If you’re a Warriors fan, you might be a little spoiled watching Nick O’Brien play football.    Against Meyers-- 240 yards rushing and six touchdowns.  Ho hum, another night at the office.    However, if you’re not spoiled, you appreciate the magnificent offensive and defensive performance that the Warrior all time rushing leader put on at Anthony “Jake” Sobeski stadium on Friday night. O’Brien had touchdown runs of 9, 53, 37, 19 and 1 yards, leading the Warriors to a 50-20 drubbing of Meyers.     The game was over by halftime with the Warriors leading 36-7 at the break.  If there was any doubt, O’Brien’s sixth touchdown was an interception return in the third quarter, sealing the deal. 

The game got off to an electric start, as O’Brien returned the opening kickoff for an 85 yard TD.  However--  surprise, surprise -- a holding penalty negated the play.    In retrospect, that was only a small bump in the road as the Warriors scored a TD on five of their first six possessions.   
It wasn’t all Nick O’Brien in the first half.  Cody Schmitz and Zak LaNunziata added 61 yards and 42 yards respectively on the ground.  Schmitz has become a formidable offensive threat, and has shown that he has the toughness to run the ball up the middle, and the speed to get outside.  Schmitz was also on the receiving end of two O’Brien passes for 54 yards.  What can you say about the year Zak LaNunziata has had?  Not only a force on defense, but has played magnificently at fullback—a tough runner and an outstanding blocker.

The Warriors are finally healthy up front—which is bad news for Warrior opponents.    Joe Erzar returned to the lineup and the difference was evident.  Matt Dimick, Joe Taylor, Carl Zielinski, Tyler Resciniti, Alex Gercak and Trent Grove opened gaping holes against the Mohawk defense.   It’s good to see that group opening up running room on the inside.    It’s also good to see the Warriors drive the ball up and down the field.  The Warriors garnered 18 first downs on Friday night, so it wasn’t all big plays. 

The Mohawks were without their best rusher, Parish Bennett, who was injured.   Bennett appeared in several plays, but was not a factor.  That being said, the Warrior defense shut the Mohawks down in the first half.  Aside from a 70 yard run by Nate Mahalak,  the Mohawks could only muster an additional 18 yards of offense in the first half.   O’Brien shadowed and neutralized Matt DeMarco, Meyers’ ace receiver.     QB Teaguen Labatch connected with DeMarco in the fourth quarter on a nice 54 yard TD pass.    Meyers also scored in the third quarter on a 58 yard run by Zahir Dunell. 

AJ Lenkaitis is quietly having a good year kicking extra points.  He was six for six against Meyers.  He may be an important weapon as the season progresses.    Speaking of extra points-- after the Warriors’ third touchdown, O’Brien was set up as the holder.   Before the ball was snapped, the play was whistled dead as a Meyers defender on the outside clearly jumped off side.  The ball was snapped, whistle blown, and the  Meyers defender played on and obliterated the unprotected O’Brien with a helmet to helmet shot.  This could have been a very dangerous situation.   Nick O’Brien got up, shrugged it off—another night at the office.  – Nick Perugini     

Every time I see a former Wyoming Area football player at a game, who just graduated the previous year, I ask them, “Do you miss it?”    To a man, they always say something like—“Yeah, a lot.  I wish I could be out there again.” 

The 2012 Warrior senior football players need to think about this NOW.   Next year at this time, they will be moving on with their lives –and most of them will never again play another down of football under the lights.   They don’t realize it right now, but they will always carry with them the glory of the victories—and, the numbness of “what might have been.” 

The 2012 football team is very talented.   They enter the last four games of the regular season in a similar situation to that of the 2010 and 2011 teams —with two losses, and needing to finish strong to make the District playoffs.    The 2011 team made the District playoffs, while the 2010 team settled for the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

In order for the 2012 team to be successful, I think the seniors need to ratchet up the intensity, show more emotion, and play with a sense of urgency.    The coaches have done all they can to pump the players up— now it’s time for the seniors to take ownership of their team—and their future memories.  They have three straight tough games at home—and they need to show some excitement about playing in front of a home crowd.. 

As they say—one game at a time-- and this Friday night’s game against Meyers will be one big challenge.  Meyers’ offense is hitting on all cylinders after a convincing 34-7 shellacking of Hanover.    Meyers is probably the most balanced offensive team that the Warriors have played this year.  Parrish Bennett (#21) is the Mohawk’s leading rusher with 555 yards rushing on 92 carries.   He also has 5 TD receptions.  The Warriors kept him in check last year when he played for Hanover, but that was then and this is now.     Junior Wide Receiver Matt DeMarco(#2)  has been a pleasant surprise for Meyers.  He has amassed 541 yards receiving and 134 yards rushing.   Senior QB Teaguen LaBatch (#7)  has passed for 800 yards with 9TDs and 6 INTs. 

Meyers (3-3) handily defeated Nanticoke, Holy Cross, and Hanover.   On the other hand, they suffered lopsided losses to Old Forge, Lake Lehman, and Lackawanna Trail.   While their skilled position players are very talented, they have a young line on both offense and defense. 
This game should be a real challenge for the Warrior defense.  They have played well all year, and will need to play well on Friday.  The Warriors offense should be able to put some points on the board against Meyers—especially, if they are able to spread the ball around as they have over the last three weeks.   I suspect this will be a high scoring game.    Hopefully, more for the Warriors, and not so much for the Mohawks. 

Let’s see if this team can come out fired up this Friday night. -- Nick Perugini