The Warsaw Tiger Unified Flag Football team put together a dominant showing Monday night in Syracuse, defeating the Wawasee Warriors 53-40 in a high-octane contest. From the opening whistle, the night belonged to the Tigers as they jumped to an early lead and never looked back. Alexis Neely and Jaron “Cortez” Courtois showcased their playmaking ability, combining for more than 75 all-purpose yards and finding the end zone with key touchdowns that stretched Warsaw’s cushion. The Warriors tried to fight back, but every time they gained momentum, the Tigers had an answer. Neely and Courtois proved pivotal, while Yohannes Schmitt’s two-way impact ignited Warsaw at critical moments. Schmitt extended plays with his legs, keeping drives alive and connecting with his favorite offensive options—Brahdee Taylor, Yeager, Courtois, Neely, and Drew Jones. On defense, Schmitt was equally disruptive, forcing the Warriors into longer drives and stalling key possessions. Teammates Matthew Robinson-Gay, Dee Nelson, Sam McDaniels, Beau Goshert, and Wes Martin chipped in with stout defensive efforts as the Tigers’ pressure limited Wawasee’s ability to sustain an attack. In the trenches, Nathan Nette devoured the Warriors’ offense "like the Cookie Monster going after a batch of Keebler Soft Batch cookies," eliminating ground-game options and keeping the Tigers firmly in control. One of the highlights of the night came early in the second half when the Tigers surprised fans with a look reminiscent of longtime Warsaw football coach Bart Curtis’ signature Wishbone offense. On the play, Mason Anderson took a handoff, burst through the line, and sprinted 40 yards untouched for a touchdown that put the game firmly out of the Warriors’ reach. It was the exclamation point on a complete performance for the Tigers, who left no doubt in this county rivalry matchup. The team travels to Tippecanoe Valley for the IHSAA Sectional Saturday.