Despite being 0-3 and coming off an 0-10 2023 season, Warren’s football team of nearly all underclassmen has been playing better each game.

The Dragons trailed Franklin by one possession, 26-18, entering the fourth quarter on Saturday at War Memorial Field. The Knights’ Caiden Mincer put Warren away in the fourth quarter with his third of four touchdown runs in a 40-18 Region 6 win.

Warren (4A) head coach Cody Bupp hopes the improved results transfer to a tough nonregion road game at Class 5A Cathedral Prep at 7 p.m. tonight at Prep’s Dollinger Field.

“(We want to) build off the positives of last week,” said Bupp. “We created goals as a group that we want to continue to build off of. We stressed to them to go out and compete, win the rep, and play physical. This is a great week to work on your fundamentals and become a better football player.”

Despite returning just seven starters from last year’s PIAA quarterfinal run, it’s still Cathedral Prep, and the Ramblers are 3-0 to start the season. On Friday, they welcomed Riverside all the way from Painesville, Ohio, and pulled out a 16-14 win.

“They have lots of athletes and size,” said Bupp. “They mix personnel in and out and keep you on your toes. I’m excited to see the guys get back out on the field and compete.”

One of those guys — freshman Ayden Corbett — had a breakout of sorts on Friday and Saturday. His 59-yard touchdown run on Friday came before the game against Franklin was suspended due to lightning. He finished Saturday night with 168 total yards. Warren has rushing touchdowns the past two games from sophomores Tyler Anderson and Colby Zinger, junior first-year quarterback Brady Shene, and the freshman Corbett.

Warren hasn’t played Prep in two seasons, but lost 55-6 in 2021. This Warren group hasn’t played Prep’s varsity.