Penalties costly in 13-0 Warrior loss to Generals

By Dan Ries

Sports Reporter

The Carrollton Warriors faced two foes Friday night: the Ridgewood Generals and themselves, as they suffered a 13-0 loss at West Lafayette.

The Warriors committed 10 penalties for 79 yards. It wasn’t the number of penalties that hurt, it was the timing. As for the Generals, they held Carrollton to 73 total yards while gaining 242 total yards themselves.

The host Generals received the opening kickoff and returned it to their own 37-yard line. It took the hosts six minutes, 14 plays and a face mask penalty to move 59 yards to the Carrollton 4-yard line with a first and goal. Carrollton’s defense forced a fourth and a foot. Ridgewood Quarterback Grant Lahmers took the snap and was immediately hit by a Warrior lineman, fumbling the ball and recovered by Carrollton on the 8-yard line, ending the Generals drive at 4:11.

The Warriors first possession of the game continued into the second quarter and only reached the Carrollton 30-yard line. After a delay of game penalty, the Warriors punted to the Generals 34-yard line, but a personal foul on the Warriors put the ball at midfield. Six plays later, the Generals scored a six-yard run with 8:25 left in the second quarter. The kick was good by Jarod Smoulder and Ridgewood lead 7-0.

Carrollton was unable to move the ball on their next possession and the Generals returned the punt to the Warriors 45-yard line. The next play, the hosts connected on a halfback pass to the eight-yard line. Three plays later, running back Aiden Sparger scored on a three-yard run (Smoulder kick failed) and the Generals lead 13-0 with 4:26 left in the half.

Jamasen Powell returned the ensuing kickoff to the Warriors’ 41-yard line and moved the ball to the Generals’ 40-yard line, overcoming four illegal motion penalties. On third down with 1:44 left on the clock, quarterback Jacob Whitmore overthrew a wide-open Garrett Broadwater at the 20-yard line.

The first half ended 13-0.

The two teams would trade possessions for most of the second half. The Generals marched to the Carrollton nine-yard line with 10:29 left in the fourth quarter, but on a fourth and goal from the 20, the pass fell incomplete

The game would not end without a little controversy. After a quick three and out by the Warriors, Ridgewood started a drive at the Carrollton 45-yard line with 9:30 left in the game. A second down pass  fell incomplete, but there was a holding call on the play. Carrollton coach Jim Tsilimos declined the penalty making it thir- and-ten. Unaware to the coaching staff, the referees claimed there was an inadvertent whistle and replayed second down. Both the down marker and the scoreboard both showed third down.

Two plays later, that included a sack by the Warriors, the Carrollton coaches thought they had stopped the Generals on fourth down. But the officials said it was fourth down and the Generals punt team ran onto the field.  The Carrollton bench erupted.

A few plays later, after receiving the punt, the Warriors fumbled and the game come to an end with the Generals taking a knee at the 6-yard line

After the game Coach Tsilimos talked about the penalties. “Too many mistakes, lots of flags, we got to clean that up. We’re working on it. I told the kids we’re not giving up and we got to get ready for next week. We had a little offense going and then a flag.  I told them winning games is hard and when you throw mistakes in there it multiplies. And that’s on me and the coaching staff. We got to keep working hard to make them better.”

Ridgewood gained 202 yards rushing on 53 attempts while gaining 40 yards on a four for 10 effort through the air. Carrollton picked up 64 yards rushing on 23 carries and only nine yards (2-8) through the air. Ridgewood led in first downs 23-7.

Jake Whitmore gained 29 yards on 11 carries to lead the Warriors. Ryan Kiko added 20 yards on six carries. Whitmore had nine yards through the air. Garrett Broadwater had one catch for seven yards.

Defensively. The Warriors were led by Levi Crider with 12 tackles, including one for loss. Dillon Naylor contributed nine tackles with one for a loss.  Carter Matoskia recovered a fumble and tallied six tackles.

The Warriors will be at home Sept. 8 against division IV powerhouse Garaway at 7pm.