Warriors, Jr. Warriors get wins over Harrisburg

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

EPC jumped out to a 38-7 halftime lead on their way to a 38-7 win over Harrisburg in high school football pre-season action Thursday in Harrisburg.

EPC’s A.J. Johnson goes high to intercept a pass intended for Harrisburg’s Cole New during the Junior Warriors 14-12 win over the Junior Hornets in pre-season action in Harrisburg. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

The teams played two quarters with a running clock the first half as EPC got on the board quickly as Jacob Gaines took a handoff up the middle and bounced out right before outrunning the Hornet defenders to the end zone for an 88 yard touchdown run to make it 6-0 with 11:10 left. Ladainian Hillis ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0. Harrisburg started their first series on their own 38-yard line. Max Tracy found Jayvin Thompson with a 19 yard pass completion to the EPC 43-yard line and a horse collar penalty was added on moving the ball to the 22-yard line. The Hornets faced fourth down a few plays later, went for it but came up a little short. EPC would take over at their own 25-yard line with 8:27 left in the quarter. The Warriors put together a 75 yard drive with Dee Buchanan capping the drive with a 20 yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 EPC. The Hornets Thompson broke up the two-point pass play to keep the score 14-0 with 6:38 left.

On Harrisburg’s next possession, Tracy found Andrew England with a 20 yard pass completion moving the ball to the Harrisburg 42-yard line before a couple big plays from the EPC defense forced the Hornets to punt. EPC would take over at their own 26-yard line with 2:26 left. The first quarter ended with EPC still in possession and up 14-0.

In the second period, Buchanan broke loose for a long run down to the Hornets’ 18-yard line where a personal foul on Harrisburg moved the ball to the nine-yard line. Tyrus Reel scored two plays later on an eight-yard run to make the score 20-0 Warriors. Reel found Quincy Perry, Jr. with the two-point conversion pass to push the lead to 22-0 with 9:57 left. Harrisburg got on the board on their next series as Tracy hit Remington Rapert with a pass across the middle as Rapert ran the ball to the EPC two-yard line. Hayden Anderson finished the drive with a two yard run to make it 22-6. Tracy added the extra-point to make 22-7 EPC with 6:46 left.

EPC had to punt the ball away on their next possession only to get the ball back when England fumbled with Jacob Gaines recovering for EPC at their own 13-yard line. The Warriors would capitalize on the turnover as Gaines scored on a 60 yard run to put EPC up 28-7. Reel found Perry with the two-point pass to make it 30-7 with 1:15 left in the half. Devin McGee intercepted a Tracy pass on the Hornets’ next possession and the half ended with the Warriors leading 30-7.

The second half saw the team exchange turnovers as Kris Sfakianos intercepted a pass for the Warrior and Trenton Fitzgerald fell on an EPC fumble with neither team being able to take advantage of the turnovers. The turnover bug hit the Hornets again as they fumbled the ball with Aiden Thompson recovering for EPC. Hillis broke loose for a big run to the Harrisburg 10-yard line before Reel scampered in from 10 yards out to make it 36-7 Warriors. EPC added the two-point conversion to make it 38-7. The teams traded possessions over the remainder of the half until the clock ran out.

“Your typical scrimmage with mistakes made early. I thought our offensive was explosive and the defense didn’t give up many big plays. I’m okay with how we started and we’ll build from that,” EPC head coach Brandon Powell said after the game. “Gaines and Buchanan ran the ball well today and I thought Tyrus did a good job under center. Our linebackers looked good for us on defense,” Powell added.

“I’m kind of disappointed with our play tonight compared to how good we’ve looked in practice leading up to the game,” Harrisburg head coach Austin Jarrett said after the game. “We didn’t show who we could be today. Offense moved the ball well at times but penalties and turnovers hurt us and if we don’t clean that up it will be a long season,” Jarrett added.

In the junior high game, EPC got on the board on their first possession as Gabe Williams scored on a four yard run to make it 6-0 Warriors 11:15 left. A.J. Johnson added the two-point conversion run to make it 8-0 with 11:15 left. The teams traded possessions the rest of the half as EPC took an 8-0 lead to the half.

Johnson came up an interception to end Harrisburg’s drive early in the second half only to turn the ball over on downs at with 12:49 left. The Junior Hornets found the end zone on their drive as Cole New finished it off with a 25 yard run to make the score 8-6 with 8:36 left. The two-point try was no good. EPC answered the Harrisburg score as Johnson broke loose and scampered 55 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-6 with 4:48 left. Jeb Holiman’s extra-point attempt hit the left goal post. Harrisburg took the ensuing kick-off and drove down the field and scored on a 10 yard run by New to make the score 14-12 with no time left on the clock. The Junior Warriors’ defense came up big stopping New on the two-point try to take the 14-12 win.

“Not surprised by the junior high team at all, this group can be really good this year,” Harrisburg head coach Austin Jarrett said of his team. “We had troubles in first half, couldn’t get line up right, we used three centers before we settled in. If we can clean that up, we should be okay,” Jarrett added.

“I am proud of this group. The last two weeks we have not had 11 guys to practice offense with sickness and other issues. I didn’t know how we would look tonight but I’m proud of the way the stepped up and played,” EPC head coach Michael Nash said. “Johnson did a great job running our offense tonight. Our defense has to get a little better on what their assignments are,” Nash added.