Like they have most of the year, the Wildcats asserted themselves in all three phases of the game and ruled over Pleasant Hope in a 68-8 win on Friday night to close out their 2024 regular season campaign with a perfect 9-0 record, the program's first undefeated regular season since 2009.
Warsaw recorded their season-high score and their highest offensive output with 588 total yards; a massive 500 of those coming on the ground alone.
Jayce Depriest scored the first TD of the game for the 'Cats with a 44-yard run in the first and a Logan Gemes PAT quickly made it 7-0. Just over 1 minute later, Warsaw got a 2-yard touchdown run by Trent Downing when the offensive tackle reported as eligible and rumbled in for the score. Another PAT by Gemes made it 14-0 less than 5 minutes into the game. A 69-yard TD run by Josh Harvath and another Gemes PAT made it 21-0 and then another 2-yard run by Harvath late in the period made the score 27-0 at the end of the first.
The Wildcats offense exploded for 4 more scores in the second period, including a 28-yard run by Garrett Ferguson, a 41-yard pass and catch from Ferguson to Drake Murrell, a 69-yard touchdown run by Depriest and a 1-yard run by Luke Henderson. The Pirates managed a late score in the quarter on a short 2-yard run but the Wildcats were in full control at the half, 54-8.
With the clock running, Warsaw added to the math in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by quarterback Ryan Fajen, and a 24-yard run by Johrdan Decker in the fourth capped the scoring for the 68-8 final.
The 'Cats pumped up some averages in this one with some gawdy offensive performances.
Depriest led the way for Warsaw with 131 yards on just 3 attempts with 2 TD's. Harvath managed 99 yards on 4 carries and also scored 2 touchdowns. Decker tallied 72 yards on 2 carries with a touchdown while Shane Poyser ran for 55 yards on just 1 tote. Ferguson finished with 48 yards on 3 attempts with 1 score and was also 2 for 6 passing for 88 yards with 1 TD. Murrell hauled in the lone touchdown thru the air for Warsaw. Gemes went 8 for 10 on PAT's in another busy night.
Brecken Brewster led the Warsaw defense with 7.5 tackles while Harvath added 4.5 tackles with 1 sack. Murrell, Jase Hubert and Noah Siebert each added 3.5 tackles. Ethan Siebert and Isaac Daughenbaugh both came up with interceptions late in the game for the Green and Black.
With the win, Warsaw secured a first round bye in the Class 2 District 5 tournament and will be off this week. Next Friday night (11/8), they will face the winner of the (4) Sarcoxie/(5) Eldorado Springs game at home and will retain homefield advantage throughout the district portion of the bracket.