West Branch’s Boston Mullinix will face Salem’s Marcus Phillips on Friday in a bid to become the Warriors’ career rushing leader. (Magazine Special Feature/Gary Leininger)
BELOIT — It was a night for records to go down as Western Division took on undefeated archrival Salem in front of a sold-out crowd at Clinton-Heacock Stadium on Friday.
The Warriors won a school-record fifth consecutive outright championship in the Eastern Buckeye Conference, with West Branch running back Boston Mullinix leading the way for the Warriors’ hard-earned win against the reeling Quakers. He became the school’s all-time leading rusher in a 26-7 victory.
In doing so, the Warriors also “Totem Bell” Traveling trophies were introduced to the series last season. Friday’s victory also marks the fifth time in school history that West Branch has posted a 10-0 regular season finish, joining teams in 1986, 1990, 1994 and 2021 that have achieved a similar feat.
“I would like to commend all the players for the effort they have put in to prepare for this moment.” West Branch head coach Tim Cooper was all smiles. “It takes us one week at a time to get to 10. We’re really honored and grateful to be able to do it, but we’re not done yet. We need to stay hungry, keep competing, and keep competing. We will improve for the next round.”
“Our kids played hard.” Salem head coach Ron Johnson praised the Quakers for playing well in the first half, controlling the football and time of possession, leading 7-6 at intermission. “We only played two-fisted good football, but that’s what this game should have been about. I’m really disappointed in our kids, but it definitely wasn’t for them, they were. They played great and I’m really, really proud of them.”
However, West Branch made the most of its four second-half possessions, with senior running back Mlinix gaining a game-high 167 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown, leading all rushers, including three Scored one.
Mlinix gained nine yards in the first quarter, breaking Brenden Wells’ school record of 3,747 yards and becoming the West Division’s all-time leading rusher. Mlinix, who continues to set the school record with 3,885 yards, became the first rusher in West Division history to exceed 1,000 yards three times in his career.
“Of course it’s a great feeling considering so many great football players have come here.” said Mrinix. “Just using them as role models and being a part of the conversation, you couldn’t ask for a better feeling. Besides that (setting a rushing record), we have a bigger goal of beating our rivals and going 10-0 on the season. I wanted to achieve that.”
“He’s a kid who has worked tirelessly over the past four years, and ever since I’ve known him, it’s been work, work, work.” Mullinix’s Mr. Cooper praised: “When you see the results of his hard work, we’re really happy to have that kid as a player in our program. He’s been a pillar of what we’ve been doing the past few years.”
This will be the 53rd meeting between the Warriors and Quakers, with the Warriors leading the all-time series with 31 wins and 22 losses. The West Branch has also achieved 26 consecutive league wins since the 2020 season.
“I am truly blessed as a coach to have such great players.” Cooper said.
Salem played a great first half and put a sweat on the highly anticipated Warriors. The Quakers were able to slow the pace of the game by getting eight first downs and rushing for 117 yards while keeping the Warriors’ offense off the field. West Branch had only four possessions in the first half and scored just one point.
After a scoreless first quarter, West Branch went 81 yards against the Quakers for an 8-yard scoring aerial from quarterback Jeremiah Thomas to receiver Anthony Perry in the left corner of the end zone. Reached. The PAT boot went wide and West Branch led 6-0 at the 6:11 mark of the second quarter.
“They (Quakers) played great in the first half, but we’re a tough team and we’re really excited right now. I’m a little speechless.” said Anthony Perry, who had four receptions for 31 yards and a score. “What a 10-0 season for them. Now we move on to Week 1 of the playoffs.”
But Salem, which missed a wide-open touchdown pass in the first quarter, went 65 yards on its final possession of the first half and scored on a 15-yard run up the middle by running back Brandon Cana just 37 seconds before halftime. . Kicker Troy Gibson split the uprights on the PAT and the Quakers took a 7-6 lead into the locker room.
“Our kids have played great all year.” said Johnson. “We thought we could stop their rush of the football, but the only thing we didn’t do was give us a penalty early on, which put us behind the chains and took us a little bit out of our game plan. It was when
“We have a lot of experienced players.” Cooper said of his halftime speech. “Salem did a great job, had a great game plan and made the plays we needed to keep our offense off the field, so we knew we had to take advantage of the opportunities we were given. .”
