Just five offensive snaps into the game, Warsaw's Jayce Depriest had 115 rushing yards and the Wildcats held a 14-0 lead before eventually cruising to a 39-0 win over Sarcoxie in one of two Class 2 District 5 semifinal games on Friday night.
The Bears came into the game averaging 29.6 points per game but proved no match for the Warsaw defense who recorded their fourth shutout of the season and held their seventh straight opponent to just 8 points or less.
Following a 68-yard TD run by Depriest on the second play from scrimmage, a Noah Siebert interception on Sarcoxie's second possession, another 47-yard scoring run by Depriest and a 2-point conversion by Josh Harvath, the Wildcats jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first.
The ensuing drives by both teams were halted after each failed to convert fourth downs, but a booming kick by Bears punter Will Chrisman put the 'Cats backs against the wall facing a long field from inside their own 1 yard line.
As the biggest play in his career night though, Depriest took the handoff, found the second level and then raced 99(+) yards for another Warsaw touchdown. Depriest was out of air, but so was the Sarcoxie squad as they trailed 21-0 after a successful point-after-try by Logan Gemes.
Later in the quarter, the Bears got an interception to set themselves up near midfield, but another big play for the defense; a forced fumble by Drake Murrell, recovered by Kendall Bagley, put the ball back in the hands of the good guys.
With 2:20 left in the half, Harvath rumbled in from the 5-yard line for another touchdown but a failed PAT by Gemes this time left the score at 27-0 at the break.
Just when the large contingent of the loud Wildcats faithful thought things couldn't get any better, Harvath gave them even more to cheer about on the opening kickoff of the second half when he fielded the ball at his own 12 yard line, bounced off tackles and ripped his way to the endzone on an 88-yard kickoff return.
Up 33-0, the Wildcats elected to go for 2 points to get the clock moving, but the attempt was no good and the home team would have to continue to impose their will for just a little while longer.
A couple of nice defensive stands, aided by a couple of penalties stopped drives by both teams and really stole any momentum for either.
But late in the third, with 1:06 left on the clock, Depriest rambled in for another Warsaw touchdown, this time from 38 yards out for his fourth of the night.
Another PAT snuck outside the uprights but the Wildcats lead swelled to 39-0.
A sluggish fourth quarter by both squads, much due to the substitutions in and out of several Wildcats, resulted in a scoreless fourth and the 39-0 final.
Depriest led Warsaw with 277 yards and 4 touchdowns on just 6 (yes, SIX) carries. Harvath finished the night with 53 yards and 1 rushing TD on 9 attempts. He also had the 88-yard kickoff return for another touchdown. Garrett Ferguson tacked on 21 yards on the ground on 7 rushes.
If there was any sputter in the Wildcats offensive performance, it would be through the air where Ferguson went 0 for 6 with 1 interception.
Gemes finished just 2 for 4 on his point-after-tries in an uncharacteristic night for the senior.
Murrell paced the Warsaw defense with 7 tackles. He also had 1 sack of the Sarcoxie quarterback and 1 forced fumble. Harvath and Depriest came in close behind Murrell with 6.5 tackles apiece. Depriest also had a fumble recovery. Luke Henderson and Jase Hubert both finished the night with 4.5 tackles. Shane Poyser and Brecken Brewster recorded 3 each, Ryan Fajen and Dakota Todd both contributed 2.5 while Bagley tallied 2 with 1 quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.
Siebert had 1 interception for the Wildcats.
Warsaw's full attention now turns to Lamar when they host the Tigers this Friday night for the Class 2 District 5 championship and the right to advance to the MSHSAA State Quarterfinals.
That game is set for a 7:00 PM kickoff at Randy Morrow Field on the campus of WHS and can also be viewed live on BCE TV via mshsaa.tv with Matt Dove and Drew Burdick as your hosts.
