The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The Weber Warriors (5-2) handed the Syracuse Titans (4-3) a loss on Friday night, 45-27, snapping the Titans four-game win streak. Behind seniors, quarterback Crew Cacciacarne and receiver Ian Elmore’s explosive game, the Warriors move into a second-place tie in Region 1 with a 1-1 region record.

Cacciacarne was spectacular in his second game back from injury by passing for four touchdowns in a game that the Warriors took control of from the start. Elmore was on the receiving end of three touchdown passes from Cacciacarne. Defensively, Tyler Payne was impossible to block, as the Brigham Young University commit racked up 19 tackles for the Warriors.

Ryker Van Komen led the Titans on offense with three rushing touchdowns in the game. Burke Rountree put together a big game at wide receiver, and quarterback Ledger Wight ignited the Titan’s offense in the second half. Seniors Hoyt Pula and Marriner Richards led the Titan’s defense.

Ledger Wight

First half

The Warriors would strike first, with junior running back Dyson Parker scoring the game’s first touchdown on a 52-yard run. The score came at 10:06 in the first quarter and was the Warrior’s first drive of the game. The Warrior’s defense set up the quick score by stopping the Titan’s offense at the start of the game and forcing a punt. Parker would eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season with the touchdown run and give the Warriors a 7-0 lead. This early lead set the tone for the rest of the game, with the Warriors maintaining their advantage throughout.

On the Titans’ next offensive possession, Warriors defensive back Devon Neilson caused the first turnover of the game with an interception on third down. The Warriors would start their next drive deep inside Titans territory, and Parker would move the ball to the five-yard line on a run up the middle. A great defensive stand by the Titans would keep the Warriors out of the end zone. Senior Alex Johnson would convert on a 25-yard field goal and put the Warriors ahead 10-0 with 5:58 left in the first quarter.

The Titans offense struggled to move the ball on their next possession until a fourth-down roughing the punter penalty kept their drive going with a first down. After the penalty, the Titans found success with Van Komen running for tough yards, timely pass completions by Wight to Tanner Merrill, and a pass interference penalty against the Warriors. Van Komen would score the Titan’s first touchdown on a fourth down 1-yard run with 1:01 left in the first quarter. The first quarter would end with the Warriors ahead 10-7.

The Warriors quickly responded to the Titans’ score, with Cacciacarne finding Elmore on a third-down pass. Elmore made a spectacular run, making multiple tacklers miss en route to a 77-yard catch-and-run. Elmore’s touchdown made the score 17-7 with 11:37 on the clock in the second quarter.

Before halftime, the Warriors saw Cacciacarne and Elmore hook up again for a touchdown. This touchdown covered 60 yards as Elmore ran an outstanding stutter-and-go route to break free, and Cacciacarne hit him in stride. Elmore’s second touchdown gave the Warriors a 24-7 lead with 3:58 in the second quarter. The touchdown was set up by an interception by Warriors Tyson Higgs on the previous Titans drive.

Tyson Higgs

Higgs’ interception was the second of the game for the Warriors, and the defense was ready to step up after the loss last week against the Davis Darts.

“The Davis game hurt a little bit,” Higgs said. “But we knew we had to bounce back from that. Coach Mo asked us what the difference between being hungry and wanting something to eat is. We were hungry for a win, and we executed.”

Second half

The Warriors continued scoring points by scoring on their second half’s opening drive on a halfback pass from Parker to Higgs. The touchdown, which covered 30 yards with 8:06 in the third quarter, made the score 31-7. Van Komen and the Titans offense would respond on their next drive as he scored on a 15-yard touchdown run up the middle. The Titans offense would find a good rhythm, and the 80-yard touchdown drive would make the score 31-13 with 4:51 on the clock in the third quarter.  

Crew Cacciacarne

The Titans could not slow down the Warriors’ offense in this game. Cacciacarne threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this one to Payne on a pass over the middle for 53 yards. At the 3:22 mark of the third quarter, the Warriors led 38-13. The Titans offense would return the favor and put together a touchdown drive on their next possession, with Wight finding Rountree on a 22-yard touchdown pass. Wight completed a deep pass to Merrill to set up the touchdown and make the score 38-21 with 1:47 in the third quarter.

Cacciacarne and Elmore would connect one more time on a 30-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Warriors would stay ahead with a 45-19 score at 11:55 in the fourth quarter. Van Komen would score the game’s last touchdown and his third on a 1-yard run with 7:06 on the clock. The Warrior’s lead would be 45-27, the game’s final score.

Outstanding performances

Parker, the state’s leading rusher, ran for 155 yards in the game, his sixth consecutive game with over 100 yards rushing. Parker currently has 1,125 rushing yards this season. Elmore exploded for nine catches for 222 yards and three touchdowns. Cacciacarne was on point throughout the game, completing 22 passes for 389 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

The Warrior’s offense was spectacular, with over 500 yards of total offense and scoring 45 points.

“Coach Hammer put a great game plan together against their defense that allowed us to get guys in space and win our matchups,” Cacciacarne said. “The focus was on our team and playing to our capabilities, which we know we can do just by being clean and finishing the game.”

Defensively, the Warriors saw Caden Lindholm and Trey Barnes make ten tackles each to complement Payne’s big game. Kicker Alex Johnson had a perfect night, going six for six on extra points and making his only field goal attempt to tally nine points for the Warriors.

Van Komen played an outstanding game with his three rushing touchdowns. Merrill and Rountree found openings in the defense and made great catches when the Titans needed to keep drives going. Defensively, Pula and Richards made tackles over the entire field.

Ryker Van Komen

photos courtesy James Tate