Mistakes costly in 33-6 loss to West Branch

By Dan Ries

Sports Reporter

A disastrous first quarter by the Carrollton Warriors was all the West Branch Warriors needed to defeat Carrollton 33-6 at Community Field Nov. 18. 

West Branch has won 25 straight Eastern Buckeye Conference (EBC) matchups. The team’s last loss in the EBC was a 30-20 loss to Minerva in 2019.

Fumbles and big plays gave West Branch a 20-0 first quarter lead. 

The game didn’t start well for the hosts. On the first play, West Branch running back Boston Mulinix ran up the middle of the defense for 38 yards to the Warrior’s 31-yard line. Six plays later the visitors scored on a two-yard run and took a 7-0 lead (Hirst kick).

On Carrollton’s first possession, the offense moved the ball to the West Branch 36-yard line before the first fumble of the quarter turned the ball back to the explosive West Branch offense. Three plays later, the visitors scored on a 41-yard touchdown pass to lead 14-0 (Hirst kick) with 6:15 left in the quarter.

Carrollton again mounted a drive into West Branch territory before fumble number two was recovered by West Branch at midfield. A 47-yard pass put the ball on the 3-yard line, but a fumble in the end zone recovered by Carrollton’s Ryder Varansky gave the black-and-white Warriors the ball on the 20-yard line.

From there, Coach Storm Hill’s team went backwards and punted the ball back to West Branch. With four seconds left in the quarter, West Branch on a six-yard run to lead 20-0 (kick failed) heading into the second quarter.

“We had a few early defensive assignment mistakes that cost us a little bit,” Coach Hill said after the game. “The score doesn’t reflect it necessarily, but I’m proud of our kids’ fight all the way through.” 

Both teams were held scoreless in the second quarter, but it wasn’t without excitement. The Warriors began the second quarter with a 15-play drive that ended with a turnover on downs at the West Branch 36-yard line. West Branch then mounted a drive to the Warriors four-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.

With 1:49 left in the half, Carrollton moved the ball to the West Branch 25-yard line on short passes. With two seconds left, a Jake Whitmore pass was batted around down in the endzone.

Carrollton returned to the short passing game to start the second half. Hill’s team put together a 12 play, 68-yard drive that ended in a seven-yard touchdown reception by Garrett Broadwater off a deflection to pull Carrollton to within 20-6 (kick failed).

West Branch added two more scores, a one-yard run in the third quarter and a 23-yard touchdown pass in the final quarter to round out the scoring.

Carrollton held West Branch to just 13 points over the last three quarters. 

“The defensive staff did a good job making some adjustments that slowed them (West Branch) down a little bit. That’s a team that is going to be playing week 11 and week 12,” Hill added.

West Branch held an advantage in all statistical categories: total yards 522-266, rushing yards 242-60 and passing yards 280-206.

The 6-3 Warriors (3-1 in EBC) will close out the regular season Oct. 25 when the Warriors host Minerva at Community Field. 

Senior night recognition will be held prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff.