Warriors Fall to Griffins, 54-26

DALTON--Leyton's Warrior Football team ended their season on Friday afternoon with a first-round home playoff loss to the visiting Diller-Odell Griffins. The Warriors end their season with a 6-and-3 record and a second-place showing in D6 District 5. A very good result for a team in their first year returning to six-man football, and a great starting point for a team that will lose only one senior to graduation.

The game started with the Warriors getting the ball first, but the offense misfired and did not score. On Diller-Odell's first drive, the Griffins marched down the field and passed for a touchdown to take a 6-to-0 lead. Leyton immediately responded on their first play from scrimmage with a pass from junior Alec Watchorn to junior Kaleb Miller, knotting the game at 6-to-6. The Griffins kept the pressure up by again driving the field and scoring on a touchdown pass, but Leyton responded with a long drive of their own. However, at the 10-yard line and looking to score, the Warriors fumbled the ball away to Diller-Odell. The Griffins drove down to the Leyton 25 yard-line when time expired in the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, the Griffins ran the ball around the end for a 25-yard touchdown run. An extra point was successful but required pitches to four different Griffins to get the job done, and the visitors opened a 20-to-6 lead.

Leyton fought back, and a long pass to sophomore Calvin Borgmann highlighted a drive that ended on a touchdown catch by sophomore Austin Beutler, narrowing the Griffin lead to 20-to-13. Leyton forced a three-and-out on the next possession but gave the ball back on an interception by Beutler in Griffins' territory. Diller-Odell was able to drive again and scored on a 5-yard touchdown run by senior Teghan Rosebaugh to take a 27-to-13 lead. Leyton moved the ball into scoring position in the final seconds, but could not get the score as time ran out in the first half.

Down 27-13, the Warriors tried to fight back in the second half, but could not overcome the turnovers, as they committed four in the game. The Diller-Odell team did a great job covering the Warrior receivers and made Leyton fight hard for any offensive movement. The Griffins were able to add another touchdown before Leyton responded with a score of their own, and tacked on even more as Leyton struggled on offense in the second half. The final gun sounded and the Diller-Odell boys came away with the 54-to-26 victory. Junior Alec Watchorn completed 9-of-11 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Sophomore Austin Beutler caught two touchdowns and junior Jeremiah Hajek had a touchdown grab in the defeat.