How this York County 'super sophomore' receiver became the league's breakout star
It should've been an easy touchdown, but David Warde couldn't capitalize.
The York High sophomore streaked down the field with no one near him and no defender between him and the end zone. But he overran the pass lofted by quarterback Sam Stoner and then allowed it to bounce off his fingers.
No matter.
One play later, he snagged a dangerous pass away from a lunging Red Lion defender, kept his balance to stay inbounds and raced for a 53-yard touchdown.
"He misses the easy one but he makes that play," York High head coach Russ Stoner said following the Bearcats 46-14 home win over Red Lion Friday. "He has the next play mentality.
"That's what we try to make all of our kids to believe in."
In his first year of varsity football, Warde has been perhaps the biggest breakout star in the YAIAA. Midway through the season, the 6-foot sophomore leads the league in all three receiving categories with 38 catches for 630 yards and eight touchdowns. He's averaging nearly eight catches for 126 yards per game.
And Warde hasn't bolstered his stats with just one or two huge performances. He's been a consistent playmaker on a week-to-week basis.
Week 1 against Woodland Hills: Eight catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Week 2 against Hempfield: Eight catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
Week 3 against Carlisle: 10 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Week 4 against Northeastern: Eight catches for 191 yards and a touchdown.
Week 5 against Red Lion: Four catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
And those catches and touchdowns have been much-needed for a Bearcats team (3-2) that graduated its top three receivers from last season. While star running back Jahiem White has typically been the team's focal point, Warde has given Sam Stoner a go-to target on an offense that has passed the ball more than its run this season.
"I always saw something in him. I always liked David," Sam Stoner said. "I knew coming into the season David was going to be one of the most-targeted guys. He's developed really nicely the past few years."
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Photos: Check out the action from Week 5 of YAIAA high school football
Still, Sam said that his father needed to be "convinced" that Warde could be the team's top receiver this season. At times during Friday's game against Red Lion, Russ Stoner could be seen sternly correcting Warde when the sophomore missed a block or a route or an assignment on defense.
The Bearcats head coach said he's taken that approach because of how much potential Warde has.
"David at times doesn't think I like him, because I'm extremely hard on him," Russ Stoner said. "He's a really talented kid who has to learn to work harder, but he's doing a great job of doing that. He's got straight A's. He's definitely a (future) collegiate football player.
"And we're extremely happy for him because we've challenged him to be a better person overall, and he's doing it."
Stoner said he first took notice of Warde because of his talent on the basketball court in middle school. He said Warde was "not shy" to shoot the ball on a regular basis.
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He assumed that mindset would translate to the football field ― since skill players need to want to have the ball in their hands and accept the responsibility to make plays.
Warde said he's gotten that mentality from growing up in a "super competitive" household. While he had started playing football at age 7, he didn't start to dedicate himself until Stoner approached him after one of those seventh grade basketball games.
"He told me I could be something for real," Warde said. "I didn't take it seriously until then."
While his confidence oozes out on the field, Warde speaks quickly and to the point during interviews. He said he doesn't think of himself as a sophomore but rather a "varsity football player."
As he answered questions following the win over Red Lion, his teammates surrounded him and began to cheer. White, the team's Division I recruit tailback, bellowed, "He's a super sophomore" to a loud ovation.
Warde barely smiled as he was showered with attention.
"I told everybody to keep sleeping on me while I work," Warde said. "I worked hard in private and now that hard work is paying off on the field. I know I worked for it so I know I can make that shot or be clutch in crunch-time.
"If I drop a pass, I just come back two times harder."
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Warde will continue to be relied on for a Bearcats team that has won three games in a row after two brutal losses to open the season. York High has a bye this week and currently holds the seventh seed out of eight in District 3 Class 6A. The Bearcats could have four straight tough games to close the season against Dallastown, Spring Grove, South Western and Central York.
Regardless of how this season goes, Warde will have two more seasons to continue to improve.
"I don't want to put a cap on what he can do," Sam Stoner said. "He's really athletic. He's smart. He's going to make plays for a long time."
Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York High football's David Warde having breakout sophomore year
