VINCENT — The Warren Warriors have four wins for the first time since 2001 and a winning record seven games into the season for the first time since 1999.

Safe to say, this isn’t your father’s — well, maybe brother’s — Warren football team. In fact, some in Warrior country believe this could be the team to snap the blue and white’s 10-game losing streak against Logan.

The Warriors opened 2008 with a 17-10 come from behind win over rival Belpre, and recorded other non-league wins against Parkersburg South (14-7) and Meigs (31-22). Last week, the Warriors recorded their first SEOAL win by beating Portsmouth 9-7. In between, the Warriors have lost to Philo (20-0), Marietta (26-21) and Zanesville (49-3).
The Warriors, under second-year head coach Jim Pifer, will run misdirection out of their wing-T offense led by running backs Seth Wellspring (5-9, 168, junior), Andrew Coffman (5-9, 150, senior), and Andrew Dunfee (5-9, 162, senior).

Wellspring will see the bulk of the carries and leads the Warriors in rushing despite missing the first five games due to academics. Dunfee is an SEOAL sprinting champion who is dangerous as both a rushing and receiving threat.

Junior Clay Ellenwood (6-0, 190) is under center for the blue and white, and while his numbers may be underwhelming, he has proven capable of making clutch plays both with his arm and his legs.

Ellenwood’s top targets in addition to Dunfee are sophomore split end Grant Venham (6-4, 200) and junior split end Tyler Cox (6-3, 180). Senior Eric Hoon (6-5, 230) is the tight end.

Other than Hoon, the Warriors aren’t overly big up front, but have more size than recent Warren teams. Senior Ben Johnson (6-0, 204) and junior Cody Alfred (6-3, 215) are the tackles, with senior Curtis Weekley (5-8, 195) and junior Jonathan Arbuckle (5-11, 196) at guard. The center is sophomore Dustin Timberman (6-0, 225).

Defensively, the blue and white have been stout, allowing 25 or more points just twice. The Warrior defense is led by junior middle linebacker Kaleb Wolfe (6-0, 197).

Up front, Warren averages nearly 230 pounds per man with tackles Jacob Lemon (5-11, 240) and Darrin Fulton (6-3, 243) acting as anchors on the interior. Hoon and Johnson are the ends. Weekley will sub in up front giving the Warriors a smaller, but quicker line-up on the defensive line as well.

Flanking Wolfe in the linebacking corps are junior Kyle Pritt (5-11, 183) and senior Justin Pettit (6-0, 162). Arbuckle provides depth at linebacker.

The defensive backfield is deep led by safeties Dunfee and Cox. Adding depth at safety are Ellenwood and junior Evan Arnold (5-9, 163). The corners will be a combination of Coffman, Venham, Justin Yocum (5-8, 156, junior), and Erik Mason (5-10, 152, junior).

Cox is the placekicker and Venham averages over 35 yards per punt. Dunfee and Pettit return punts and kicks.

Logan football historian Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com previews the Logan Chieftains’ football opponent every Thursday in The Logan Daily News.

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