Warren Central traveled to Louisville to play last year’s 2A State Champion DeSales High School on Friday night. Going into the game, both teams gave the opposition tremendous respect and DeSales Head Coach Harold Davis said he hoped his team would have some kind of chance late against what he called “scary speed,” especially on defense. His Colts lost 17 starters from the one loss team of a season ago, including two All-State performers.
From the opening kickoff, DeSales was the aggressor. Junior DE Bryant Pirtle was the story coming in and he was the story going out. He was a terror on Dragons QB Chance Shanklin, forcing him to throw early or helping to lead to coverage sacks. A few costly penalties in the first half led to a 10-0 deficit for Warren Central at the intermission. It was the first time the Dragons had trailed in the 2014 season.
DeSales got the ball to open the second half and walked down the field quickly, adding another touchdown on the ground to open up a three score lead. Central fought hard, scoring a TD on a bomb to Chauncey Greer, but the Colts immediately answered with a 60+ yard play of their own to get the points back. Central scored on a 34 yard TD pass from Shanklin to Jensen Feggins, but again the Colts answered with an Austin Tharp 50 yard run on the first play after a failed onside kick.
It just wasn’t meant to be for the Dragons against the Colts, who would pull away to a 37-12 victory. Up next for Warren Central is a trip to North Hardin, the third consecutive road game for Coach Feggins and his team and the third consecutive fairly distant road trip. Warren Central didn’t quit, working all the way to the final whistle, but DeSales played exceptionally well and was just too much on this night.
Coverage from North Hardin begins at 6:50 CT next week with kick at 7 at GoDragonNation.com.
