Football Races Past Centerville in Regular Season Finale

After clinching a playoff spot despite a loss to Beavercreek the previous week, Warrior Football needed to build some momentum heading into the OHSAA Playoffs in their Week 10 matchup with archrival Centerville High School.

After a stalemate of a first quarter, a track meet broke out in the second quarter where the teams combined for 46 points. Fortunately for the Warriors, they were on the better side of that scoring 33, including 20 straight to end the half.

Kye Graham opened the quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run. Centerville responded 21 seconds later with a touchdown of their own, followed by an 87-yard kickoff return from Jamier Brown on the ensuing kickoff. Centerville scored with 9:00 minutes remaining in the quarter to make it 13-13 and the Warriors proceeded to put the game away.

Isaiah Thompson scored from 8-yards out with 6:29 remaining to go up 20-13. Thompson followed that up with a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:32 remaining in the half. Then, James Dyer IV put a bow on the outburst with a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown with 15 seconds left in the half to make the halftime score 33-13.

Centerville came out and applied a bit of pressure on the Warriors, scoring the lone touchdown of the third quarter and heading into the fourth with a score of 33-20.

Kye Graham put a stop to the Elk comeback with an 11-yard touchdown run early in the fourth and capped off an impressive evening with a 59-yard strike to Brown with 4:50 left, making the score 47-20. Centerville would go on to score a garbage time touchdown for a final score of 47-27.

Thompson (201 yards) and Brown (193) combined for 394 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns on the evening to lead the Warrior offensive attack. Graham threw for 168 yards and a touchdown while adding 40 yards and two scores on the ground.

The Warrior defense was smothering when it mattered most, accounting for two crucial interceptions from Thompson and Jerald Battles.

Wayne enters the playoffs as the #6 in Division I-Region 2. They will host Galloway Westland on Friday night, October 31st, at 7:00 pm with the winner earning the right to travel to Findlay High School on November 7th. Take a look at the full bracket here(Opens in a new window).

Tickets will go on sale later this week at www.ohsaa.org/tickets(Opens in a new window).