General | August 24, 2023 | 18:24
Despite a heavy dose of graduation, Walled Lake Western proved it would still be a forced to be reckoned with after running past Waterford Mott, 42-27, Thursday at the Prep Kickoff Classic at Tom Adams field on the campus of Wayne State.
Quarterback Jaxon Lippert and running backs Gavin Noonan and Donovan Tripplett led a punishing ground game behind a huge offensive line. The Corsairs had no answer as the Warriors (1-0) racked up 350 yards on the ground.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Noonan ran for 197 yards on 20 carries and had a big kickoff return in the second half to keep Mott at bay.
"I love my offensive line,'' said Noonan. "I couldn't have asked for better. I had some of the biggest holes. They kept blocking downfield for me. I love them. Those are my guys.''
Mott (0-1) took the opening kickoff and ran the ball down the Warriors' throats. Jay'Von Barnes' 38-yard run put the Corsairs on the Mott 40 and quarterback Kalieb Osborne, who was brilliant throwing the ball, did the heavy lifting from there, using three runs to get into the end zone on an 11-yard run with 9:13 left in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point.
Western wasted no time taking the lead on a 39-yard TD run by Noonan to give the Warriors a 7-6 lead with 7:44 left in the first quarter.
Overcoming a couple of penalties the Warriors used the legs of Triplett, Lippert and Noonan to methodically drive the ball down the Corsairs defense for 15 running plays, using a four-yard TD run by Triplett with 6:08 left in the first half to take a 14-6 lead.
Saddled with penalties, the Warriors used a 25-yard run by Lippert on third-down and 24 and a flea-flicker from wide receiver Chase Schwierking to Noonan to set up a one-yard sneak by Lippert to make it 21-6 at halftime. It was the only pass the Warriors completed in the first half.
"This was a testament to the kids, coaches and the program in general,'' said Western Coach Kory Cioroch. "Football isn't about what play you run, it isn't about how much talent you have, football is about who is tougher physically and mentally and we're going to try and impose our will.''
Western picked up where they left off early in the second half. With the offensive line dominating the lineup of scrimmage Lippert broke through for a25-yard TD run, putting him over 100 yards rushing, to give the winners a 28-6 lead.
Mott finally got on the board, using the arm of Osborne for a 5-yard TD pass to Mike Bolan with 8:22 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed as the Corsairs only trimmed the deficit to 28-12.
Osborne struck again after a penalty filled drive by Western.
He hit Donovan Isaac with a 55-yard TD run with 11 seconds left in the third quarter. Osborne then hit Barnes with the two-point conversion pass to make it interesting at 28-20.
Noonan put a damper on Mott's enthusiasm with a 79-yard kickoff return to the Mott 11.
His heroics led to a 1-yard score by Lippert to give the Warriors breathing room at 25-20.
"We needed that,'' said Noonan. "Our defense couldn't make a stop. I had to step up and make the big play. I ran as hard as I could down the field and tried to give the offense good field position.''
Osborne responded with a 15-yard strike to Jordan White with 7:25 to play, trimming the deficit to 35-27.
Osborne finished 19 of 25 for 310 yards.
"I am so happy that we don't have to play against him ever again,'' said Cioroch. "I told him that after the game. We've seen him for four times. He got us a couple of times. There is no quarterback that I have ever played against. I don't know why he doesn't have offers from every Power 5 school.''
Noonan responded with runs of 41 and nine, scoring with 5:17 left to make it 42-27.
"Our passing game is still important,'' said Noonan. "If they shut down the run we still have to be able to throw the ball.
Western completed only two passes, but they didn't need passing on this day.
