Helmet Stays in Lizton: Danville and Tri-West Battle
By: David Winters
The Danville Warriors and Tri-West Bruins faced each other 54 times on the gridiron coming into last week’s matchup, dubbed the Helmet Game. Fittingly, the series is tied at 27-27, and without exception, no matter how good either team is, this annual game keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. This game was no different.
I arrived at the stadium an hour before kickoff, knowing the attention this game would garner. The parking lot was already full of tailgaters, and the aroma of grilled burgers and dogs filled the air. Within minutes, the stands were nearly full and the fans on both sides were ready to cheer their team on.
The Bruins took the first possession of the game at their 25-yard line, but were forced to punt after just three plays, giving the Warriors the ball at their own 34-yard line. Danville quarterback Carter Ward marched the offense right down the field and running back Minh Vu capped off the drive with a six-yard run into the end zone. Warriors led 7-0 with 4:14 left in the first.
Not to be outdone, Bruins quarterback Jack Sorgi went to the air early, driving quickly into the red zone. Sorgi connected with Eli Morgan, who dove to catch ball in the corner of the end zone. The game was tied 7-7 as the first quarter ended.
The Bruins’ defense was inspired by their offensive success, stepping up to stop Danville in its tracks on the very next possession and forcing a punt. The Bruins Sorgi continued good play, when on the first play of this possession, he connected with Carter Cummings for 42 yards down to the Warriors’ 21-yard line. Two plays later, Sorgiconnects with Jax Garver for 21 yards in the endzone. With just over nine minutes left in the half, Tri-West was up 14-7.
Danville had great field position on their next possession after returning the kickoff to the 36-yard line. A facemask penalty moved the Warriors into Tri-West territory. The Warriors offense quickly moved the ball to the Bruins’ 16-yard line. On a fourth and one, Ward’s number was called, and he snuck it forward for two yards and a first down. Vu capped off the drive with a six-yard run and his second touchdown of the night. The game was tied at 14 apiece, but not for long.
On the very next play for Tri-West, Sorgi completed a 65-yard pass to Quinten Alexander who zig zagged through the defense virtually untouched. The Bruins led 21-14.
With less than three minutes left before halftime, Danville’s Ward marched his team right down the field and finished a scoring drive with a 24-yard pass into the end zone to Drew Rector. The teams were tied at 21 heading to halftime.
Throughout the night, Sorgi showed some of his NFL pedigree (dad, Jim Sorgi played for the Colts) by making crucial connections with receivers that allowed Tri-West to set the pace. Unfortunately, he made his first mistake in the third quarter when he rolled out to his left, and looking for a receiver in the corner of the end zone, threw it short right into the hands of Danville’s Jacob Fultz. The pick gave the Warriors the ball at their own 10-yard line.
Danville did nothing with that possession and punted the ball away. Fortunately for them, Sorgi threw another pick giving Danville a golden opportunity at the Bruins’ 28-yard line as the third quarter ended. The Warriors were unable to capitalize on the second turnover as well.
Sorgi more than made up for the interceptions. He marched his team right down the field and put them back in the lead 28-21 with 7:54 left in the game.
The Tri-West defense would stop Danville on their next possession, and the momentum shift was evident by this point. Danville would score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but the extra point was missed, allowing the Bruins to hang on to a one-point lead.
The Bruins added a late touchdown and won this back-and-forth matchup by a score of 35-27, keeping possession of the coveted Helmet.
Photo by: Cheryl Cochran
It was another classic match-up in what is considered to be one of the “Great American Rivalries.”