himself to put the score at 24-0.
The defense showed no signs of letting up as McKenzie and Jeremy “Ghost” Hendrickson each got a sack to halt the Knights’ drive quickly. Wissler then connected with Bryson for another score. In a rare twist, Geurts took the pitch and found a wide open Wissler for the 2-point conversion. Given one more chance before halftime, the Knights took advantage and found former Warrior, WR Levi Baird, for a long gain. The Knights, however, were again twarted as DE Pierce added another sack to his stat-line to crush any hope of a score. The defense continued the intensity to the second half as Engstrom, playing corner, laid a big hit on a Knights’ receiver, popping the ball up into S Hendrickson’s hands. Hendrickson took the interception and walked in for a touchdown which was followed by a Ubani run for a conversion. The Knights, determined to turn things around, were again stopped on a fourth-down attempt by a sack, this time by Steve Hansen and Cody Jacobson. Wissler went big on the first play and hit Engstrom for the long td. A quick strike to Bryson for the conversion put the score at 48 to 0. Forcing another turnover-on-downs, the defense got the ball right back into the offense’s hands. Hendrickson was able to follow some blockers and ran the ball in for a touchdown. Due to a big penalty on the ensuing kickoff, the Knights had the ball in the redzone with seconds left, and were able to score on a pass to Baird as time expired. This, however, did not change the outcome as the Warriors won big, 54 to 6.
While many are very deserving of the gameball, Jeremy Hendrickson’s performance stands out. On the defensive side, Hendrickson recorded a solo tackle, two assisted tackles, a sack, a defended pass, an interception, and a touchdown. “Ghost” even added a 10-yard rushing touchdown to cap his all-around game. Next week is the big one. The Warriors (4-0) will meet the Happy Valley Fallouts (4-0) in a battle of unbeatens. The Fallouts are the last team to give the Warriors a loss so the Warriors are looking for some revenge. Game time is at 10 a.m.
The defense showed no signs of letting up as McKenzie and Jeremy “Ghost” Hendrickson each got a sack to halt the Knights’ drive quickly. Wissler then connected with Bryson for another score. In a rare twist, Geurts took the pitch and found a wide open Wissler for the 2-point conversion. Given one more chance before halftime, the Knights took advantage and found former Warrior, WR Levi Baird, for a long gain. The Knights, however, were again twarted as DE Pierce added another sack to his stat-line to crush any hope of a score. The defense continued the intensity to the second half as Engstrom, playing corner, laid a big hit on a Knights’ receiver, popping the ball up into S Hendrickson’s hands. Hendrickson took the interception and walked in for a touchdown which was followed by a Ubani run for a conversion. The Knights, determined to turn things around, were again stopped on a fourth-down attempt by a sack, this time by Steve Hansen and Cody Jacobson. Wissler went big on the first play and hit Engstrom for the long td. A quick strike to Bryson for the conversion put the score at 48 to 0. Forcing another turnover-on-downs, the defense got the ball right back into the offense’s hands. Hendrickson was able to follow some blockers and ran the ball in for a touchdown. Due to a big penalty on the ensuing kickoff, the Knights had the ball in the redzone with seconds left, and were able to score on a pass to Baird as time expired. This, however, did not change the outcome as the Warriors won big, 54 to 6.
While many are very deserving of the gameball, Jeremy Hendrickson’s performance stands out. On the defensive side, Hendrickson recorded a solo tackle, two assisted tackles, a sack, a defended pass, an interception, and a touchdown. “Ghost” even added a 10-yard rushing touchdown to cap his all-around game. Next week is the big one. The Warriors (4-0) will meet the Happy Valley Fallouts (4-0) in a battle of unbeatens. The Fallouts are the last team to give the Warriors a loss so the Warriors are looking for some revenge. Game time is at 10 a.m.
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