Warren edges Grant in season finale

Host Warren rallied from a 33-21 deficit to edge Grant 34-33 in the Blue Devils’ season finale on Friday night.

Adam Reuss threw a 40-yard TD pass Connor Iwema late in the third quarter to pull Warren within 33-27, and then threw an 8-yard TD pass to Mitch Munda with 8:59 left in the game.

Pat Kenney’s PAT kick provided the winning point as the Devils finished 3-6.

Grant is 6-3 and will have a playoff game next weekend.

The Bulldogs raced out to a 21-7 lead in the first half. After Warren went up 7-0 on Tyler Keith’s 42-yard TD run, Grant got scores from Jonathan W ells (8-yard run), Jerry Gaylor (22-yard pass from Alex Villa) and Kyle WHiman (34-yard run).

But Warren battled back and tied it at 21-21 at the half on 29- and 12-yard TD passes to Munda.

Grant took the second-half kickoff and drove for a score, with Wells tallying on a 26-yard run. Whitman was hurt on the first play of the drive and did not return.

Grant then made it 33-21 on a 59-yard TD run by Villa.

After Warren took a 34-33 lead, Grant had two possessions to try and win it.

The first ended with a punt, and the second was killed by penalties.

On that final drive, Grant got to the Warren 10, but penalties pushed them back and a fourth-down scramble by Villa was stopped at teh 22 with 2:50 left.

Warren then ran out the clock, converting a four-and-1 at their own 32.

“I’m disappointed with the way we played tonight,” said Grant coach Kurt Rous. “Warren outplayed us. One of our starters on offense (Whitman) goes out with an injury, and we’re unable to get things done of offense.

“We had some good stats, but we need to improve on both sides of the ball to compete next week. We need to improve on defense, especially. Giving up 34 points in not going to get the job done.”

For Grant, Wells rushed 21 times for 133 yards, Whitman rushed 18 times for 118 yards before going down with what appeared to be a head injury, and Villa carried 13 times for 125 yards.

Passing, Villa was 7-of-9 for 61 yards.

Warren finished 3-6. The Devils were led by Reuss, who completed 14-of-28 for 215 yards, 4 TDs and 1 pick.

Keith rushed 7 times for 44 yards.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.