Warren Local jolts Gallipolis, 31-21
A fired up visiting Warren Local football team visited Gallipolis’ Memorial Field Friday evening to jolt defending Southeastern Ohio Athletic League champion Gallia Academy by a 31-21 count before a good-sized Blue Devil homecoming crowd.
GAHS had five turnovers, (two lost fumbles and three pass interceptions). Warren was coming off three straight losses, and was seeking its first win over Gallipolis in 15 years (33-0 in 1998).
The charged-up Warriors took a 7-0 lead following the opening kickoff by marching 64 yards in just nine plays (set up by a fourth down pass play out of a punt formation) with 8:25 left in the period.
QB Austin Klintworth hit Dave Ryan with a 29-yard pass and Alex Miller split the uprights to make it 7-0.
In the second period, GAHS bounced back to tie the score at 7-7 when Wade Jarrell hit Logan Allison on a 31-yard TD at the 9:53 mark. Dylan Saunders split the uprights to make it 7-7.
The Warriors came right back to take a 14-7 lead when Jared Isner scored from 15 yards out with Miller spliting the uprights at the 7:31 mark
Gallipolis bounced back when Wade Jarrell raced 38 yards for a score at the 3:24 mark. Saunders kick made it 14-14.
GAHS had won the coin toss before the game, but elected to kickoff to start the game, thus Warren Local had to kick off to start the second half.
Logan Allison returned the second half kickoff back to the GAHS 25, but a 15-yard penalty against GAHS on the first play and a Blue Devil fumble on the second play gave Warren Local the ball on Gallia’s 11. Four plays later, Miller kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-14 with 9:36 left in the period.
Seconds later, Gallia’s Logan Allison streaked 85 yards on the kickoff return to put GAHS back on top. Saunders made it 21-17 with 9:20 left in the third period. It was Gallia’s first and only lead in the game.
Three minutes later Warren took a 24-21 lead when Isner snashed over from the one after Klintworth rambled 50 yards to the one. With 6:51 left in the period, Miller made it 24-21. The Warriors were never headed.
The visitors final score came on a Klintworth to Cole Wigal pass with 4:17 left. Miller made it 31-21.
Warren intercepted two GAHS passes in the final period to seal the victory.
Wade Jarrell led GAHS runners with 105 yards in 12 attempts (8.7) and one touchdown. He had his worst night of the year passing with only nine of 27 completions (three intercepted). Logan Allison led GAHS receivers with two catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Allison also had three kickoff returns for112 yards and a touchdown and punted three times for 132 yards (44.0).
Isner led WHS runners with 149 yards on 24 trips (6.2) and two touchdowns. Klintworth completed 10 of 16 passes for 127 yards and two scores.
Warren Local picked up 20 first downs to Gallia’s, nine, rushed and passed for 426 total yards and ran 75 plays to Gallia’s 43. WHS held the ball around 33 plus minutes to Gallipolis’ 11 plus.
Gallipolis rushed and passed for 290 total yards.
Gallipolis dropped to 5-3 on the year and 1-1 in SEOAL play. Warren improved to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in league play.
GAHS will return home Oct. 25 to host Logan on senior night. Warren Local will host Portsmouth.
