It was physical, early and often, as South Warren closed the 2015 regular season with a home matchup against Hendersonville, Tennessee’s Pope John Paul II High School. As has unfortunately been the norm for Spartan fans throughout the year, SWHS started off relatively slowly, but the defense ensured the opposition wouldn’t have a chance to add any points onto the scoreboard. Ryder Litten completed three passes for 53 yards in the first half, including a 27 yard strike down the hash marks to junior tight end Zach Haynes.
Kayron Namvong, who usually does much of his damage on the ground in the second half, found some open green earlier than usual and rumbled for 83 yards on 12 carries, finding the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. For the third score of the game, it was Ryder Litten himself, down the left sideline for 31 yards and extending past the pylon before being pushed out of bounds.
The Knights got on the board in the second quarter following a big-time kick return from Jamaal Thompson, who took the ball inside the South Warren 40 yard line. Though the score could have been much more favorable to the Spartans, Brandon Smith’s team led at the break 22-7.
SWHS received the second half kickoff and scored on a 31 yard screen play from Litten to Namvong. CJ Hayes would add a pretty 53 yard grab to seal it, though Pope John Paul II fought until the bitter end and did hit double figures on a 66 yard pass from Ben Brooks to Pace Dempsey.
When all downs were played, South Warren won the game 36-14 and finishes 10-0 in the regular season for the second consecutive year. The playoff run begins next week as the Spartans host Hopkins County Central. Kickoff set for 7:30 and the STBN State Farm Pregame Show begins at 7:15 CT at SportingTimesMagazine.com.
