Watkins Memorial football blanks Northland for fifth consecutive win
PATASKALA — The Watkins Memorial football team moved to 5-1 on the year with a 22-0 shutout victory on Homecoming night against visiting Northland at Ascena Field.
Offense was scarce, but hard-hitting defense, exceptional special teams and penalties were a plenty as the two teams combined for just 221 yards of total offense and 30 penalties for 285 yards in the Warriors' final non-conference game before Licking County League-Buckeye Division play begins next week at Licking Valley (4-2, 1-0).
The Warrior offense had a fast start, needing just three plays to score with junior quarterback Patrick Carney dashing in on a read option play from 20 yards, but it would be tough sledding for the offense from there as Watkins could just muster 166 yards on the night.
“Obviously, we have some things we need to improve upon on offense,” Watkins coach Darren Waters said. “Our kids played hard. We just got to make sure we put ourselves in the best position for success, and we have to execute. Northland did a nice job of being patient defensively. They had a good scheme. We felt like we prepared well, but maybe not well enough.”
Watkins (5-1) added a safety to make it 9-0 in the second quarter when the punt snap went right through the hands of Vikings punter Kwabena Yeboah. Senior defensive back Jace Henry set up Watkins’ second touchdown of the night when he intercepted Northland junior A’dantae Woods in Viking territory.
DaaVion Long scored four plays later on a swing pass from Carney. Forty-one seconds later, Long returned a Viking punt 48 yards for the final scoring of the game.
Long led all ball carriers with 55 yards on nine carries, and Carney was 5-for-17 passing for just 45 yards and was sacked four times. Senior Brody Lee, who also had an interception, was the top target with three catches for 46 yards.
Senior punter Sam Johnson pinned the Northland offense inside the 20-yard line five times on the night with none of his nine punts returned by Northland (2-3). The Warrior defense was suffocating thereafter, holding the Vikings to just 67 yards, including just 3-for-15 passing.
“Our special teams has been good to us all season,” Waters said. “They put us in good positions tonight.”
Victor Oliver, Luke Mumford (two sacks) and Sean Sheehan had six tackles each and combined for five tackles for a loss. Senior Logan Fitch returned an interception for a score, but it was negated for an illegal blindside block.
“Our kids were flying around,” Waters said. “We had great pursuit and gang tackling. Our defense did a really nice job.”
Sophomore quarterback Terryn Thomas was knocked out of the game late in the middle of the first quarter for Northland. It was a big loss as it forced the Vikings to be one dimensional, yet they averaged under one yard per carry. Senior running back Omari Layne was able to muster 48 yards on 11 carries, but the Warriors hit the Vikings behind the line 13 times.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Watkins Memorial football blanks Northland for fifth consecutive win
