Warriors Win Conference Opener over Trojans 35-20

FOREST CITY, IA – The Waldorf football team opened NSAA conference play against the Dakota State Trojans at Bolstorff Field on Saturday evening. The Warriors offense showed up with a total of 467 yards to secure a 35-20 conference win.

In the first drive of the game, quarterback Jordan Cooper (SR/New Caney, TX) connected with Dom Watt (SR/Hollywood, FL) for a 34-yard pass to get a first down.

On fourth and goal, running back Jatoviay Hill (JR/Davenport, IA) rushed for two yards to score the first touchdown. 

The Trojans responded on their first drive with a field goal.

At the end of the quarter, Cooper threw an interception that the Trojans returned for 20-yards.

For the second quarter, the Trojans maintained possession with 14 plays for 63 yards that resulted in a 34-yard field goal to make the score 7-6.

With just over five minutes remaining in the first half, the Waldorf offense took over. Taye Buchanan (JR/Vernon, AL) rushed for six yards followed by a 14-yard completion to Watt.

Cooper connected again with Watt for eight yards and Buchanan rushed for eight more. On third and seven, Jorge Rivera (SO/Mason City, IA) had a 36-yard touchdown to go up 14-6. 

Connor Parker (SO/Stillwater, MN) had a 57-yard kickoff which turned into a fumble that was forced by Jakim Brock (JR/Stockton, CA) and recovered by Austin Neu (SO/Little Falls, MN). A Warrior penalty put the ball on the Waldorf 41-yard line.

Now with under two minutes in the half, the Warrior offense was back on with Cooper using Malik Adams (SR/Cedar Rapids, IA) for an 8-yard completion. 

Cooper then took the ball himself for six yards right before he had a 45-yard touchdown pass to Watt. 

The first half ended with Keegan Handal (SO/Tomball, TX) getting an interception. The Warriors were up 21-6.

Dakota State started with the ball for the third quarter and the Waldorf defense forced a punt. 

Cooper spread out the offense by using Hill for a total of nine rushing yards, Adams for 13, and Watt for 47 to get into the red zone. Cooper rushed for a four-yard touchdown. The Warriors went up 28-6.

The Trojans closed out the third quarter with the ball and opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown to make the score 28-13.

Cooper connected again with Rivera for 21-yards and then again with Adams for 21-yards. The Trojans sacked Cooper for a loss of 10-yards. On third and 17, Cooper responded with a 22-yard rushing touchdown, his second for the day. 

Dakota State's offense struggled with getting two penalties and then Edjuan Works (SR/Fort Pierce, FL) got an interception to regain possession.

Hill came up big with a 52-yard rush, but the Trojan defense forced the Warriors to punt.

With under three minutes left in the game, the Trojans scored their second touchdown off an 80-yard, 12 play drive. 

The Warriors won 35-20.

"I am really proud of the way our guys responded this week after a tough game. We are building something special here," Interim Head Coach Tyler Chapa stated. "I am excited to keep this journey going." Chapa records his first NSAA conference win.

The Warriors finished with 325 passing yards and 142 rushing. Cooper went 21-27 for 325 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. Hill had 106 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. Watt had eight receptions for 152 yards with one touchdown and Rivera had five yards for 74 yards with one touchdown. Parker went 5-5 on extra points. 

The Warriors are now 2-1 and 1-0 in conference. Next up the football team travels to Mayville State for an NSAA conference game on Saturday, September 16^th at 2 pm.