Western’s standout linebacker Mitchell Parks summed up the Warriors’ Friday night plight in just a few words.
“We’ve got 700 pounds of beef standing over there,” Parks said.
With starting linemen Alex Wozneak, Nathan Johnson and Adam Frazier sidelined with various injuries, Western had to scratch, claw and battle their way to a 15-10 victory over a determined, resilient Waynesboro squad.
“They’re inexperienced, they’re young and they’re overmatched physically, but I like the fight in some of those kids,” said Western coach Ed Pierce. “They’re not consistent and that’s the problem — we know we’re going to get outmanned every week, if we can get those guys to be more consistent for us then we might be alright.”
Behind that patchwork front five that included untested but gritty players like junior Ryan Flynn going both ways, Western’s Abbot Wallenborn came up with 161 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Wallenborn also managed to throw a touchdown to Adam Diehl, Western’s running back who had 68 all-purpose yards. That one-two punch was enough to put the Warriors in position for a win. But it was Western’s defense that eventually dealt the final blow.
Waynesboro, backed up on its own 3-yardline, got its offense going late in the fourth quarter, leaning on junior Desean Dillard at the start of the drive. Dillard carried the ball on eight straight plays for 43 yards. With Dillard apparently gassed, Waynesboro switched gears and let Bryant Carter carry the load. Carter picked up a big first down on fourth and three a few plays later near midfield.
Right after that, it all unraveled for the Little Giants. Two straight losses and a short gain left Waynesboro with one minute and 49 seconds to play and a fourth and 16. On fourth down, Western’s Tommy Mullins, a sophomore middle linebacker pressed into an expanded role with Wozneak’s injury, came up with a game sealing interception on fourth down, allowing Western to escape with a five-point win.
Wallenborn’s emergence gave Western confidence that despite the graduation of Stephen Schuler, quarterback should continue to be a strength.
“He’ll play his heart out every down — you can trust him that on every play he’ll get the job done,” his backfield mate Diehl said.
Wallenborn’s 65-yard jaunt on the Warriors’ opening offensive play of the game where the senior weaved his way through the Waynesboro defense was a huge lift for Western. With so many players going both ways, Western needed to strike early.
“I was trying to get the momentum going at the start of the game, so it felt pretty good,” Wallenborn said.
Diehl was the most noticeable victim of the lack of healthy bodies along the line, but when he did get his hands on the ball, he was nearly impossible to bring down. The senior tailback fought through several tackles, shaking off Waynesboro defenders on solid runs.
“Hopefully we’ll get a couple of them back next week and work in the running game a little more,” Diehl said.
Western will have to do it against Turner Ashby — a matchup with the Knights looms Friday.
