CORRY - The record will show that the Warren Dragons and Corry Beavers played football on Friday night.
The best thing Warren can do is try to forget it ever happened.
One week before a potential meeting in the opening round of the District 10 Class AAA playoffs, the Beavers manhandled the Dragons earning a 41-6 victory at Corry's Sheen Field.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Tough sledding
Warren’s Andrew Morrison (9) works for yardage during Friday’s football game with Corrya t Corry Area High School. Making the tackle for the Beavers are Adam Zimmerman (33) and Ethan Redrup (47). Blocking for the Dragons are Brett Ball (72) and Eric Buck.
Like the final score would indicate, this one wasn't close for long.
The Beavers took the opening kickoff and rode the legs of running back Adam Zimmerman and quarterback Matt Cragg down the field. Corry would push the ball all the way to the Dragons 4 before T.J. Latimer recorded a sack on a third down play, forcing a fourth and long.
While the sack pushed the Beavers back, it didn't push them back far enough as kicker Andy Hajec booted a 30-yard field goal to put the Beavers ahead, 3-0.
The Dragons quickly responded and got a needed spark on the ensuing kickoff. Chris Danielson fielded the Hajec kick around his own 10 and carved his way through the Corry opposition. Danielson wouldn't be tripped up until he reached the Corry 25, putting the Dragons in the driver's seat.
Just three plays later, Warren quarterback Matt Stapleford passed short to Latimer who did the rest, taking the ball 21 yards for the Dragon touchdown. Stapleford's extra point was blocked and Warren led briefly, 6-3.
From that point of the contest onward is where the Dragons hope selective amnesia takes over.
Corry would score the last 38 points of the game with the first score being set up by a Warren fumble. Given great field position, the Beavers' Cragg scored from three yards out with 0:41 left in the opening quarter to put Corry up for good.
Cragg would also have his way with the Warren defense in the second quarter as the sophomore signal caller added two more touchdowns on runs of 11 and 12 yards. When Cragg didn't have the ball, Zimmerman did and the senior ball carrier gained 118 of his game-high 190 yards before halftime.
Down 24-6 at intermission, the Dragons came out of the locker room searching for a spark that would give them momentum heading into next week's potential playoff game with the Beavers.
Instead, things only got worse.
Warren fumbled on its first play from scrimmage in the second half, giving the Beavers the ball at the Dragons 5. Three plays later, Zimmerman plunged into the endzone from two yards out to extend the lead to 31-6.
Warren's next possession ended with a punt and this time the Corry rush was too much for the Warren line. Stapleford never got the punt into the air and the Beavers blocked the kick, recovering it at the Warren 18.
While the Beavers would only go backwards from there, Corry would still get its kicks during the possession - literally.
Facing a fourth down from the Warren 25, the Beavers opted to go with Hajec and a 42-yard field goal attempt. The junior put the ball through the uprights with just a few feet to spare and the Beavers led 34-6.
Zimmerman's second touchdown run of the night with 8:35 left in the game would close out the scoring at 41-6.
Zimmerman was a workhorse rushing 30 times for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Cragg added 67 yards on 19 carries with three scores. Cragg threw just four times, completing a pair of passes for 37 yards.
The Dragons were limited to 144 yards of total offense. Stapleford was 12 of 22 through the air for 111 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Latimer led the team with 36 rushing yards on six totes.
The Dragons (7-3) and Beavers (8-2) are both off until the start of the District 10 Class AAA playoffs on Friday. While nothing has officially been announced, it has been speculated that the two teams will square off in the opening round of the playoffs - likely at Harbor Creek High School.
Warren-Corry Stats
Warren6000- 6
Corry1014107-41
First Quarter
C- Andy Hajec 30 field goal, 8:33
W- Matt Stapleford to T.J. Latimer 21 pass, 7:27, kick blocked
C- Matt Cragg 3 run, 0:41, Hajec kick
Second Quarter
C- Cragg 11 run, 7:04, Hajec kick
C- Cragg 12 run, 1:06, Hajec kick
Third Quarter
C- Adam Zimmerman 2 run, 10:46, Hajec kick
C- Hajec 42 field goal, 6:34
Fourth Quarter
C- Zimmerman 8 run, 8:35, Hajec kick
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WC
Offensive Plays4554
First downs618
Rushes-yards23-3350-237
Passing11137
Total Yards144274
Comp-Att-Int12-22-12-4-0
Fumbles-Lost4-33-1
Penalties-Yards4-302-15
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-W- T.J. Latimer 6 for 36, Andrew Morrison 2 for 4, Matt Stapleford 6 for -1, Andrew Bevevino 1 for -2, Rex Graham 8 for -4; C- Adam Zimmerman 30 for 190, 2 TD, Matt Cragg 19 for 67, 3 TD, Cory Owens 1 for -20
PASSING-W- Matt Stapleford 12 of 22 for 111 yards, TD, INT; C- Matt Cragg 2 of 4 for 37 yards
RECEIVING-W- T.J. Latimer 7 for 62, TD, Matt Jaskolka 2 for 30, Andrew Morrison 2 for 9, Nathan Zigler 1 for 10; C- Justin Miller 1 for 19, Cory Owens 1 for 18