Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – After back-to-back losses, the Warren Dragons look to get back on track when they host Region 5 foe Oil City on Friday as part of Homecoming festivities.
The Dragons (3-3 overall, 3-2 Region 5) fell to Meadville two weeks ago before dropping a back-and-forth affair at General McLane last week, 34-31. In that game to the Lancers, there were four lead changes in the final eight minutes.
In the game against the Lancers, the Dragons did most of their work offensively through the air. Eric Dippold threw for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Cayden Wright and Gage Shaffer.
Ben White has emerged as one of the top playmakers in District 10. He is averaging 27.1 yards per reception and has five receiving touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the GM game.
On the season, Dippold has thrown for 766 yards, 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Tommy Nyquist has 466 yards on the ground and five touchdowns and also has 121 yards receiving and a score. Wright has a pair of receiving touchdowns on the season.
Defensively, Nick Pennucci and Gage Shaffer are tied for the team lead with 43 tackles, while Kody Vega has 37 stops, Easton Hultberg 30 and Justice Green and Rashad Fofana 24 each. Pennucci also has 6.5 tackles for loss. Green has five sacks, Vega four-and-a-half and Shaffer four.
That defense has a tall task on its hands in slowing down Oil City’s Ethen Knox. All Knox did in last week’s 54-8 win over Franklin was rush for a school-record 484 yards and five touchdowns, surpassing the previous mark held by Christian Cole.
On the season, Knox has rushed for 1,321 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 8.4 yards per carry.
The Oilers (3-2, 3-1) come into the game winners of back-to-back contests, beating Harbor Creek in dramatic fashion, 14-13 two weeks ago, with Knox accounting for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter of that game.
Knox also leads the Oilers in tackles with 48, while Kevin Pearsall has 42 and Brayden McFetridge and Cam Crocker have 30 each. McFetridge has seven tackles for loss and Pearsall three sacks.
Kickoff from War Memorial Field is slated for 7 p.m.
