Leyton Warriors overcome Creek Valley challenge

CHAPPELL – Creek Valley's Storm overcame a 20-point deficit to challenge the visiting Leyton Warriors here Friday, but in the end Leyton found enough holes in an improved Storm defense to notch a 32-22 win and even its record to 2-2.

Play was limited between the red zones for half of the first quarter before Leyton's Kort Dye connected with Morley Haley on a 45-yard pass play and the game's first points. Another Dye pass, to Kenny Ernest, gave the Warriors a two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead that lasted through the end of the quarter.

By then, the Warriors were beginning to work their way down the field, and just after the teams traded ends to begin the second quarter, Drew Brenner was the recipient of another Dye pass, completing a 55-yard scoring play with 11:51 remaining in the first half, building a 14-0 lead.

Leyton added another Dye-to-Brenner touchdown for what could have been a disheartening 20-0 lead, but Creek Valley didn't even flinch.

The Storm lived up to their name over the following minutes, scoring 22 unanswered points to take the lead midway through the third quarter.

Creek Valley's run began with two minutes remaining in the first half when Pierce Leef took a handoff from quarterback Patrick Hansen, running into the end zone from 10 yard out to put the Storm on the board.

Creek Valley received to begin the second half, and starting from its own 30 yard line marched 50 yards in just over six minutes to score. Creek Valley scored again a half minute later when, after recovering a Leyton fumble at the 13 yard line, took three plays to tie the game on a three-yard run by Holden Columban. Creek Valley added two points with a Hansen point after run, taking a 22-20 lead with 7:16 left in the third quarter.

That lead held into the fourth quarter until Dye connected once again with Brenner with 10:09 remaining, giving Leyton the lead back 26-22. Leyton scored again on a 26-yard run by Haley, building to the final lead of 32-22.

Leyton struggled offensively through part of the second and third quarter, and Coach Glen Lipska said the Storm defense had something to do with much of that.

"You've got to give Creek Valley a lot of credit," Lipska said. "Their line was pretty impressive."

Lipska said while Creek Valley disrupted some of what the Warriors wanted to accomplish, there were other times Leyton didn't do what they needed.

"At times we just didn't execute," Lipska said. "We've got to execute every play, you just can't take a play off."

Still, Lipska said the Warriors continue to show improvement in their game, this week despite a rough practice week due to illnesses and other disruptions.

He praised both Haley and Zack Hellie for their performances, which have been a big boost for the Warrior offense.

For Creek Valley's part, Coach Joe Kupper wasn't completely unhappy with his team's performance.

"You're always disappointed with a loss," Kupper said. "I'm a lot happier with the way they played overall tonight. They were more physical and they played to the ball better."

Kupper said he's been happy with the progress he'd seen with his players, and how they've come together as the season has progressed.

In addition to improvements they showed on defense, Kupper said he saw the offense accomplish much of what he wants to see.

"We're trying to be a 4-5 yard per carry team, and I think they showed they can do that," Kupper said.

Leyton hopes to improve on its 2-2 record Friday, travelling to Paxton. Creek Valley will be in Oshkosh to challenge the Garden County Eagles.