The Nanih Waiya Warriors showed why they are considered one of Class 1A’s best football teams this season.
The Warriors used four interceptions as they raced out to a 42-0 lead and cruised to a shutout win over Union on Friday night.
“They are a really good football team,” Breland said of Nanih Waiya. “I was disappointed in our effort. I thought we were ready to take that next step to compete with a good football team. I’m disappointed because I think we are talented enough to win a bunch of football games. But we’ve got to play harder, and it’s gotta mean more to everyone on the team.”
The Warriors scored early and often in the first half with both the offense and defense getting in on the action.
Just two plays into the game, Shia Moore ripped off a 61-yard run followed by a Devean Turner a 1-yard run with 10:40 left in the first quarter. Jake Kight booted the PAT, and Nanih Waiya led 7-0.
Devean Turner intercepted a Colby Ferguson pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 37 seconds later. Deon Hickman’s interception set up Austin Sanders for a 45-yard touchdown with 3:27 left in the first. Then, Sanders scored on a 5-yard run to give the Warriors a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter
“We really thought we had a good game plan against their offense,” Breland said. “I thought we would be able to take away the things they do best and that didn’t happen. We didn’t read our keys and that’s really disappointing.”
The Warriors added two more scores in the second quarter, both set up by interceptions.
The first pick by Tyquan McCully set up Moore on a 3-yard run with 7:29 left in the first half
The last score was another interception return by the Warriors, as Tylan Glass stepped in front of a Ferguson pass and raced 59 yards for a touchdown with 4:16 left to play.
“Colby has gotten away from some of his mechanics,” Breland said. “He’s a competitor, and I have faith in him. But not all of that is on him. A lot of that is on the line. We have four state championship powerlifters up there and they have to block better and give him better passing lanes. He can’t see the receivers.”
The Warriors had 264 yards of total offense on just 27 plays. The Warriors had 250 yards rushing and 14 yards passing. Moore led the Warrior rushing attack with 151 yards on 10 carries. Sanders had 59 yards on four carries while Donovan Turner had 31 yards on two carries.
Union had 161 yards of total offense with 48 yards passing and 113 yards rushing. Ferguson was 4-of-18 passing with four interceptions. Malcolm Clay led the rushing attack with 64 yards on 21 carries while Ferguson had 29 yards on nine carries. Kenyon Clay had 38 yards receiving on three catches.
