O'Hara Wins Football Game With Warrensburg

O’Hara 47 Warrensburg 28
The O’Hara High School football team completed their regular season with a 47-28 victory over their West Central Conference opponent from Warrensburg on October 25.

The two teams went through a scoreless first quarter before the Celtics piled up 26 points by halftime.

The Tigers controlled the ball the entire first quarter, beginning on their 13 yard line and advancing to the O’Hara 5 yard line where they finally gave up the ball on downs. On the drive, the team twice was successful on fourth down plays.

When the Celtics went on offense, they marched from their 5 yard line in eleven plays to open the scoring. The big play in the drive was a 37 yard run by Michael Rowe, but the touchdown was a 24 yard run by Gerard Harker.

O’Hara got their second TD following a punt, scoring on a 33 yard pass play from Michael Briggs to Austin Evans.

The Tigers moved the ball toward the O’Hara goal fairly well until Gerard Harker intercepted and returned the ball 75 yards for O’Hara’s third score. Zack Drake’s extra point attempt was blocked, but the Celtics were up 20-0.

The Tigers finally got on the scoreboard with 23 seconds left to the half, scoring on a pass play from Ben McClung to Lane Batusic.

Even with the limited time left to the half, O’Hara scored once more. Two passes to Zach Drake resulted in O’Hara going up 26-7, the second play covering 56 yards!

Warrensburg scored first in the third quarter. Set up by an interception by Ryan Houk, the Tigers got a 3 yard TD run by quarterback Ben McClung. J.D. Culp added the extra point.

O’Hara answered with a touchdown on an 11 yard pass from Michael Briggs to Michael Rowe. Michael Briggs added two points on a two-point conversion.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Gerard Harker scored from two yards out for the Celtics.

The last three touchdowns were by Zach Nowlin on a 17 yard run for the Tigers, an 8 yard run by Larry Bosworth for the Celtics, and a 24 yard run by Zach Nowlin for the visitors. Zack Drake, as usual, accounted for O'Hara's extra point while Aaron Saundes caught a pass for Warrensburg's two-point conversion, but the Tigers were unsuccessul in their other extra point attempt.

Prior to the game, sixteen seniors from O'Hara were singled out for playing in the school's final home game of the season.

Four Celtic rushers had great averages per carry: Gerard Harker 8.7, Michael Rowe 8.2, Michael Briggs 5.2, and Larry Bosworth 5.0.

Briggs passed for 143 yards and holds the #3 place in career yards passing at O'Hara. Drake caught his 35th career pass for 9th place (just two completions behind head coach Jim DeMarea).