The West Branch Warriors break their team huddle during pregame.
Beloit, OH- The West Branch Warriors knew they had a tall task ahead of them in Round 2 of the Division 4 Region 13 play-offs Friday night. They would be welcoming the back-to-back Division 4 State Champion Glenville Tarblooders to Beloit, putting their undefeated season on the line in an attempt to halt the trek for a Tarblooder Three-Peat cold in their tracks.
Glenville is led onto the field pregame by RB Chris Newell Jr (3) and Cincere Johnson (8).
The first half was an old school defensive battle with an added premium on special teams. The Tarblooder defense hauled in an arrant Jeremiah Thomas pass in the latter stages of the 1st quarter and took over possession deep in Warrior territory. The Warrior defense was able to keep the Tarblooders at bay, with the assistance of a penalty, leading to an attempted field goal that the Warriors were able to block.
On the Warriors final possession of the first half, with the score still deadlocked at 0, Senior Running Back Boston Mulinix burst through the line and galloped 47 yards to the cusp of the red zone. It would be the longest play from scrimmage for either team on the night. The Warrior drive would stall there leading to an Anthony Perry field goal attempt from 40 yards. The attempt would pull to the left, leading to a halftime score of 0-0.
The Tarblooders broke the tie when Junior Running Back Chris Newell Jr scored from 6 yards out with 3:34 left in the 3rd quarter. On Glenville's following possession, it was Sophomore Quarterback LaMarques Greenwood II finding Junior Wide Receiver Pauly Sadler down the left sideline for a 30 yard score.
Glenville WR Pauly Sadler during pregame warm-ups.
The Tarblooders move to 9-3 on the season and advance to take on the Region 13 top seed Mentor Lake Catholic next Friday at a neutral site to be determined. The Warriors season comes to an 11-1 end with the defeat.
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