Warriors open season against Lions

After playing nearly even with Wauneta-Palisade after a half of eight-man football Friday afternoon, untimely errors allowed the visiting Lions a lead the Warriors were unable to overcome in a 19-14 loss.

Wauneta-Palisade led just 7-6 at the halftime break, but came out with a pair of interceptions that halted Leyton drives before they got to midfield. The Lions converted both interceptions of Leyton quarterback Kort Dye for touchdowns to take a 19-4 lead early in the fourth quarter.

But Dye and the Warriors didn't let the miscues dash their hopes. Dye atoned for the interceptions when, following Wauneta-Palisade's second touchdown, took the kickoff and weaved his way through the Lions' coverage for a 66-yard return and a touchdown. Morley Haley ran the ball in for points after the touchdown to keep the Warriors in striking distance, 19-14, with 11:43 remaining.

Leyton held the Lions on their ensuing possession, but was unable to convert a score when it got the ball back. The Warriors failed to regain possession of the ball, but did deny the Lions the opportunity to stretch their lead with a tough goal line stand as time ran out.

For Leyton Coach Glen Lipska, the game was a good measure of where the Warriors stand.

"Until you play your first game, you don't know what you need to work on," Lipska said following the game. "We had some plays that showed the capability of what they can do."

Despite the interceptions, Lipska said Leyton's passing game was one of the positives he brought away from the game.

"The interceptions killed us, but we really struggle with our running game," Lipska said.

Part of that struggle was Leyton's line, which got pushed around on both sides of the ball.

"We've got to work on getting off the ball," Lipska said of what he sees as one of Leyton's areas to work on.

Leyton's next outing will be Friday when the Warriors travel to Wallace for a 6 p.m. game.