Tanner Pepper’s record-breaking night leads Warren to blowout win vs. Point Pleasant
By: Grant Kiefer
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VINCENT, Ohio (WOUB) — It hasn’t been smooth sailing so far for these teams. Coming into tonight, Point Pleasant (WV) (0-6, 0-1 TSL) and Warren (2-6, 1-0 TSL) combined for one win—a sharp fall-off from when both teams made their respective state playoffs. With two new head coaches, both were looking for their first-ever Twin State League win. That win would go to Jason Gandee and Warren, winning 35-24.
Warren’s first drive was scripted well, but it took some late-down heroics to get things moving. Sophomore quarterback Declan Johnson found senior receiver Davin Dickel on a big hitter to move the chains on third down and into Point Pleasant territory. It looked like the drive had stalled on a fourth down, but Warren’s senior star receiver Tanner Pepper came up with an unbelievable diving catch in between two defenders to get the scoring started, going up 7-0.
After a handful of uneventful three-and-outs traded by both teams, Warren found its groove on offense once again. After consecutive first downs, sophomore Jude Daly broke open a screen pass that showed off his skills—let’s say they’re at the next level. Daly went untouched into the end zone to extend Warren’s lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Warren’s offense kept it going. Pepper pulled out every skill move you could think of—stiff arm, juke move, spin move; he did it all on a broken play to get the lead up to 21-0 late in the second quarter.
Point Pleasant was finally able to get on the board in the waning seconds of the first half, as senior quarterback Caden Hill punched it in. However, the extra point was missed, as Point Pleasant would still trail 21-6 entering the break.
The Warriors opened the third quarter with an extremely methodical drive that spanned the length of the field, which senior receiver Eric Carr capped off to go up 28-6 late in the third.
Point Pleasant did what it could to respond, as it capped off a long drive of its own on a tip-drill touchdown by senior Anthony Marrero. The kicking game continued to be a problem, though, as the extra point was blocked to only cut the deficit to 28-12.
The response from Warren, though? It was even quicker. Within seconds, Tanner Pepper ripped off a 70-yard touchdown to complete the hat trick and tally three touchdowns on the night, along with 23 on his career, tying the Warren program record. With yet another score, Warren extended its lead to 35-12.
Someone must’ve told Point Pleasant it was nearly running-clock territory, as it continued to respond. Point Pleasant drove down the field as Hill found his tight end, Gavin Barnett, in the end zone, but the two-point conversion failed to make it 35-18.
Point Pleasant did what it could to fight back with a late score to make it 35-24, but it was too little too late.
TSL play continues next week as Warren takes on Fort Frye (7-1, 1-0 TSL), while Point Pleasant faces Marietta (1-7, 0-1 TSL).