They didn’t like that.

Warren took advantage of three first-half fumbles by Harbor Creek, and answered the Huskies each time they scored, in a 26-14 Region 5 win at War Memorial Field.

Sophomore quarterback Eric Dippold threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers, starting with a 21-yard strike to speedy Ben White after a fake punt resulted in Carter Pascuzzi’s first-down pass to Ethan Senz.

Warren capitalized again with a 20-yard TD strike from Dippold to Cayden Wright.

Times Observer Photo by Cody Elms Warren’s Luke Becker (52) chases Harbor Creek punter Brandon Konieczki in a play that resulted in a safety. The Dragons are 2-0 after a 26-14 Region 5 win over the Huskies on Saturday at War Memorial Field.

The best example of intestinal fortitude came after Dippold was picked off by Harbor Creek’s Gavin Ennis at Warren’s 11-yard line late in the first half. Ennis took it in with 2:05 to go in the half to cut the lead to 12-7 Dragons.

Warren didn’t play it safe. Even after a 3-yard loss on a Dippold scramble, he hit a bomb down the left sideline to White for 50 yards. On the very next snap, he connected with tailback Tommy Nyquist, who beat his defender on a cut and caught a 22-yard touchdown pass. Warren led 18-7 at the half in a battle of 1-0 Region 5 teams.

“We wanted to come in and be aggressive,” said Warren coach Mark Morelli. “We wanted to go after them and we wanted to make our point and we did that throughout the whole game. I’m just so proud of these kids, our coaching staff is so proud of these kids, and the community should be proud of these kids because they’re really putting forth an effort and playing football the way they’re capable of playing.”

That continued in the second half when the Huskies’ punter dropped a snap in the end zone late in the third quarter. Warren would add a safety on the scramble for the ball for a 20-7 lead.

Harbor Creek’s bruising senior back Cam Williamson rushed for 262 yards in a Week 1 win over Franklin. On Saturday, mid-fourth quarter, he pulled the Huskies to within 20-14 with a 12-yard scamper on their best drive of the night.

Times Observer photo by Cody Elms Warren punter Carter Pascuzzi (11) looks to complete a pass during a fake punt.

Later in the fourth, Harbor Creek converted a fourth-and-2 in its own territory, but decided to punt on a fourth-and-7 with 4:15 left.

Nyquist saved his best for last with his last four carries resulting in first downs. His final carry of the night was a 35-yard score to clinch the win.

Nyquist finished with 117 yards rushing and 37 receiving. Dippold, again playing for injured teammate Landon Douvlos, completed nine passes for 183 yards and three scores. White had 81 yards receiving and Wright 62.

The region game was hard-hitting from the start, fitting on a night that honored the late John “Toby” Shea, the longtime PIAA and Warren County Sports Hall of Fame football coach at Warren who passed away this summer.

“Our defense, again tonight, came to play and really only gave up one score,” said Morelli. “We felt all along that we had to keep Williamson contained. The other thing we had to do was keep the quarterback in the pocket … and for the most part, we did a pretty good job. If Toby Shea was alive, I think he’d be pretty proud of this team tonight. I think this caps off a great night of honoring him.”

Williamson ran 23 times for 130 yards for Harbor Creek (1-1), and quarterback Toby Charlton had 23 yards on 12 carries. However, that was about it as Warren held Harbor Creek to 214 total yards. The Dragons’ balanced attack resulted in 207 yards passing and 168 rushing.

“The kids are absorbing what our coaches are telling them,” said Morelli. “We prepare week in and week out. They are focused on the game and they apply what we teach them in practice, and that’s what’s paying off. The other big thing that we pushed this week was the lack of respect. It’s all over the place. We played the card about respect this week, and those kids are as happy as a mouse trapped in a cheese house right now. We wanted to make a statement tonight because nobody gives Warren a chance. They don’t think we can win, and we’re trying to get up to the next step.

“In the fourth quarter, when we needed it, we took control of the line of scrimmage, got those scores when we needed them,” added Morelli. “Again, I just can’t say enough about our kids, and the effort that they’re giving us and the amount of pride that they have in being a Warren Dragon. And the amount of satisfaction they’re getting in proving people wrong who are saying Warren isn’t any good. … We’re on the upswing.”

Region 5

Harbor Creek 0 7 0 7 — 14

Warren 6 12 2 6 — 26

First quarter

War–White 21 pass from Dippold (pass failed)

Second quarter

War–Wright 20 pass from Dippold (run failed)

HC–Ennis 11 interception return (Konieczki kick)

War–Nyquist 22 pass from Dippold (run failed)

Third quarter

War–Safety, punter tackled in end zone

Fourth quarter

HC–Williamson 12 run (Konieczki kick)

War–Nyquist 35 run (pass failed)

Individual stats

RUSHING: Harbor Creek, Williamson 23-130, Charlton 12-23, Cassidy 3-9, Fedak 2-7. Warren, Nyquist 17-117, Senz 10-49, Dippold 4-minus-1), Harvey 1-3.

PASSING: Harbor Creek, Charlton 5-10-0 45. Warren, Dippold 9-16-2 183, Pascuzzi 1-1-0 24.

RECEIVING: Harbork Creek, Williamson 2-19, Ennis 2-17, Fedak 1-9. Warren, White 3-81, Wright 2-62, Nyquist 3-37, Senz 1-24, Shaffer 1-3.