Head Coach Steve McDowell finally witnessed the complete effort he’d been looking for from his Warrenton football team during its dominant 43-19 victory over Zumwalt East on Friday.

The win was a result of crisp execution in every facet of the game, helping the Warriors improve to 5-4 and secure the No. 3 spot in the Class 4, District 7 Tournament.

“We finally clicked as a team on both sides of the ball,” asserted McDowell.

The efforts of an offense that has evolved significantly since dramatic early-season changes were evident, as senior running back Cameron Richardson and junior quarterback Brenden Smith combined to cross the 2,000-yard rushing mark.

“It’s been six years since we’ve had a 1,000-yard rusher, and we have two of them this year,” said McDowell. “That’s big because the defense can’t just key on one person. If our line continues to play like they’ve been doing and opening holes, we’ll continue to do well.”

Both backfield threats had very productive nights on the ground, with Richardson amassing four touchdowns and 137 yards on 16 carries and Smith finishing with a game-high 203 yards on 20 carries.

“It means a lot to everyone on the line to help two of our men reach over 1,000 yards a piece,” said junior lineman Chris Vogt. “We have a very good offensive line and still have yet to reach our potential.”

Smith also had his best passing game of the season statistically, spreading the ball around to six different receivers. He completed 15 of 21 passes for 141 yards, connecting with junior tight end Caleb Strauss on a pair of touchdown throws.

Strauss hauled in a season-best four catches for 24 yards and also was a catalyst on defense with two sacks.

“We were able to execute offensively and score points consistently,” said McDowell. “We had a good mix going. A lot of players stepped up and played awesome for us.”

Warrenton attacked immediately, taking advantage of a short field after J.R. Jones’ opening kickoff return. Smith found Strauss on a 7-yard touchdown pass at the 9:20 mark of the first quarter and threw him a 6-yard score just over a minute later. 

“It felt great to score twice in the first five minutes and really give us a momentum boost on both sides of the ball,” said Strauss. “I think that helped our confidence, and we just kept rolling.”

The Warriors led 14-7 after Zumwalt East broke an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Richardson was especially productive in the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns on a pair of short runs and a 67-yard breakaway.

Warrenton took a commanding 34-13 lead into halftime. 

Much of the success in the first two quarters was a result of thorough contribution from senior Drake Meine, who has embraced his new role after moving from the starting quarterback job in Week 3. He caught three passes for a team-high 45 yards, opened holes as a blocker and was a force on defense from his linebacker position.

“Hats off to Drake for having a huge night defensively,” said McDowell. “He was all over the field, making great plays and tackles for us. He also had some key catches and came up big on the first night the ball has been thrown at him.”

“It was a great feeling having the game that I did,” said Meine. “Having me as a lead blocker on offense has worked pretty good, so we have just stuck with it.”

Warrenton looked to its reserves for much of the second half, after Richardson scored his final touchdown on a 25-yard run midway through the third quarter. Sophomore Zac Blackwood put the Warriors ahead 43-13 with 3:11 remaining in the period.