November 19, 1999

Mohawk's season has been one of responding to challenges

By Ed Fox
Sports Writer

Character is a word which has been tossed around the Mohawk football camp often this season.

Each time the Warriors have been tested they have responded well to the challenge.

It goes back to the beginning of the season when the Warriors stumbled in the season opener to Marion Elgin, 14-6.

Mohawk bounced right back the following week with a 35-7 drilling of eventual North Central Conference champion Wynford and that was the beginning of a seven-game winning streak.

The Warriors suffered their second loss of the season to Division VI No. 2-ranked Calvert, 27-0, and the Senecas went on to win the Midland Athletic League championship for the second straight year.

Again, the Warriors responded with a season-ending 27-6 win over Fremont St. Joe to clinch second place in the league.

Qualifying as the No. 8 seed in the Division V playoffs, the Warriors held off No. 1 seed Gibsonburg, 15-14, to advance to the regional semifinals.

That set the stage for yet the biggest test of the season for the Warriors, who trailed Smithville, 28-25, with just 1:16 to play.

They answered with a five-play, 81-yard drive which consumed just 42 seconds as they scored the winning touchdown on a pass from Drew Mohr to Mike Chester with just 34.3 seconds remaining.

That 32-28 win over the fifth-seeded Smithies helped the Warriors (10-2) advance to the regional championship against No. 2 seed Liberty Center (10-1) at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Fostoria Memorial Stadium.

"This group of kids set three goals at the beginning of the season," said Mohawk head coach Shane Jacoby. "They wanted to win the first game of the season and win the MAL and those were not accomplished. They also wanted to make the playoffs and they've been able to come through in that area.

"We practice the two-minute offense every week and the kids really feel comfortable in it. They are playing with a lot of confidence and that really helps when you get in tight situations like we've been in the past couple weeks.

"We look at a loss as only being bad if you didn't learn from it and I think these kids have really strived to come back after a loss. No matter what the adversity is they seem to have an answer. We don't have a lot of seniors (number-wise) but they have been very good leaders all season."

For the second straight week the Warriors face a potent wing-T offense.

The Tigers, who are in the playoffs for the seventh time, feature a one-two punch in Bret Silveus (1,321 yards) and Troy Westhoven (1,207).

"They really move the ball well and it's important for us to get their backs at the line of scrimmage. We just can't let them reach the seams," said Jacoby. "Both backs are quick and not big. Mobility is a big thing with that offense and they really do a nice job of blocking. They have a very good and experienced line. Their misdirection gets your linebackers to flow one way and they cut back against them."

The unsung heroes for the Warriors is the coaching staff.

Assisting Jacoby are Bo Trusty, Jake Moyer, Bob Jaeck, Shane Dyer, Brent Konkle and Kevin Mohr.

"Bo is the defensive coordinator for the second year and also coaches the outside linebackers," Jacoby said. "He does a tremendous job preparing the team and has implemented the 4-4 and he took that defense under his wings. The other coaches add input, but Bo makes about 99 percent of the calls.

"Jake is in his third year with the offensive and defensive line and he has developed the line into a definite strength of the team. His experience as a previous head coach has been a blessing for us and he is highly-respected by the other coaches and the players.

"Shane is in his second year with the defensive backs and running backs. He assists me with the play calling and really adds a lot with the offense.

"Brent and Bob handle the defensive backs and help with the receivers and Kevin is a volunteer assistant and really does a great job helping us prepare on game night,"

Jacoby is the offensive coordinator and also directs the quarterbacks and inside linebackers.

"It's a staff that is really coming together well as a unit," said Jacoby. "I think the players have really shown a lot of trust in the coaches and it's a group that has the players as well prepared as they can be."