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TURBOTVILLE -- Warrior Run's football team wasn't quite on its game in the first half of Friday's Heartland Athletic Contest-Division III contest against Midd-West. All Warrior Run ead coach Derrick Zechman had to do to get his team's offense flowing was to hand the ball off to senior running back Denyn Beachel.
Beachel ran for a school record-tying five touchdowns on the night to lead Warrior Run to a 42-7 victory over Midd-West at Defender Stadium.
"It wasn't a clean game, but the second half was better running the ball, and we got Beachel going a little bit," Zechman said. "We didn't have too many rushing yards in the first half, and we had some big plays passing, but it just looked we were out of sync a little bit, just energy-wise and everything like that.
"We just need a little more consistency on offense and keep the drives going, but we made some big plays when we needed to, and in the second half I felt better with the way we played.”
Beachel accounted for all of Warrior Run's touchdowns in the first half as the Defenders took a 20-0 lead. Beachel scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, and he had a pair of 2-yard touchdowns in the second quarter.
Then a big play by junior quarterback Logan Stevenson early in the second half opened up the game for Warrior Run (3-0 overall).
With the Defenders starting from their 20 after an illegal procedure penalty, Stevenson found a wide open Bryson Weigel over the middle for an 80-yard bomb that made the score 27-0.
"That was big. Midd-West had the ball for quite a bit to start the second half (with help from a fumbled punt recovered by Aiden Rose), and in our first play (of the second half) we hit that (pass)," Zechman said. "Weigel ran a great route, and Logan put the ball right on him, and we're off and running. That was pretty good to see."
And before the quarter was over Beachel added two more touchdown runs - on 8 and 1 yards - and his final touchdown carry tied the school record for most touchdowns in a game with his older brother, Denver.
"I didn't even know he had five touchdowns to be honest, but (Denyn) is great. He's a workhorse, and he's a guy who can carry the ball 25-30 times a game, and he gets stronger," Zechman said. "He made some great cuts today, and I'm happy for him and it's well-deserved. It all starts up front with the line -- we got some good pushes there -- but credit to Beachel as well."
Zechman admitted there was an emphasis to run the ball more in the second half, and it wore Midd-West (1-2) down.
"Definitely, the line wanted it. They thought we abandoned the run early, but I felt we had some passing plays," Zechman said. "Logan did a solid job, and the receivers made some great catches early in the game.
“To be able to be balanced (was key), and I always say the run will open up the pass, and the pass will open up the run.”
Warrior Run tried to get the shutout against Midd-West, but with the Defenders' second-string defense in the game, the Mustangs broke through in the scoring column late in the fourth quarter as Konnor Kullman caught a 64-yard pass from Carter Witten.
Regardless, Zechman praised his defensive starters for the job they did on the night. Although they were disappointed to not get the shutout.
"The defense played solid again and made some plays. The defense has been playing great the first three games," Zechman said. "We had our 2s in there (late), so we live and learn with it. We got everyone in the game for at least a couple of plays, which is good for the kids to get some experience in a varsity game on Friday night."