When you play as tough as schedule as the Warren De La Salle Pilots, getting a win anywhere you can is important. That’s exactly what they did against the Ann Arbor Pioneer Pioneers. The Pilots scored early and they scored often as they picked apart the Pioneers for a score of 35-7.
The Pilots got it started at the end of the first quarter when they scored on a two yard Damorria Lilly. Nate Nordstrom added an extra point to give them a 7-0. The second quarter is when it got out of hand. At the 8 minute mark, cornerback Josh Cox picked off a pass in the end zone, not only ending the Pioneer’s chance at points, but he returned it 103-yards for a touchdown. After another Nordstrom kick they had a 14-0 lead.
Shane Morris then connected with two passes for touchdowns of 20 and 7-yards. At halftime they were leading 28-0. Early on into the 3rd quarter, Sam Badalamenti scored from 1 yard out. That would do it for the Pilot’s scoring, but that would be all they need.
The Pioneers scored with just 5 minutes remaining on an Aedan York 2-yard run. The extra point attempt was good.
Morris ended the game completing 14 of 26 passes for 178 yards and 2 touchdowns. He did throw one interception as well. On the ground Lilly lead all rushers with 10 attempts for 81 yards and a touchdown. The leading receiver for the Pilots was Jack Wangler who caught 4 passes for 61 yards, one of which for a touchdown.
The Pioneers were led by York who completed 6 of his 17 passes for 57 yards. The leading rusher was Zak Davis who had 17 rushes for 66 yards. Marquise Thomas led the team with one catch for 22 yards.
The Pilots did exactly as they thought they were. This team is going to rely on the arm of Morris and if he can be as accurate as he was against Pioneer, this team could be just fine. I would like to see more production from the running game, but this game isn’t the greatest indicator of what it could have been. It is hard when you get up big to continue to lay it on. Plus when your leading rusher is averaging 8.1 yards a carry, it is hard to say it wasn’t working. This team definitely looks to be passing first, but it will open up the running game.
On defense, they didn’t go against a superior offense, but I was still impressed that they shut them down as well as they did. They will be going against some teams in the future that will be featuring a more potent than this one. If they rise to the occasion like they did week 1, they should be able to keep themselves in the game and give them a chance.
Next week will be the real test for the Pilots though. They will travel to Cleveland to play the St. Ignatius Wildcats. The Wildcats are playing their first game tonight as they host the Cardinal Mooney Cardinals.
Ann Arbor Pioneer will take on Brother Rice Warriors. The Warriors will also play their first game tonight as well when they take on the Cass Tech Technicians in the Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne St. University in Detroit.
