CV over Warwick on Lopez’ 5 TDs

When Warwick coach Bob Locker tapped backup quarterback Tyler Trimarchi to lead the offense against Conestoga Valley Friday night late in the fourth quarter, the frustrated Warrior offense seemed to spring to life.

After a couple of tentative tosses, Trimarchi settled down and led an aggressive 74-yard drive downfield filled with pinpoint passes and seamless plays that moved the offense swiftly from the Warwick 26-yard line to the Conestoga Valley 4-yard line in just under three minutes. From there, David Weaver carried the ball in for a touchdown. Trimarchi completed 6-of-6 on the series for 46 yards.

Unfortunately, it was too little, too late, for Warwick (1-2 L-L, 2-4 overall), as they were unable to pull out a victory in the Section One home game.

Steered by sophomore quarterback Grant Stoltzfus, the Conestoga Valley offense outscored the Warriors 45-14. Stoltzfus finished 17-of-35 for 231 yards, passing for one touchdown and rushing for another to help the Buckskins bring their record to 1-2 L-L, 2-4 overall, snapping a four-game losing streak.

Stoltzfus was quick out of the huddle on most plays, pressuring the Warrior defense. Warwick struggled to stop running back Joel Lopez, who carried for four touchdowns while rushing 185 yards on the night. He also caught three passes, including a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Clearly, injuries have hurt the Warrior’s chances in their last two outings, with starters Chris Borg, Mason Eshleman, and Tyler Melhorn being joined on the sidelines Friday night by wide receiver Daniel Gates, who injured his right calf early in the second half.

With the CV defense holding Warwick to only 86 rushing yards, the Warriors had a tough time stringing together a series of plays for first downs. They completed only 7 first downs for the night and were forced to punt four times as Gibble struggled to complete passes following a sack in the first quarter.

While CV outgained Warwick 492-193 in the game, Gibble had 9 carries for 35 yards, Ryan Deibler carried 9 times for 37 yards, and David Weaver carried 5 times for 11 yards. Daniel Gates made a single carry for a 3-yard gain before the second-half injury.

The Warriors began the game well, scoring on their first possession when Colin Gibble (4-of-14, 58 yards, 2 INT) rolled left and connected with Alex Dagen down the left sideline (2 receptions, 32 yards) on a third-and-13 play for a 32-yard touchdown. Kobi Biemesderfer kicked the extra point and Warwick took the lead 7-0 with 10:05 left in the first quarter.

CV quarterback Grant Stoltzfus answered with a quick series of plays, completing a pass to Addison Hurst (1 reception, 43 yards) that brought them to the Warwick 11-yard line.

Senior Joel Lopez then carried the ball up the center for the first of his five touchdowns for the night. Stoltzfus kicked the extra point himself, evening the score at 7-7 with 8:01 left in the first quarter.

Warwick’s Alex Dagen received the kick from Conestoga, and the Warriors started their series out on their own 30-yard line. When the Warwick ball squirted loose on second down play, Adam Wagaman pounced on the loose ball and recovered for Warwick.On the third-and-6 play, Gibble got sacked behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 7 yards. The rest of the quarter was scoreless.

At the start of the second quarter, Lopez found a hole and carried up the center for a gain. A personal foul against Warwick moved the ball to their 11-yard line. Warwick’s Austin Maguire put a stop to Lance Buckley at the 8. Two incomplete passes later, CV opted to attempt a field goal on fourth down, and Stoltzfus’ 25-yard kick was enough to give CV the lead 10-7 with only 10:49 left in the half.

With 5:27 left in the half, Lopez carried 3 yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to 17-7. As it started to drizzle, the Warriors hopes fizzled when a Colin Gibble pass landed in the arms of Darion Whitfield, who ran it to the Warwick 40.  A 15-yard penalty was assessed against Warwick for a personal foul on the play, making it first-and-10 on the Warwick 25. A series of plays led CV to the Warwick 2, where Stoltzfus carried the ball on a fourth-and-1 for the first down. He called his own number again on the next play and carried for a 1-yard TD with 2:17 left in the half. His PAT cleared, bringing the score to 24-7.

On a pivotal 3-down and goal play that started at the Warwick 6-yard line, Tyler Gerhart stopped Jonathan Cardina in his tracks, bringing cheers from the Warwick bleachers as the defense denied CV a scoring opportunity. The rest of the first half was scoreless, as was the third quarter.

With 11:53 left in the fourth quarter, CV took over on the Warwick 41, beginning a drive that would last three minutes. It culminated with Lopez’ pass reception for another touchdown, bringing CV’s lead to 31-7.

When Gibble’s pass was intercepted by Addison Hurst, the turnover that hurt the Warriors chance of turning the game around. CV began a series of plays starting at the Warwick 44-yard line that saw Lopez cross into the end zone yet again, and Stoltzfus kicked another PAT, widening CV’s lead to 38-7.

It was then that Trimarchi trotted onto the turf, leading Warwick on the drive that put them on the scoreboard once again with a flawless display of passing. With just 2:01 remaining, Warwick trailed 38-14 after Biemesderfer’s extra point kick cleared the uprights.

CV sealed the victory with Lopez’ fifth TD, a 30-yard run that he carried across with 11.8 seconds left on the clock. Stoltzfus’ sixth PAT of the night brought the score to 45-14.

          Conestoga Valley 45, Warwick 14

                                  1          2          3          4

Warwick                    7          0          0          7

Conestoga Vly           7         17          0       21