Along the way, they have climbed the success ladder, helping Warrior Run improve its win total now three straight seasons. It’s been quite a hike and now the seniors, and all the Defenders, can keep trying to scale the loftiest heights in program history.

They certainly produced one of the more exciting wins in program history Friday night at Kenneth Robbins Stadium.

A resilient team which has overcome injuries and heartbreak, Warrior Run this time rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit, scored 21 unanswered points and defeated long-time nemesis Loyalsock, 21-7 in a physical-hard fought District 4 Class AA quarterfinal. Eli Butler ran for 130 yards and three second-half scores, a dominant defense allowed just 130 yards and Warrior Run (7-4) scored twice in a span of 25 fourth quarter seconds to defeat Loyalsock for the first time since 2005.

Warrior Run celebrate their 21-7 win over Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“This is a privilege. We don’t deserve to be here, we earned it,” Butler said. “The postseason is such a privilege and it’s such a blessing to be here. To live to see another day is awesome. You can see the growth we’ve made.”

Warrior Run, which heads to Towanda next weekend for the semifinals, is trying to reach its first district championship. The seniors have formed the foundation for that success, helping Warrior Run make three-win improvements in each of the past two years before becoming just the second team since 2005 to win seven games in a season Friday night.

All this after suffering three gut-wrenching losses in the past four weeks, including 24-23 against Loyalsock. Some players have missed time with injuries; others have fought through them and despite the hits, this team keeps moving forward. In that way, Friday’s win perfectly captured who this team is.

“We’ve been playing together since we were little and it’s great to have all us playing together. It’s family,” defensive end Stone Allison said after helping fuel the swarming defense and providing strong lead blocking. “We want to win for each other. All we want to do is make history for Warrior Run.”

“Mentally and emotionally, what we’ve been through this month, I didn’t know what we had left. That stretch that we came so close and lost those heartbreakers took a toll, but they didn’t quit,” Warrior Run coach Derrick Zechman said. “It says a lot about their heart and character and that’s what I’m most proud of.”

Stone Allison of Warrior Run tries to sack Danny Dowell of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Loyalsock ended Warrior Run’s season a year ago when it defeated it in the 3A semifinals en route to reaching a second straight championship. The Lancers (6-5) seemed poised to end Warrior Run’s season again, taking a 7-0 second quarter lead while controlling much of the first half.

But so many times when it seemed like Loyalsock might take over, the Defender defense stiffened. The Lancers reached Warrior Run territory on their first three possessions but were denied points each time. They reached the red zone three times in the second half but Warrior Run turned it away again.

Warrior Run wants to make history and it earned that opportunity but forgetting history. It was all about the next play and so many times, different players made the next one. Once the offense heated up in the second half, everything fell into place and Warrior Run was semifinal-bound for the third time in program history.

“We’re a comeback team,” Butler said. “We might not have the best record, but we have the biggest hearts, so we’re able to make wins like this happen.”

“The offense started feeding off the defense and the defense off the offense,” Zechman said. “They felt confident that the defense wasn’t going to give up anything after we got the lead. You could feel it on the sidelines and see it in the energy in the huddle. It was just great to see everyone come together.”

Eli Butler of Warrior Run turns over the ball against Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Loyalsock came together throughout the season and also overcame plenty of adversity, displaying impressive growth and proving wrong doubters who thought the program would take a big step back after graduating so many strong starters. The Lancers navigated a difficult schedule, put together their area-best 12th straight winning season and produced two fourth quarter comeback victories.

This was not the ending Loyalsock wanted, but it certainly was not from a lack of effort.

“There were highs and lows that were pretty epic as we went through this but the one thing which was consistent was the kids came back to work. Every Monday they were able to come together and find a way to recollect themselves and go after it again,” Loyalsock coach Justin Van Fleet said. “We have a lot to be proud of this season. I was excited with a lot of progression the offseason provided and I’m proud of the way the players competed throughout the season.”

Dolan Harman capped a super junior season with 78 yards and his 27-yard touchdown run put Loyalsock up, 7-0 midway through the second quarter. Two-way lineman Jeremiah Johnson opened the hole which produced that touchdown as well as 16-yard run two plays earlier. He also combined with Isaiah West to help Loyalsock form a maroon wall throughout the first half and collected his sixth sack.

Harman and Johnson will be back next season but the seniors who helped keep Loyalsock together through the ups and downs this year will not. Linebackers Deryk Kulp, Blake Phillips and Preston Gross were all over the field, while Chase Wright made some key special teams which created short fields and also made some key plays in the secondary.

Eli Butler and Colby LeBarron of Warrior Run celebrate a touchdown by Butler against Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“They gave all their effort. I’m proud that as they went through the season, regardless of what obstacles came their way, they really came back to work,” Van Fleet said. “That’s a lesson for their lives. They can take that with them and know that no matter what comes at you, it’s about how you react. The way they did that gives them opportunities for success.”

Warrior Run’s stellar defense gave the team an opportunity for second-half success and linemen Jackson Albright, Peyton Snyder, Jalan Hall, Kaleb Nicholas and Garrett Williams helped pave the way toward victory. The line started imposing its will and Butler and Colby LeBarron (9 carries, 43 yards) started ripping off chunk runs.

