Wildcats can’t slow down Beachel, fall to Warrior Run on road
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TURBOTVILLE -- Behind a stout defense that only allowed two first downs and a punishing ground game led by junior Denyn Beachel, Warrior Run powered its way to a 42-19 win over Central Mountain on Friday.
The Defenders (2-0) struck immediately after choosing to receive. Quarterback Logan Stevenson opened the scoring two and a half minutes in, firing a six‑yard slant to Bryson Weigel for a quick 7-0 lead. Warrior Run doubled the margin late in the first when Emiliano Torres took a wildcat snap and muscled in from six yards out to make it 13-0. Torres scored on another wildcat play in the second quarter from a yard out, making it 20-6.
Central Mountain's first spark came on special teams. With 18 seconds left in the opening quarter, Alex Johnson scooped up a muffed kickoff at the 18 and raced 82 yards for a touchdown.
The Wildcats (0-2) added another big play late in the second when Kyle Everett hit Gavin Heverly on an 80‑yard strike down the middle, cutting the deficit to 20-13. That big play was really all the Warrior Run defense allowed all night, as they allowed just two first downs.
Warrior Run head coach Derrick Zechman said the early swings were self‑inflicted.
"We just didn't have missing tackles early -- that really hurt," Zechman said. "I thought we could've put the dagger in early."
But the Defenders didn't flinch. Stevenson answered before halftime, dropping a 44‑yard touchdown to Liam Moore to push the lead to 27-19 at the break.
The only other score the Wildcats mustered came on an interception return touchdown five minutes into the third, with Jacob Rembold picking off Stevenson and returning it 24 yards for the score.
Central Mountain had a spark to begin the second half as well, with Heverly nearly returning the kickoff all the way back again. This time, though, he was tackled just shy of the Defenders’ 10-yard line. The Warrior Run defense stood tall again and forced a turnover on downs, stuffing Gavin Edmonston behind the line on fourth down.
The pick-six briefly kept Central Mountain in the game, but Warrior Run didn’t waste any time answering right back.
After blocking the extra point and keeping it at 27-19, the Defenders rolled down the field behind the legs of Beachel, as they had all night.
The long scoring drive was capped off with a 12-yard scramble to the end zone by Stevenson
Outside of the two explosive plays and the kickoff return, Warrior Run's defense was airtight.
"Defense played absolutely outstanding," Zechman said. "Other than the big plays -- one special teams, one pass -- they were lights‑out.
Beachel helped set up Warrior Run in good positions to score all game, finishing with an 180-yard day on the ground.
"I didn't even know I had that many," Beachel said. "It felt amazing. They blocked it up front. We lost Garrett Williams early -- one of our best linemen -- but guys stepped up and we still got it done."
Williams exited in the first quarter with an injury. Zechman said the team will know more after evaluation.
Even with the setback, the Defenders' offensive front controlled the game.
"(Jackson) Albright and the other big boys were doing good," Zechman said. "And Beachel was just running like a horse. He's a beast."
Early in the fourth, Beachel delivered the knockout blow with a 19-yard touchdown run to make it 42-19.
Beachel said the 2-0 start feels promising -- but far from finished.
"It feels good," he said. "A lot of new players this year, a lot of surprises, but we've improved a lot since Week 1. We're always 1-0 every week. New team, new game. We're gonna do our jobs."
Warrior Run now turns its attention to Midd-West (1-1), another key matchup in the early-season stretch.
"It's a big one," Zechman said. "We had a lot of guys play a lot of snaps tonight. We've got to get the cramping down -- take care of our bodies before Friday night. But this was a step in the right direction."
Warrior Run 42, Central Mountain 19
Central Mountain 6 7 6 0 --19
Warrior Run 13 14 8 7 42
First quarter
WR -- Bryson Weigel 6 pass from Logan Stevenson, 9:35
WR -- Emiliano Torres 6 run (Zayas Reynolds kick), 1:23
CM -- Alex Johnson 82 kickoff return (XP blocked), 1:06
Second quarter
WR -- Torres 1 run (Reynolds kick), 6:11
CM -- Gavin Heverly 80 pass from Kyle Everett (kick), 4:33
WR -- Liam Moore 44 pass from Stevenson (Reynolds kick), 1:31
Third quarter
CM -- Jacob Rembold 24 interception return (XP blocked), 7:13
WR -- Stevenson 12 run (2-pt conv. pass to Devante Mitchell), 4:12
Fourth quarter
WR -- Denyn Beachel 19 run (Reynolds kick), 11:47
Team statistics
;WR;CM
First downs 11 2
Rushes-yds. 41-254 16-42
Passing;13-21-1 5-11-0
Passing yds. 181 112
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yds. 8-80 8-95
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Warrior Run -- Beachel 26-180, TD; Weigel 4-24; Mason Rugn 3-23; Stevenson 4-15, TD; Torres 4-15, 2 TD; Reynolds 1-5; Central Mountain -- Kyle Everett 6-23; Kai Fravel 2-7; Kole Corman 5-5; Alex Johnson 1-2.
PASSING: Warrior Run -- Stevenson 13-21-1, 181 yds., 2 TD; Central Mountain -- Everett 5-11-0, 112 yds, TD.
RECEIVING: Warrior Run -- Moore 4-94, TD; Torres 3-20; Weigel 2-28; Mitchel 1-(-)1. Central Mountain -- Heverly 1-80, TD; Rembold 2-17; Johnson 2-15.