Warriors get mojo back, roll over Garfield

By Dan Ries
Sports Reporter
Anyone arriving late to their seat Friday at Community Field likely missed the first touchdown by the Carrollton Warriors on their way to a 41-20 win over the Akron Garfield Golden Rams.
After receiving the opening kickoff on their own 31-yard line, Ryan Kiko took the handoff on a second-down play through the left side of the line and to the endzone for a 69-yard touchdown. Only 21 seconds had clicked off the clock. Quentin Rosenberger’s kick was good for 7-0 lead.
The Rams began the team’s opening drive on the 25-yard line. After two high snaps and a one-yard loss the visitors punted from the three-yard line.
The Warriors got the ball back on the Rams’ 34-yard line. Five plays later, quarterback Jacob Whitmore connected with Lexi Crider f or a 14-yard touchdown. Rosenberger’s kick was good, and Carrollton led 14-0 at the 7:15 mark in the first quarter.
After a three-and-out by Garfield, Carrollton began its next drive on the CHS 46-yard line. The drive seemed to stall on the Garfield 24-yard line. On a fourth-down play, Whitmore found Braylen Murphy in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-0 (Rosenberger kick good)
The Warriors added to the score early in the second quarter when Dalton Sweeney broke through the right side of the line for a 14-yard run. A 15-yard personal foul penalty put the Warriors on the Rams 41. Five plays later the ball was on the Garfield 10-yard line with a first and goal. Kiko took the handoff around the left side, broke a tackle at the three, and walked into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. Rosenberger added the extra point.
The hosts put together a 12-play, 70-yard drive to close out the second quarter. Whitmore capped off the drive with a 14-yard to Gunner Burgett with 27 seconds left on the clock.
The 35-0 lead triggered a running clock the second half.
After an eight-play drive on the opening drive by the visitors, Carrollton forced a punt but fumbled the ball on the 11-yard line. Rams quarterback Kevin Strickling connected with receiver Brima Barry in the end zone on the next play. Kaden Billman’s extra point was blocked. Warriors led 35-6 with 6:18 left in the third.
The Rams attempted an onside kick which was recovered by Carrollton just over the 50-yard line on the Rams side of the field. Seven plays later, Kiko scored his third touchdown of the game on a two-yard run Rosenburger’s kick failed and the third would end 41-6 Warriors.
The Rams added two scores in the fourth quarter. A fourth and goal touchdown pass at the 9:18 mark and a 73-yard punt return by Isaiah Matthews with 7:02 left. Both Billman kicks were good making the score 41-20.
Coach Tsilimos was all smiles after the game.
“My goal was to come out and try to take them out of their game. I was proud of the way we came out and scored touchdowns. We did it in different ways. Three touchdown passes. Haven’t seen that in a while.”
The Warriors outgained the Rams in total yards 351-106. Whitmore completed five of eight passes for 74 yards and three touchdowns. Strickling was 9-16 for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Murphy led the Warriors with two catches for 38 yards and one touchdown. Crider and Burgett each had one catch for 14 yards and a touchdown.
Carrollton had 277 yards rushing on 41 carries and three touchdowns, led by Kiko with 120 yards on 10 carries and three touchdowns. Crider added 56 yards on nine carries and Whitmore 46 yards on nine rushes. The Rams had -2 rushing yards.
Carrollton led in first downs 18-8. They were 4-8 on third downs and 2-2 on fourth.

Every member of the defense recorded at least one tackle. Crider led the effort with five tackles, three solos Dillon Naylor added four tackles, one solo. Gunnar Burgett, Josh Carman and Dalton Naylor added three tackles each.
“We got our mojo back and a little giddy-up in our step going into next week. I told the boys everyone is 0-0 right now (in the EBC). We all have a chance,” Tsilimos added.
The Warriors begin Eastern Buckeye Conference play Friday at home against Marlington. Homecoming festivities will be held prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff.