WARSAW – Year two of a work in progress has Warsaw feeling like it’s a step ahead of the game. With weapons all over the field, the institution of the spread offense has head coach Phil Jensen feeling good about Tiger football this season.

Admittedly, Jensen isn’t the biggest fan of the change. His love affair with the ‘three yards and a cloud of dust’ running game forcefully ended when Tristan McClone graduated two years ago. But that was soon forgotten as Warsaw broke offensive record after offensive record with the spread last season. Still a little uncomfortable? Yes. Seeing results? Absolutely.

“Three years ago we did this knowing what we had coming down the road,” Jensen said. “To be honest, as much as I would like to think that football is more important today than it was 20 years ago when I got here, basketball is still front and foremost with the kids. Basketball kids don’t want to come out and block and tackle. They want to catch the football, get the ball in their hands and score points. It just fits us better.”

Jake Mangas, possibly one of the most well-rounded student athletes ever to graduate from Warsaw, made things look easy from the quarterback position last year, setting six program marks. The position will take on a very important role, and Jensen doesn’t need to look much further than the kitchen table to find the replacement. Son and junior Michael Jensen, who took a year off from football as a sophomore, is primed to take over the signal calling duties. Fellow junior Joseph Harness is also taking snaps in the preseason and is capable of running the offense.

With a spread offense, teams need targets to throw the ball and Warsaw might be the deepest at receiver in the conference. The Tigers have the trees on the outsides, beginning with seniors Riley Rhoades at 6’4″, Tommy Hickerson at 6’3″ and Brock Riley at 6’3″ along with 6’2″ junior tight end Jeremy David.

Jensen really likes the potential of his offense line, noting the quartet of seniors Joe Jackson, Caleb Moore, Matt Anthony and junior Aaron Lewis.

Warsaw will have a whale of a time replacing a couple of all-timers in Caleb Wooldridge and Ben Plummer on the defensive side of the ball. Wooldridge, who was just nasty on the defensive line – notably a five-sack game against Goshen last year – along with the tenacious Plummer helped curtail several of the conference’s top offenses.

In line to defend the house are Riley, David and senior Dylan Childers at linebacker, seniors Drew Brock and Ross Armey on the defensive front and a pair of up-and-comers in sophomore Keegan Bays and senior Austin Ritenour, who will soon return home from military basic training.

The defensive backs should be stout, with seniors Mario Flores and Landan Perry returning.

“Things have been good,” Jensen pointed out of the general mood. “The advantage of the change in style. When you are spread out and throwing the ball and playing in space, you don’t have the consistent pounding injuries that goes with the whole concussion movement and what we are doing here.”

Warsaw, which had benchmark wins against perennial state contender East Noble, Class 4-A semi-state Northridge and the ever-powerful Concord in a wild overtime win to close the regular season, also had some stinkers. A lopsided home loss to Carroll in the sectional is still a sticking point with many as Warsaw continues to seek that elusive first sectional trophy. With all shades of gray does include a silver lining.

“There were some good things,” Jensen said. “There were some real positive things that happened. Hopefully we can build on some things going forward.”

Warsaw opens unofficial play Friday at home against Tippecanoe Valley in the scrimmage and will host Columbia City in week one.