In the second half, momentum shifted to the host Warriors, who drove 80 yards on the second-half kickoff and took the lead with a 3-yard scamper by Thomas near right end, with Thomas rushing for 113 yards, two He completed a touchdown and 140 yards passing. With score. Perry’s PAT boot gave West Branch a 13-7 lead.
“I think we underestimated them.” Thomas said of the first half. “We realized we had to do what we had to do, which was smashmouth football. It was really important to grab that momentum.”
“Defensively, we made some tweaks to the formation and the way they did things, so the kids adjusted. And I didn’t have to say much (at halftime).” Cooper said. “I said, we’ve been here before, we’re going to keep playing our game, and we were able to execute and win the game. ”
After stopping the Quakers on downs, the Warriors drove 83 yards to the end zone on Thomas’ 14-yard run with 9:39 left in the fourth quarter, and Perry made the extra shot, giving West Branch a crucial 2-0 lead. He scored a point. Leading 20-7.
“I think they (Warriors) were just fresh. They’re a two-platoon football team and they kind of overwhelmed us and we just got a little tired.” Johnson observed.
West Branch scored on three consecutive possessions in the second half to end the game on the road. The Warriors marched 69 yards and concluded the drive with a 1-yard bolt up the middle by Mlinic. The PAT pass failed, but West Branch led 26-7 with 3:41 remaining.
“That’s the one thing about this team. We’ve never seen anything get us down. I think that’s why we were able to come back.” said Mrinix. “Just keep pushing them.”
The team finished with a deceptive 3-7 record (the Quakers lost two games by a combined four points to Carrollton (35-34) and Canton Central Catholic (24-21)).Johnson , said he couldn’t have done a better job. I am proud of the efforts of Quakers.
“I really feel sorry for the seniors. They are great kids, so I am having the most fun coaching the team after a long time.” Said the Salem leader. “They put in an incredible effort, played the game the way it was supposed to, and cared deeply about each other. That’s all you can ask for from a football team and I couldn’t be more proud.” .”
Quarterback Cletis Monroy led all Salem rushers with 83 yards on 20 carries, and running back Brandon Cana added 60 yards on 14 trips.
West Branch, which has won eight playoff games over the past four years, begins playoff action next Friday night at Clinton Heacock Stadium with opponents to be determined at 7 p.m. The Warriors are locked in as the No. 4 seed in Division 4. IV, Region 13, with a chance to host the first two rounds if they win, according to Joe Eitel.
“We just have to take it one day at a time and control what we can control.” Cooper said. “Obviously, you have to win Round 1 to advance to Round 2. So the kids will be focused on who they’re going to play in Round 1.”
game memo
￣• The Warriors won five straight in the series. Last season, West Branch defeated Salem 49-0.
• According to Johnson, Salem has a number of former graduate standouts visiting practice this week, including Mitch Davidson, Blaze Exline, Niko Walter, Kaden Swiger, Jake Humenik and Dillon Monroy. He also helped the scout team with their looks.
SA: 0-7-0-0 — 7
WB: 0-6-7-13 –26
scoring
WB – Anthony Perry, 8 passes from Jeremiah Thomas, 6:11 2nd (missed kick)
SA – Brandon Cana, 15 runs, :37 2nd place (Troy Gibson kick)
WB – Jeremiah Thomas, 3 runs, 8:31 3rd (Anthony Perry kick)
WB – Jeremiah Thomas, 14 runs, 9:39, 4th (Anthony Perry kick)
WB – Boston Mlinix, 1 run, 3:41 4th (pass incomplete)
——
SAWB
First down 14 25
Total yards 173 425
Rush Yards 40-143 39-280
Passing 30 145
Comp-at-Into 4-9-1 11-20-0
Punt 6-44 1-36
Penalty Yards 6-50 4-35
Lost fumble 0-0 0-0
——
individual leader
Rush — Salem, Cletis Monroy, 20-83, Brandon Cana, 14-60. West Branch, Jeremiah Thomas, 11-113, Boston Mlinix, 26-167.
Passed — Salem, Cletis Monroy, 4-9-30-0-1; Jeremiah Thomas, 11-20-140-1-0.
Receiving — Salem, Joey Cana, 1-6, Derek Esch, 2-16. West Branch, Joey Jackson, 3-29, Anthony Perry, 4-31, Gavin Gregory, 3-56, Cooper Anderson, 2-23.
