Warwick captured the George Male Trophy for the eighth straight year by defeating Ephrata Friday night at War Memorial Stadium, 49-14 [box score].

 

"This win means a lot to me personally," Warwick head coach Bob Locker said. "(Male) was my high school coach and he taught me so much. He made me realize I could play college football. So to me this is a big win."

 

The Warriors (2-1) used a balanced attack to beat the Mounts (0-3), and they did so by scoring one passing touchdown, three rushing TDs and just for good measure, two scores by special teams.

 

"I really like the way the special teams stepped up tonight," added Locker. "They really made progress."

 

That progress was evident from the first play from scrimmage, when Ephrata started at its own 18.

 

Quarterback Gyree Durante dropped back to pass, but lost the football. Warwick's Jake Shillady scooped it us and raced for an 10-yard score with just 13 seconds off the clock.

 

Before the night was over Shillady and the Warwick defense would add another touchdown, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior would recover another fumble, this time in the Ephrata end zone, for his second score of the night.

 

On Warwick's first offensive possession, QB Matt Pennypacker found Austin Myers for a 33-yard pass to make the score 14-0 with 6:57 left in the opening quarter.

 

Pennypacker finished the game with 174 yards passing by completing 14 of 18 attempts. He threw for the one touchdown and also was picked off once.

 

Meanwhile, Ephrata was having a tough time on offense.

 

"We based our offense on three or four guys before the season started and now we've lost three of our key players," offered Ephrata head coach Scott Shelley.

 

Ephrata lost Bobby Nye for the game with a pulled muscle suffered late in last week's game against Garden Spot. Earlier this season the Mounts lost Jeremy Kachel and Blake Weaver to shoulder injuries.

 

Warwick scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter; one on a five-yard rush by David Weaver and another on Tommy Garner's 15-yard run to put the halftime score at 28-0.

 

After the Warriors scored two more TDs in the third quarter, one by Gabe Taylor and Shillady's other fumble recovery, the Mounts offense finally got in gear.

 

Led by Dakota Keefer, who finished with 119 yards on the ground and one touchdown, Ephrata scored on a 21-yard pass from Durante to Ethan Sipe.

 

On the ensuing kickoff, Anthony Fatjo took advantage of his blocking and raced up the right side 78 yards for a touchdown.

 

Finally with just 2:53 remaining in the game Keefer finished the scoring with a 28-yard run.