Circleville survive tumultuous Week 1 game against Warren
By: Charlie Lusk
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CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) – The Circleville Tigers’ 2025 season opened with a special game. The Warren Warriors made the trip to Circleville to do battle in the Week 1 matchup against the Tigers. This marked the beginning of a new era for both schools, with Circleville welcoming Pickerington Central coach Jay Sharrett, and Jason Gandee being elevated to the head catching position for Warren. In a chaotic contest, Circleville narrowly won on home field 16-15.
The Tigers started their first drive efficiently. Their running back duo of Ray Ezell and Kole Nungester continued to grab first downs on the ground. Nungester capped off the drive with a 19-yard rush into the end zone to take a 6-0 lead.
After an uneventful drive from the Warren, the contest was shaping up to be a dominant one from Circleville. However, after forcing a punt of their own, the Warriors started moving the chains. A counter play to RB Eric Carr set Warren right outside the red zone from their own half. The Warriors got down to the goal line before facing a 4th-and-1 on the 4-yard line, which QB Braylen Murray scrambled in for a touchdown on a broken play.
The rest of the half was a battle of field position as both teams traded possessions. Kaden Paxton hit a clutch 25-yard field goal for Circleville with a minute to play in the second to cap off the half. The Tigers go into the half winning 9-6.
The second half started as a track meet, but ended as a battle over turnovers and field positioning. In the Warriors’ first drive, Murray dumped the ball off to WR Tanner Pepper, who made multiple men miss for 35 yards to retake the lead. In four plays, the Tigers reclaimed the lead with a four-play drive ended by a rushing touchdown from RB Ray Ezell.
In the last 13 minutes, there were five turnovers and 2 points scored. A Circleville flea flicker, which looked to be executed to perfection, was stifled by a forced fumble from S Tanner Pepper.
Circleville forced a fumble as Warren approached the end zone, but on the ensuing drive the Tigers went three and out and had their punt blocked rolling out of the end zone for a safety.
Circleville forced yet another fumble as Warren approached midfield. They couldn’t put the game away, but the Tigers pushed the Warriors back at their own 7-yard line with limited time as the Warrior offense ran out of gas.
The Tigers 16-15 win comes out of a chaotic contest 1-0 going into their Week 2 game against Washington Court House. The Warriors will look to bounce back next week when they travel to Morgan.