Trailing 18-0 to Oil City at halftime of a Region 5 game with playoff implications, Warren scored 21 unanswered points in the second half for a 21-18 win.

Sophomore quarterback Eric Dippold completed all nine of his second-half pass attempts, including 7 of 7 in the fourth quarter of the comeback. Down 18-6, Dippold hit senior Ben White down the left sideline for a 26-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 18-13.

After Warren snuffed out a fake punt midway through the fourth quarter, Dippold went to work again. He completed a 13-yard pass to Cayden Wright, a 10-yard pass to Tommy Nyquist, and eventually a 9-yard TD pass to Kody Vega to take the lead.

Dippold then rolled out on a 2-point conversion pass to Gage Shaffer to make it 21-18.

Times Observer Photo by Jon Sitler Warren’s Easton Hultberg (69) tackles Oil City’s Ethen Knox in the Dragons’ 21-18 comeback win Friday at War Memorial Field.

It wasn’t over, but Oil City had to go 71 yards in just over two minutes and had only completed one pass the entire game.

The Dragons again stopped Ethen Knox and the Oilers on fourth down, and Dippold took a knee to seal the deal.

“At halftime, we didn’t yell, we didn’t scream, we just drew up some stuff on the board, we made some adjustments, and then after halftime it all came down to the kids,” said Warren coach Mark Morelli.

The win gives Warren a 4-3 overall record, and the Dragons are 4-2 and in second place in the region. Oil City falls to 3-2 in Region 5.

“Some of the things that we talked about during the week, like blocking, tackling, pursuit, maintaining your blocks, we weren’t doing that in the first half,” said Morelli. “We made sure the kids understood that at halftime, and made the adjustments. Our coaching staff is just as big a part of this win as the kids. I’m proud of our Warren community, our students, our fans, the Flannel Panel … great job. They’re part of this win tonight.

“On top of that, what a great way for our senior class to go out,” said Morelli. “Our senior class won one game in junior high, and here they are four years later possibly going to win six games this year and could be a No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The hard work and the dedication they’ve put into this program can’t be overlooked, and they’re such great role models for our younger kids. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of what happened tonight?”

The sophomore Dippold and sophomore running back Tommy Nyquist, along with improved line play in the second half, were a big part.

Nyquist got Warren on the scoreboard in the third quarter with an option pass for a 50-yard touchdown to White. Nyquist had 67 yards rushing — 52 in the second half, 56 receiving, and 50 passing.

The senior White had 76 yards and two touchdowns on two catches.

“We hurt ourselves at the beginning of the game with a fumble early,” said Morelli. “They took advantage of it and scored.”

It was the first of two rushing scores for the sophomore Knox, who had over 1,300 yards and an 8.4 yards per carry average coming into the game.

He ran 41 times for 210 yards against Warren, but only eight times for 20 yards in the fourth.

“How about the defense in the second half pitching a shutout,” said Morelli. “This was a program win from top to bottom.”

Oil City attempted only two pass plays in the second half, on the final drive, ending with an incomplete pass when Ethan Senz hit Oil City’s quarterback on the follow-through.

Oil City 8 10 0 0 — 18

Warren 0 0 6 15 — 21

First quarter

OC–Knox 4 run, 7:13 (Ley run)

Second quarter

OC–Knox 5 run, 11:14 (Knox run)

OC–Safety, sack in end zone, 5:29

Third quarter

War–White 50 pass from Nyquist, 2:22 (run failed)

Fourth quarter

War–White 26 pass from Dippold, 7:39 (Hefferan kick)

War–Vega 9 pass from Dippold, 2:22 (Shaffer pass from Dippold)

Individual stats

RUSH: OC–Knox 41-210, 2TD; Kevin Pearsall 3-11; Carl Chelton 5-25; Dane Ley 1-(-7). W–Nyquist 16-67; Dippold 4-(-7), Ethan Senz 1-(-1).

PASS: OC–Ley 1 of 2 for 25 yards; Chelton 0 for 2 for 0 yards. W–Dippold 12 of 16 for 144 yards, 2TD; Nyquist 1 of 1 for 50 yards, TD.

RECEIVE: OC–Pearsall 1-25. W–Nyquist 3-56; Cayden Wright 4-29, Justice Greene 1-11, Vega 3-22, TD, White 2-76, 2TD.