Warrior football team falls to 2-6 after 46-12 loss to Central City
Nick Dietchler looks for a hole in Central’s 46-12 loss to Central City on Oct. 15. He ran for 48 yards and scored a four-yard touchdown in the game. (Photos by Bev Hamann)
Warrior defenders team up to tackle a Wildcat runner.
Evan Schroeder stiff arms a Central City defender. He caught three passes for 39 yards and also rushed for 37 yards on 16 attempts.
Seniors Riley Keene (left), Lane Orr, William Moser, Evan Schroeder, Brandon Whittle and Sean Wilwert were recognized at last week's game.
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
The Central football team endured another tough loss Oct. 15, this time falling to Central City 46-12.
The mood heading into the game was built around exacting some revenge for last season’s close 62-60 loss, and coach Joe Koehn expressed the team was excited. With the Wildcats coming in with just one victory, all systems looked ready to go.
“Last year, we lost to Central City in a close battle, 62-60, so I think that has really stuck in their heads from last season and they are ready to get one back from them. I look forward to a good week of practice…Our kids haven’t forgotten what happened last year, so I am looking forward to a good game,” Koehn said before the game.
The Warriors started the night with Nick Dietchler at quarterback, as regular starter Elliot Kelly was still hampered by a lingering injury that prevented him from holding onto the ball. But once the game started, it didn’t matter who was at quarterback for the Warriors, as the Wildcat defense, which transitions from a 3-3-2 to a 4-2-2 quite often, held the Central offense to 214 total yards.
Dietchler performed admirably, throwing six completions on nine attempts for 105 yards and one touchdown, which was thrown to William Moser. Moser finished the game with one catch for 34 yards, while Evan Schroeder caught three passes for 39 yards and Nate Shirbroun caught one pass for 24 yards.
While the passing game had its moments, the running game, the bedrock of the Warriors offense, was held in check. The Warriors gained just 109 yards on 38 attempts, for a 2.9 yards per carry average.
Dietchler ran for 48 yards and scored a four-yard touchdown, while Schroeder rushed for 37 yards on 16 attempts, and Noah Diersen ran for 19 on six carries.
According to Koehn, the rushing attack’s limitations were a result of miscommunications on blocking schemes.
“There was a few times that there was a hole and our running back would bump it to the outside or away from the hole. We have to trust that the line will get the block and create space,” Koehn explained.
The Warrior defense struggled from the opening kickoff, and by halftime, the Wildcats had a 34-6 lead. The early deficit, according to Koehn, was a result of players not “flowing to the ball quite as well and not sticking to their assignments.” The defense allowed 178 passing yards and 220 rushing yards and a 6.5 yards per attempt average.
The defense finished with 39.5 total tackles, and was led by Schroeder with nine, followed by Kelly, who despite the injury, was still able to play linebacker and finished with five tackles and one tackle for a loss. Other notable defenders were Sean Wilwert, who complied four tackles and one for a loss, Maddux Eglseder with four tackles and one for a loss and Shirbroun with three tackles.
The Warriors head into the final game of the season at West Central (2-6) on Oct. 21. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