After James Keifer found Sam Hall for 17 yards with Hall making a super toe-drag catch at the Loyalsock 11-yard line, Butler ran for 10 yards and then a 1-yard touchdown, tying the game. Twice, Loyalsock threatened to regain the lead, using short fields to reach the red zone but each time Warrior Run stopped it.

Keifer delivered one of the game’s most pivotal plays when he jumped an out route at the 3-yard line, intercepted the pass and returned it to the 37. Hall drew a pass interference on the ensuing third-and-long and an ensuing personal foul set up Warrior Run at Loyalsock’s 33. After Butler ran for four yards on a fourth-and-1, he ran right out of the Wildcat three plays later, following some crushing blocks and going 15 yards for the go-ahead touchdown which put the Defenders ahead, 14-7.

“Our offensive line did a great job. There’s no way I could have done anything I did without those guys blocking so well,” Butler said after gaining 118 of his 130 yards in the second half. “We don’t hang our heads when we’re down. We use that as fuel and motivation to come back harder and stronger and smash it down their throats like we did.”

Eli Butler of Warrior Run breaks tackles as he runs against Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The game-tying touchdown and Keifer’s interception fanned the flames and Butler’s go-ahead score created an inferno. What happened next would leave even Smokey the Bear powerless to control it.

Warrior Run opted to go with a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff and Gavin Hunter drilled it off a Loyalsock player’s helmet. Tyler Ulrich immediately corralled the ball and Warrior Run took over at the Lancer 43-yard line.

Two plays later, Butler was in the end zone again.

“I felt like at that point there was nothing they could do to stop us after that score,” Allison said. “I trust everyone on our defense more than anybody in the world.”

In a near repeat of his previous score, Butler against trusted his line, ran right, burst through a large opening and went nearly untouched for the 32-yard score which made it, 21-7. After not scoring any points in the game’s first 25 minutes, Warrior Run produced 14 in just 25 seconds.

“They have two really good d-lineman, so we noticed one was shifting. If they shifted we ran up the middle and if not we ran outside,” Allison said. “Our linemen can do anything, they just need the confidence and what they did tonight should give them the confidence they need to keep pushing.”

Allison was part of a stone cold defense which kept the heat on Loyalsock from there. The Lancers recovered a fumble at the Defender 30-yard line with 7:36 remaining, but, following a Harman 11-yard run, forced a four-and-out.

Loyalsock had one last scoring opportunity when it took over near midfield with a little more than three minutes remaining. This time, Allison all but clinched the game when he dropped Danny Dowell for a sack which produced a 13-yard loss. He forced a hurried throw on fourth down and a celebration 19 years in the making finally could commence.

After breaking the post game huddle, the Warrior Run players went and shared their joy with the fans who filled the visitor bleachers. The work continues but for a team which has overcome so much and come so far the last few years, it certainly was a moment to savor.

“Things happen for a reason they say. Sometimes you wonder why but mentally we grew and that helped us tonight in this playoff game,” Zechman said. “The way they came together speaks volumes. We’re going to get back to work Monday but tonight we’re going to enjoy this one.”

Warrior Run 21, Loyalsock 7

(District 4 Class AA quarterfinals)

Warrior Run 0 0 7 14―21

Loyalsock 0 7 0 0―7

Second quarter

L–Dolan Harman 27 run (Evan Summers kick), 6:11

Third quarter

W–Eli Butler 1 run (Gavin Hunter kick), 10:20

Fourth quarter

W–Butler 15 run (Hunter kick), 8:58

W–Butler 32 run (Hunter kick), 8:33

TEAM STATISTICS

WR L

First downs 13 8

Rushes-yards 36-169 34-100

Passing yards 60 25

Comp-Att-Int 6-17-0 5-17-1

Total yards 229 125

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 10-65 9-91

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING:Warrior Run, Eli Butler 23-130, 3 TD; Colby LeBarron 9-43; James Keifer 4-(-4). Loyalsock, Dolan Harman 22-78, TD; Nahmir Thomas 1-27; Chase Wright 2-11; Jalil Coates 4-3; Jeremiah Johnson 1-2; Danny Dowell 4-(-21).

PASSING: Warrior Run, Keifer 6-17-0, 60 yards. Loyalsock, Dowell 5-17-1, 25 yards.

RECEIVING: Warrior Run, Sam Hall 3-38; Butler 2-21; LeBarron 1-1. Loyalsock, Anthony Lewis 1-11; Harman 1-9; Coates 1-6; Deryk Kulp 1-1; CJ Taylor 1-(-2).

INTERCEPTIONS: Warrior Run, Keifer.

SACKS: Warrior Run, Butler, Stone Allison; Jackson Albright . Loyalsock, Johnson.

RECORDS: Warrior Run 7-4. Loyalsock 6-5.

James Keifer of Warrior Run breaks up a pass intended for Jalil Coates of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

James Keifer of Warrior Run avoids the sack attempt by Isaiah West of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

James Keifer of Warrior Run is sacked by Jeremiah Johnson of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Jalil Coates of Loyalsock has an attempted interception bounce off his fingers against Warrior Run at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dolan Harman of Loyalsockn runs for a touchdown against Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

James Keifer (16) of Warrior Run breaks up a pass intended for Jalil Coates (1) of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

James Keifer (16) of Warrior Run blocks a pass intended for Jalil Coates (1) of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette