Warwick

By John Buffone

jbuffone@gametimepa.com

2013 was a bumpy year for Bob Locker’s bunch. The Warriors began the season with a 2-1 record but dropped six of their final seven games and finished seventh in Section One.

Despite their record, Warwick only averaged about eight less points than they allowed last season and will hope to close the gap in 2014.

“With the exception of one game, we were within a score of everybody at halftime. We just didn’t finish well,” Locker said.

The Warriors offense will look pretty different form last year after losing their starting quarterback, tailback and three leading receivers to graduation. This personnel rollover is going to give some opportunities to some currently unknown faces in the Warwick locker room. Making the move to quarterback could be Collin Gibble who was Warwick’s point guard on the basketball team last season.

“We’re going to allow quarterbacks to run this year and we have to use the weapons that are given to us. We will not be throwing the ball 38 times per night this year.”

One of those faces is senior running back David Weaver who rushed for 200 yards last season including a 100-yard, two-touchdown performance against Conestoga Valley in week two.

“We’re going to make an effort to run the ball more. If we do that, it shortens the game and keeps our defense off the field,” Locker said. “Some of our games last year were three hours because we were throwing. If you complete 20-of-38 passes, that’s eighteen times that the clock is going to be stopped.”

Warwick opens the season at Manheim Central.