BRADFORD - Taming the Dragons' offense is proving to be no easy task.
A week after an eye-popping 83-point effort, the Dragons lit up the scoreboard again for a 47-6 Region 5-opening victory over Bradford at Parkway Field.
"This win shows that we can be a formidable opponent when we execute," said Warren coach Brad Wright. "I have to give a shout out to the offensive line - they really gelled and came together."
Warren started scoring early on a Luke Wortman 73-yard run and struck again in the first when Jordan Willetts recovered a fumble in the Bradford end zone.
The Dragons continued to own the first half when Matt Falvo ran in from 11 yards out in the second quarter. Later in the second, quarterback Austin Jerman plunged in from one yard on a sneak and Warren led 26-0.
It appeared as if Warren would be shut out in the third until Chris McNeal scored with 42 seconds left in the quarter for a 33-6 lead. McNeal led all Dragon runners with 109 yards on 13 carries. Warren had 284 total rushing yards. Wortman ended with 107 yards in seven carries and Falvo eight for 49.
Fact Box
Warren hosts Meadville at 7 p.m. Friday at War Memorial Field, and is not at Meadville as Saturday's Times Observer implies.
The fourth quarter proved it was the Dragons' night when a sure touchdown for the Owls turned into a change of possession after a fumble on the goal line was recovered by Warren's Andrew Hammersley.
Jerman added a touchdown pass in the fourth to Willetts to put the game away.
With six Bradford turnovers, the momentum went Warren's way all the way to the end. Late in the fourth, a botched Dragons' punt attempt turned into a 58-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Shattuck to D.J. Fehlman.
Friday's game marked the 100th meeting between the two teams and the first Warren victory since 2002, breaking a streak of eight straight losses to Bradford. The last time Warren won at Bradford was 1995.
The Dragons (3-0, 1-0 in region) have outscored their opponents, 158-24, and look to win their second region game on Friday vs. Meadville. Bradford is 1-1 in region and 2-1 overall.
Warren started 6-0 two seasons ago and later advanced to the District 10 Class AAA playoffs.
Warren-Bradford Stats
Warren1412714-47
Bradford0600-6
First Quarter
W-Luke Wortman 73 run, Ryan Shattuck PAT, 6:06
W-Jordan Willetts fumble recovery in end zone, Shattuck kick, 2:36
Second Quarter
W-Matt Falvo 11 run, PAT missed, 8:22
W-Austin Jerman 1 run, 2-pt. fails, 4:07
B-Matt Yurkewicz 1 run, 2-pt fails, :56
Third Quarter
W-Chris McNeal 1 run, Shattuck kick, :42
Fourth Quarter
W-Willetts 11 pass from Jerman, Shattuck kick, 5:10
W-D.J. Fehlman 58 pass from Shattuck on broken punt, Shattuck kick, :35
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WB
Offensive Plays4941
First downs175
Rushes-yards39-28436-90
Passing1330
Total Yards41790
Comp-Att-Int6-10-20-5-2
Fumbles-Lost2-17-4
Penalties-Yards9-805-42
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING- W- McNeal 13-109, 1 TD, Wortman 7-107, 1 TD, Falvo 8-49, 1 TD, Jerman 6-13, 1 TD, Willetts 2-1, Cody Gunn 2-4, Kyle Kulka 1-1; B-Josh Corignani 8-45, Justin Fishkin 2-14, Aaron Fishkin 8-26, Sean Siffrinn 3-11, Yurkewicz 9-14, 1 TD, Brandon Teribery 1-(-12), Nunzio Cavallero 1-3, Dakota Phillips 1-2, Austin Johnson 2-(-8), Zack Dartlebaugh 1-(-5)
PASSING- W- Jerman 5 for 9 for 75 yards, 1 TD; Shattuck 1 for 1 for 58 yards, 1 TD. B-Yurkewicz 0 for 4, 0 yards, Teribery 0 for 1, 0 yards.
RECEIVING- W- Willetts 1-11, 1 TD, Mark Davis 2-38, Wortman 2-26, Fehlman 1-58, 1 TD. B-None.