By: MTN Sports Reporter Noah Maddox
Siegel (3-3, 0-2) proved to be too much for Warren County (1-2, 1-0) on Friday night as the Stars jumped out to the early lead and never looked back in a 42-12 win.
Warren County seemingly started strong as they took the opening kickoff and drove to the midfield before stalling out. Disaster struck on the fourth down as the Pioneers were unable to get the punt off due to a high snap, and Siegel took over with great field positioning.
A few plays into the Siegel drive, quarterback Thomas Santel took off down the sideline for a long touchdown run that would set the tone for the rest of the night.
Warren County went three and out on the next drive due to some untimely penalties, and yet again on fourth down the snap kept the punt from getting off.
The Stars took over inside the Warren County 10 yard line and scored two plays on the ground later to double their lead to 14-0 a little over halfway through the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession Warren County started to move the ball with the legs of Braylon Grayson Jr as they got down inside the Siegel 30-yard line where they come up against a fourth down. After another delay of game penalty that makes it fourth and 12, Siegel forces a sack and takes over out near their own 40 yard line.
On the first play of the drive Siegel fumbled and the Pioneers recovered. However, Warren County kept going backwards, ending up punting from the Siegel 41 yard line and downing the punt at the one.
Siegal star running back Cory Sims took over. After the downed punt Sims ran for ten and a first down on the first play from scrimmage. Sims then found a crease and scampered 50 yards into Pioneer territory as backup tailback Christian Fletcher ran it in from six yards out to extend Siegel's lead 21-0
Warren County fumbled the ball back to Siegel on the ensuing possession, and Sims would eventually find the end zone on the Stars’ drive to make it a 28-0 game with three minutes to go in the first half.
Warren County finally found the end zone right before halftime but would miss the extra point as they went into halftime down 28-6.
Siegel got the ball to start the second half and picked up right where they left off in the first half. The Stars took over half of the third quarter and ran the ball all the way down the field into the end zone once again to seemingly close the door on Warren County.
The Pioneers would score on the next possession to cut the lead to 35-12 with two seconds to go in the third quarter.
Sims would score once more in the fourth quarter to put the finishing touches on a big 42-12 homecoming win for the Stars.
Siegel travels to Riverdale next week for a huge district matchup while Warren County will play at Coffee County.