For Coach Steve McDowell, Friday’s season opener was about wasted opportunities.What could have been — had his team not given up a pair of scores off turnovers or negated its own touchdown with a self-inflicted penalty?In a game that hung in the balance for an entire four quarters, Warrenton could never take advantage. The Warriors’ defense held off St. Dominic as long as possible, but the host team found alternate ways to score in a 12-7 victory.“It was more us beating ourselves than St. Dominic beating us on Friday night,” said McDowell. “We didn’t take advantage of the opportunities given to us.”Defensively, Warrenton surrendered just 175 yards to a Crusader team that had run the ball at will during two meetings a year ago.“Defensively, we played an outstanding ballgame,” asserted McDowell. “You couldn’t ask for more than what the defense did.”The Warriors out-gained their opponent in yards, but it was their inability to move the ball consistently that kept them out of the end zone.Over half of their 133 rushing yards came off a 78-yard touchdown run by Drake Wagner that provided Warrenton’s only points in a frustrating debut.“Whether it was a dropped or tipped pass or a missed block, we just weren’t clicking well offensively,” said McDowell. “We had the opportunity to make some very big plays and come away with the victory and we just didn’t do it.”St. Dominic needed help moving the ball, and the Warriors were willing to oblige.Midway through the first quarter, the Crusaders returned a fumble to the seven yard line, connecting on a touchdown pass moments later.But Warrenton’s defense continued to operate on a bend but don’t break basis, blocking a field goal and stuffing St. Dominic on a fourth-down stand in the red zone.“They responded very well in a lot of tough situations,” said McDowell. “They played very good, solid fundamental football. It was a shame for them to put in the effort and not come away with the victory.”Wagner made another crucial play in the final moments of the first half, snagging an interception to upend the Crusaders drive.In fact, it was primarily first-year varsity players who came up with the majority of Friday’s dynamic plays.St. Dominic threatened again on its first drive of the second half, before sophomore Jacob Abel snared an interception on the goal line to keep the Warriors within one possession.Sophomore Justin McBroom followed up with an equally momentous play, weaving through traffic on a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown.But a block in the back deflated any energy the play had supplied the Warriors, and St. Dominic piled on with 6:38 remaining in the contest.“I can’t fault the kid for the penalty,” noted McDowell.A pass intended for senior Luke Darity was picked off on the run and returned 17 yards for a score that pushed the Crusaders ahead 12-7.Wagner promptly answered, reminding the Warriors they were still within reach.“We battled back the very next play,” said McDowell. “Drake had a tremendous run.”But Warrenton needed to score in a hurry, and with a cast of almost entirely new skill players, a hurry-up offense is not the Warriors’ strongest suit.“It’s a matter for our quarterbacks to recognize the underneath stuff,” said McDowell. “They can be just as productive as hitting a home run ball in the two-minute offense.”Warrenton’s final desperation attempt at a game-winning touchdown pass came up intercepted on a night where junior quarterback managed to complete just 10 of his 27 passes.“Our line did a tremendous job of pass protection,” said McDowell. “I really didn’t see Zach being pressured that much.”Wagner finished with 105 yards on 10 carries, while transfer Dane Huck had 31 carries on 11 touches.Logan connected with sophomore Hunter Russell three times for 42 yards and hit Darity on three occasions for 23 yards.Four other receivers logged one catch.Two of the Warriors’ starting receivers were hindered by injuries, with Darity battling a previously-sustained ankle sprain and Tonioli exiting early with a broken collar bone.McDowell complimented the play of three sophomores, including Abel, McBroom and Russell.“Those kids are ones that we’ll rely on for the rest of the season,” said McDowell. “We knew they had the ability, and when they got the opportunity, they shined.”Junior George Wielms led Warrenton’s stellar defensive effort with six tackles, while Logan Shay record five.“For us, that should have been a 30-0 ballgame in our favor,” added McDowell. “We gave the game away.”

Warrenton junior quarterback Zach Logan tries to evade a tackler during Friday's game against St. Dominic.

Derrick Forsythe Photo.