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Winton Woods doesn't flinch, shocks La Salle on its home field, 18-15

Coach: Win lets everybody else know our potential
Posted at 1:38 AM, Sep 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-23 05:38:21-04

CINCINNATI  – Winton Woods knew it could be great. It was time to show it.

A fierce defense helped the unbeaten Warriors knock off three-time Division II state champion La Salle on its own field, 18-15, Friday night in a victory that will open eyes across Ohio.

 “I don’t even think it has set in yet,” Winton Woods head coach Andre Parker said afterward. “Anytime you can go and play a three-time defending state champion on their home field and come out on top, that’s pretty special.

 “We just said, ‘Don’t flinch,’” Parker said of his team’s composure throughout the game. “I told the guys, ‘Two great teams going at it, it’s going to be tough, but don’t flinch. First team to flinch is going to lose.’

“We didn’t flinch tonight.”

It was even sweeter for the Warriors because the Lancers had topped them for three straight years.

“It feels great,” said running back Miyan Williams, who ran for 94 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

The game was a defensive struggle through three quarters with La Salle holding a 7-5 lead heading into the fourth. The teams combined for three turnovers, the Warriors blocked a punt for a safety, and the Lancers blocked a field goal.

It was a battle for either squad to put points on the board. But everything turned in the fourth quarter.

Winton Woods took its first lead, 11-7, less than one minute into the period on a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kenny Mayberry.

With 3:25 left, Williams padded the lead to 18-7 with a 26-yard TD run.

La Salle didn’t give up, though. Sam Hildebrand took a Griffin Merritt pass 82 yards for a touchdown with 1:24 left, and a two-point conversion trimmed Winton Woods’ lead to three.

But La Salle failed on an onside kick attempt, clinching the win for the Warriors.

“We knew our defense was very, very special,” Parker said. “We just had to put it all together as a team. We knew we had an opportunity to be great, we just had to be cohesive.”

The Warriors (5-0) have already matched their win totals of the past two seasons, when they finished 5-5.

“I think [this win] just lets everybody else know our potential,” Parker said. “We knew our potential all along. These were our expectations, we just had to put it together and take care of business.”

The Warriors had two turnovers and another fumble they didn’t lose. Moving forward, Parker wants to see his team eliminate those mistakes.

“We had too many turnovers,” Parker said. “We can’t do that. If we play them again, we’re not going to be able to beat them with three turnovers.”

Winton Woods 0-5-0-13-18

La Salle 0-7-0-8-15

L: Merritt 26-yard pass to While, Graham kick is good

WW: Safety

WW: Velasquez 31-yard field goal

WW: Mayberry 3-yard run, two-point conversion attempt failed

WW: Williams 26-yard run, Velasquez kick

L: Merritt 82-yard pass to Hildebrand, Merritt pass to Dashley for two-point conversion

 

RECORDS: Winton Woods (5-0), La Salle (4-1)

UP NEXT: Winton Woods at Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (3-3); La Salle at Archbishop Moeller (3-2)