It was a battle of heavyweights in an early season Ozark Highlands Conference matchup on Friday night when the Wildcats took to the road at Adrian to take on the #2 ranked team in Class 1.
Both teams traded punches through the bout but when the final bell rung, two fourth quarter touchdowns proved to be the knockout blows that the Wildcats needed to escape Bates County with a 28-21 win.
After the home team won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, Warsaw came out swinging in the first quarter when quarterback Garrett Ferguson heaved a ball deep downfield. The pass was tipped by an Adrian defender, but Drake Murrell's focus helped secure the ball for a 54-yard touchdown. Logan Gemes came on to put the PAT through and Warsaw led early, 7-0.
The Wildcats defense forced a turnover, a fumble recovery by Shane Poyser, on the Blackhawks' ensuing drive, but that possession came up empty as Warsaw turned the ball over on downs at the Adrian 25 yard line.
A methodical drive for the Blackhawks moved the ball just across midfield and a controversial defensive pass interference call (one of a few) set Adrian up at the Wildcats' 2 yard line. There, freshman Elijah Hubbard scored on a short TD run, the extra point was good, and the game was tied at 7-7.
After another stalled drive by the Wildcats, Adrian took the lead when Hubbard parted the Warsaw defense and ran seemingly untouched into the endzone on a 35-yard run. Warsaw's Kendall Bagley blocked the PAT, but the Wildcats faced their first deficit of the season, trailing, 13-7.
Warsaw's final possession of the first half took them to the Blackhawks' 2 yard line, but a series of penalties and miscues pushed them back to the 28 where the drive came to an end on a blocked 43-yard field goal attempt by Gemes and, at the break, Warsaw still trailed, 13-7.
Things began to look bleak for the Wildcats in the third when Adrian went ahead by two scores after Colton Miller connected with Mason Rusow on a 60-yard slant pass that ended in paydirt. Miller tacked on the PAT and Adrian led, 21-7.
But after being knocked to the mat, the Wildcats got back up.
Late in the third, Josh Harvath got Warsaw back on the board on a 6-yard TD run and after another PAT by Gemes split the uprights, the 'Cats trailed just 21-14 with one quarter to go.
Fairly early in the fourth, Ferguson tied the game on a 3-yard touchdown run and Gemes' PAT tied things at 21-21.
Murrell forced and recovered a fumble by Adrian deep on their end of the field, but the Wildcats coughed it right back to the Blackhawks when Ferguson scampered for a first down but then had the ball jarred loose by Bryler Ford.
But the Wildcats' defense stood the test and, despite taking several blows to the chin, kept throwing punches.
Warsaw took the lead with 1:53 left to go in regulation on a 2-yard TD run by Jayce Depriest and Gemes nailed the PAT to give the Wildcats a 28-21 lead.
Adrian's final drive of the night ended on a turnover on downs and Warsaw went into victory formation to take the 28-21 win.
Ferguson finished with 101 yard on the ground on 25 carries and 7 of 10 passing for 116 yards. He had 1 touchdown each on the ground and through the air.
Harvath was also over the century mark with 104 yards on just 14 carries and had 1 TD on the ground. He also reeled in 2 passes for 23 yards.
Depriest went for 48 yards on only 8 attempts and had 1 TD.
Murrell was on the receiving end of 3 passes for 73 yards and had 1 TD.
Freshman Brecken Brewster paced the Wildcats' defense with 6.5 tackles while Murrell had 3 and Luke Henderson and Harvath both recorded 2.5. Brewster and Murrell each forced fumbles and Poyser and Murrell both had recoveries.
Gemes was a perfect 4 for 4 on his PAT's. His only field goal attempt was blocked.
The Wildcats (2-0, 1-0) will finally be at home this Friday night when they put their unbeaten record on the line against Lafayette County (Higginsville).
The Huskers also come into the contest at 2-0 after defeating Penney in week 1, 45-6 and Lawson in week 2, 57-20.
The Wildcats and Huskers are slated for a 7:00 PM kickoff at Randy Morrow Field on the campus of WHS.
The game may also be viewed live with Matt Dove and Drew Burdick on "Warsaw BCE TV" via www.citylinktv.com.
