School colors aren’t the only thing the University of Wisconsin and Wayne High School football teams share in common. There’s a motto too.
“ ‘Put the ball down,’ ” junior linebacker Dorian Hendrix said. “We picked it up from Wisconsin, but that’s our defensive motto. ‘Put the ball down.’ ”
Saturday, in the third of four Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown games at Welcome Stadium, Wayne put Winton Woods down with a 30-20 win.
The victory was key for the Warriors for two reasons. One, it was the first time Wayne won its season opener in three years, and two, the Warriors defense rose to the occasion.
Last year in limping to a 6-4 finish, Wayne’s defense was often its Achilles’ heel – giving up an un-Warrior like 30 points per game.
Strengthening that unit was an offseason concern. Mission accomplished.
“Last year a lot of people were disappointed in us,” Hendrix said. “We really worked hard to find our identity in the offseason and we wanted to come out and make a statement.”
Added senior linebacker Jarrod Hardrick, who had a team-high 12 tackles: “We needed to redeem ourselves.”
Wayne’s defense was the difference in a pivotal third quarter.
Ahead 20-13 at halftime, the Warriors forced two third quarter fumbles, the first of which led to a 29-yard Collin Belcher field goal. To close out the quarter, Wayne’s Jordan Whitfield blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown and a 30-13 advantage. Wayne’s defense also blocked a second-quarter field goal.
Offensively, senior quarterback Javon Harrison led Wayne by completing 9-of-16 passes for 195 yards and a TD. He also ran 16 times for 43 yards and another score.
Super sophomore Devin Reed, a transfer from Centerville, made his Wayne debut by throwing an 80-yard TD pass to Jesse Bray on the first play of the game. Reed, who started at receiver, also caught two passes for 42 yards. Junior running back Trey McFadden added 80 yards on 10 carries.
Winton Woods took a 13-6 lead in the second quarter, but Harrison’s 7-yard touchdown run with 3:51 left before half gave Wayne the lead for good.
Its defense made sure of that.
Said Wayne head coach Jay Minton: “It’s an ugly win but it’s better than being 0-1.”
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