WACO womps Warhawks

MARTENSDALE — The fourth-ranked WACO football team picked up right where the 2021 squad left off on Saturday at the 8-Man Football Showcase.

The Warriors, fresh off an undefeated regular season last year, controlled the weekend clash from start to finish, beating a tough Southeast Warren squad 42-20 on a neutral field.

“It was awesome,” said senior running back Simeon Reichenbach. “We put in a hard three weeks, and we prepared pretty intensely.”

The Warhawks came out in a four-man front in hopes of halting Reichenbach, a first-team All-Stater from last season, but all it did was open up the air for senior quarterback Isaac Oswald, who was sharp all night long.

On the very first WACO possession, Oswald showed off his arm by hitting Oleh Shtefanchuk with a 32-yard strike over the middle. He followed that with a swing pass to Simeon Reichenbach that went for a 41-yard score to open the second quarter, and it was 14-0 Warriors.

Southeast Warren’s methodical offense earned the Warhawks a touchdown drive on the other end, but Oswald kept slinging the rock. He found Ty Egli on a deep pass later in the second, and that set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Reichenbach. At the half, it was 21-6 WACO.

“It boosted our confidence,” said Oswald after the game. “We weren't sure what we were going up against to star the game off, but then we got our legs under us close to the end of the first half, and we went from there.”

The passing game got it done again in the third quarter, and it wasted no time. On the first play from scrimmage, Oswald hit Mason Miller who took it down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown reception, a sign that it would continue to be all WACO in the second half.

The Warriors eventually grew their lead to 42-14 after a pair of rushing touchdowns by Reichenbach, as the standout scored from 32 yards out late in the third, and punched in another short run in the fourth.

“I like the turf,” said Reichenbach. “It makes me run a little bit faster.”

Oswald finished 8-for-9 for 189 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception. Reichenbach went for 130 total yards and four scores.

Miller caught two balls for 56 yards and a touchdown to lead the receivers. Shtefanchuk caught two balls for 43 yards and a score.

Drew Diers led the WACO defense with nine tackles and seven assists. Louden Huisenga had seven tackles and four assists. Kohl Hildebrand had the lone take-away on a fumble recovery.

WACO is now 1-0. The Warriors have a date with Springville next week, the first home game for a senior-led squad with a boatload of promise for the year ahead.

“We've got a really good group of seniors, and they really work hard,” said WACO head coach Chad Edeker. “This is their year. They've worked four years for it.”