Two weeks ago, the Weddington Warriors traveled to Marvin Ridge to play the Mavericks for the conference title against Marvin’s home field advantage. The Warriors came out victorious and went on to defeat North Meck in the first round of the playoffs. Their next opponent? Marvin Ridge yet again. This time, the stakes were higher.

Last Friday, Marvin Ridge fans came to Warrior Stadium decked out in their neon, while the Green Machine came out head to toe in green. 

The Mavericks won the coin toss and deferred, meaning Weddington would receive the ball to begin the game. Both defenses went back and forth for a majority of the first quarter, with no team scoring until the fifth drive of the game. 

Runs by Kyle Parsons, a penalty on Marvin, and a four yard pass to Landyn Backey set the Warriors up in Marvin territory. Taking advantage of a receiver downfield, senior quarterback Grady Brosterhous, who recently announced his commitment to Davidson College, launched the football to Griffin Reimer for a forty-nine yard touchdown. Matthew Moonan’s extra point was good, putting Weddington up 7-0 with 4:44 left in the first quarter.

Despite the energy that the score brought to Warrior fans, that energy would soon be tarnished by a long drive by the Mavericks. Sophomore quarterback Evan Medders ran for a total of sixty three yards on the drive, which ended with a ten yard touchdown pass to Cole Searight. An extra point was made, and the game was tied at seven with fifty one seconds left in the first quarter.

The Weddington offense came onto the field as the clock wound down, signaling the end of the quarter. Just as the second quarter began, things did not look great for the Warriors. A fumbled snap was recovered by Marvin, giving them the ball in Weddington territory. However, the Warrior defense held the Mavericks to a field goal, and Marvin took a 10-7 lead with nine minutes left in the half.

Weddington answered right back. A drive that began at their own twenty yard line that consisted of multiple carries by Parsons, two keeps by Brosterhous, and a pass to Reimer was capped off with a seven yard touchdown run by Parsons. Moonan’s extra point was good again, and the Warrior took a 14-10 lead with five minutes remaining in the half. 

A quick three and out that was forced by the Warrior defense allowed Weddington to get the ball back at the Marvin Ridge forty six. Two twenty-plus yard plays by Backey and Parsons ended in yet another touchdown for Parsons. The extra point was no good, but the Warriors held a 20-10 lead going into halftime.

Marvin received the ball to begin the second half of the game. Although the mavericks were driving down the field, a sack on a fourth down conversion by Jack Collins and Trace McCament gave Weddington the ball back at their own forty seven.

The drive, however, lasted two plays as Backey fumbled the ball. Marvin recovered and had the ball at the Weddington forty four. A drive that included a fifteen yard penalty on the defense and fourteen more rushing yards for Medders ended in a reverse pass to senior Jake Young for a six yard touchdown. An extra point later, Weddington still led 20-17 with six minutes left in the third quarter.

The next two drives for both teams did not result in any scoring. However, Weddington’s fourth drive of the half extended the lead. At the Marvin forty three, Brosterhous handed the football off to Parsons, who pitched the ball back to the quarterback. The Davidson commit launched the ball to Backey for a touchdown. Moonan came on the field, made another extra point, and gave the Warriors a 27-17 lead with twenty two seconds left in the third quarter. 

As the game entered the “witching hour”, Marvin began another scoring drive of their own. A deep pass to Luke Raykovicz for forty six yards set the Mavericks up at the Weddington twelve yard line. Medders added another twelve yards of rushing to his night, bringing the ball into the endzone for another score. An extra point later, Weddington led by three yet again.

Weddington’s next drive resulted in a punt. 

Two weeks ago, when Weddington played Marvin, the Mavericks scored two touchdowns in a span of thirty seconds, worrying Warrior fans. With the way the game was going in terms of back and forth scoring, some began to feel that a comeback was in the works. However, the punt by Moonan ended up being the deciding factor of the game. 

After the ball was launched into the air, the returner for the Mavericks could not keep it in his hands. The ball slipped right through, and the special teams unit for the Warriors recovered the ball. The drive began deep in Marvin territory.

In order to make the game a ten point lead, Brosterhous called his own number and took the ball into the endzone for a three yard touchdown run. Moonan’s extra point was good, and the Warriors took a 34-24 lead with almost four minutes remaining in the game.

Deep passes to Jake Young and Luke Raykovicz, which totaled sixty one yards, put the Mavericks in prime position to score. Medders passed to Alex Meeks, who took the ball into the endzone for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Mavericks were only down by three with three minutes left.

The next Warrior drive sealed the win for Weddington. An onside kick was recovered by the Warriors, setting them up at the Marvin forty seven. Parsons exploded for a thirty seven yard run downfield, Brosterhous rushed for three yards, and the drive was capped off with another seven yard touchdown run by Kyle Parsons, his third score of the night. Moonan made yet another extra point, making the lead 41-31 Weddington.

41-31 was your final score of the game. This Friday, the Warriors will face another county rival, as the Cuthbertson Cavaliers will travel to Warrior Stadium this Friday at 7:00.