FRANKLIN - Warren continued its push toward the playoffs on Friday night, thrashing Franklin, 64-7, at Franklin Area High School.
The Dragons dominated on both sides of the ball, as well as special teams, and outgained the Knights, 482-173, in their final Region 5 game of the season.
In the process, senor standout Austin Jerman broke the school's career passing record of over 3,700 yards, previously held by Matt Stapleford. Jerman needed 148 yards on Friday to break the mark.
Warren grabbed the momentum on the first play of the game when the Knights fumbled the kickoff and Brad Walters recovered. Although Warren failed to punch the ball into the end zone on its ensuing possession, it didn't take long to start racking up points.
Jordan Willetts got the Dragons on the board with just over five minutes left in the first quarter when he hauled in a 13-yard pass from quarterback Austin Jerman. It was the first of Willetts five touchdowns on the game.
Warren (7-2 overall) blew the game wide open in the second quarter, scoring on four of its five drives. Chris McNeal ran the first one in from one yard out before Willetts added three more - two from Jerman, and one on a 52-yard run.
Willetts wasn't finished, scoring his fifth touchdown in the third quarter when he intercepted Franklin quarterback Kyle Ritchey and took it to the house. Willetts finished with 63 yards on the ground and 72 through the air, picking up for injured teammate Luke Wortman.
McNeal punched in his second touchdown in the third quarter, and Matt Falvo, who rushed for 92 yards, also ran one in.
Cody Gunn finished the scoring for Warren when he ran in from five yards out with just under three minutes to play.
Franklin got on the board with four seconds left in the game as Ritchey hit Chris Kahle for a 33-yard score.
Warren came up with big play after big play on the defensive end, including a 13-yard sack from Falvo, two interceptions from Willetts, and a pick from Ryan Hettenbaugh after Franklin had reached the Warren one-yard line.
Jerman finished 13-of-22 passing with 165 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 67 rushing yards.
Ryan Shattuck added 62 rushing yards late in the fourth quarter and Mark Davis hauled in four receptions for 47 yards in the game.
The Dragons (4-2 in Region 5), have wrapped up the number two Class AAA seed in the region and likely at-large playoff berth in the eight-team District 10 playoffs beginning in two weeks.
The Dragons host Titusville in Friday in a non-region game to end the regular season with a shot at eight wins.
Warren entered Friday's game looking to cement third place in the region behind DuBois and Slippery Rock - the Dragons' only losses.
"(Friday's win) definitely doesn't hurt us," said Warren coach Brad Wright of the playoff race. "I was happy (with the performance). Our starters shut them out (while they were out there).
"Jordan (Willetts) is doing a nice job (filling in for an injured teammate)," said Wright. "We have a lot of different guys that can step up at any time and make plays."
Warren-Franklin Stats
Warren729217-64
Franklin0008-8
First Quarter
W-Jordan Willetts 13 pass from Austin Jerman, 5:09 (Ryan Shattuck kick)
Second Quarter
W-Chris McNeal 1 run, 9:40 (Shattuck kick)
W-Willetts 1 pass from Jerman, 3:49 (Brad Walters 2-point pass from Jerman)
W-Willetts 52 run, 2:00 (Shattuck kick)
W-Willetts 46 pass from Jerman, :32 (Shattuck kick)
Third Quarter
W-McNeal 2 run, 6:13 (Shattuck kick)
W-Matt Falvo 1 run, 2:12 (Shattuck kick)
W-Willetts 45 interception return, 1:20 (Shattuck kick)
Fourth Quarter
W-Cody Gunn 5 run, 2:57 (Shattuck kick)
F-Chris Kahle 33 pass from Kyle Ritchey, :04 (Logan Mooney 2-point run)
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WF
Offensive Plays6540
First downs226
Rushes-yards43-31714-33
Passing Yards165140
Total Yards482173
Comp-Att-Int13-22-19-26-2
Fumbles-Lost0-03-3
Penalties-Yards3-204-23
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-W-Jerman 10-67, McNeal 7-13, 2 TD, Willetts 4-63, 1 TD, Shattuck 6-62, Falvo 11-92, 1 TD, Gunn 3-21, 1 TD, Cody McGraw 1-0, Collin DeLattre 1-(-1). F-Ritchey 5-19, Kyle Uber 2-3, Chris Matthews 5-11, Scott Murray 2-0.
PASSING-W-Jerman 13-22 for 165, 3 TD, 1 INT. F-Ritchey 9-25 for 140, 1 TD, 1 INT; Kahle 0-1, 1 INT.
RECEIVING-W-Mark Davis 4-47, Willetts 5-72, 3 TD, Walters 1-5, McGraw 3-41. F-Kahlil West 1-41, Isaiah Rutherford 2-5, Uber 2-33, Kahle 2-42, 1 TD, Brandon Johnson 1-7, J.J. Deach 1-12.