Whitko Wildcats Win Rivalry Game
August 27, 2016 at 6:37 a.m.
By Ryan Villanueva-
In the 12 meetings prior to Friday night’s game at Ryan Huff Memorial Field, Columbia City had won all of them by a combined score of 366-172.
Just a year ago, the ‘Cats fell two points short of ending their skid against the Eagles.
First-year Whitko head coach Jeff Sprunger made sure everyone had their date with the Eagles circled on their calendars, and the ‘Cats made the most of it in their home opener Friday.
Led by junior halfback Hunter Reed’s two scores and 97 yards rushing, Whitko beat Columbia City 20-14 for the first since 1998. Senior halfback Garrett Elder rushed 12 times for 87 yards and a score in the victory.
“I told them if we played with hustle and heart, it’s going to set us apart. At the end of the night, it did,” said Sprunger. “It got us to where we wanted to be, and it was a heck of a game.”
It was a sluggish start for Whitko, giving up the first points of the game on a 10-yard run by Khale Rider on Columbia City’s first possession. Six minutes later, the Eagles went up 14-0 after senior quarterback Brock Snouffer kept the ball on a one-yard run into the end zone.
The ‘Cats found themselves in a hole early. They produced just 12 yards of offense in the opening quarter, compared to the Eagles’ 93, and were down two scores. Adjustments had to be made quickly, and Sprunger knew what they had to do.
“We saw their outside linebackers sucking in on our inside run, so we went back to some of our old option runs,” said Sprunger. “Our boys are used to playing that, so we thought we could get to the edge. We thought if we could get out to the edge without any kind of motion, we’d be able to get outside to break a big one on them, and we did.”
After a defensive stop by the ‘Cats early in the second quarter, they made the best of their opportunity. An 11-play, 55-yard drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown run from Reed catapulted Whitko back into the game.
The Eagles got as close as the Wildcat 28-yard line with the clock winding down to halftime, but Snouffer was sacked by Whitko sophomore linebacker Isaac Walters, keeping Columbia City from scoring again.
Whitko’s defense stiffened, and it continued to carry them throughout.
Elder later cut to the outside on a sweep play and made the Eagles defense pay en route to a 36-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion from Reed tied the game up at 14 late in the third quarter, and the ‘Cats could feel the momentum shift.
After exchanging a few punts in the third and fourth quarters, something had to give. Finally, with just three minutes left in regulation, Reed was able to punch his way into the end zone for his second score of the evening.
The Eagles drove all the way down to the Wildcat 23-yard line with just over a minute remaining, and put the Whitko defense on its heels. A high snap that escaped the hands of Snouffer, however, resulted in a 21-yard loss. With the Eagles acing 4th down, Whitko defensive lineman Zach Hewitt found a way into the backfield to get to Snouffer and forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow lineman Gavin Howard to seal the victory.
With their first 2-0 start since 2008, the ‘Cats open Three Rivers Conference play next week as they travel to Bunker Hill to face the Maconaquah Braves.
Although the Braves are 0-2, Sprunger won’t look at the scenario as an easy one, as his team still needs to tweak a few things.
“We still have a lot of things to work on yet this week for Maconaquah, but we are excited for what is about to come,” said Sprunger.
WHITKO 20, COLUMBIA CITY 14
CC 14 0 0 0 – 14
W 0 6 8 6 – 20
CC W
1st downs 10 12
Rushing yds 51 190
Passing yds 99 16
Comp-Att-Int 9-19-1 2-4-0
Total yds 150 206
Fumbles/lost 3-1 1-0
Penalties/yds 2/19 8/80
Punts/avg. 4/36.0 4/27.5
First Quarter
CC – Kahle Rider 10 run (Chase Johnson kick) 7-0
CC – Brock Snouffer 1 run (Johnson kick) 14-0
Second Quarter
W – Hunter Reed 24 run (run failed) 14-6
Third Quarter
W – Garrett Elder 36 run (Reed run) 14-14
Fourth Quarter
W – Reed 12 run (run failed) 20-14
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Columbia City, Rider 14-63, Snouffer 9-17, Noah Judd 3-(minus 11), Michael Sievers 2-(minus 2), Jacob Wigent 1-4, team 1-(minus 20); Whitko, Reed 26-97, Elder 12-87, Colin Craig 6-(minus 8), Robby Owsley 5-11. Isaac Walters 1-3
Passing – Columbia City, Snouffer 8-18-93 yards 0 TD, 1 Int.; Dyson Redden 1-1-6 yds., 0 TD, 0 Int.; Wawasee, Craig 2-4-16 yds., 0 TD, 0 Int.
Receiving – Columbia City, Redden 5-27, Ethan Chrisner 2-61, Snouffer 1-6, Judd 1-5; Whitko, Zach?Hewitt 1-12, Reed 1-4
In the 12 meetings prior to Friday night’s game at Ryan Huff Memorial Field, Columbia City had won all of them by a combined score of 366-172.
Just a year ago, the ‘Cats fell two points short of ending their skid against the Eagles.
First-year Whitko head coach Jeff Sprunger made sure everyone had their date with the Eagles circled on their calendars, and the ‘Cats made the most of it in their home opener Friday.
Led by junior halfback Hunter Reed’s two scores and 97 yards rushing, Whitko beat Columbia City 20-14 for the first since 1998. Senior halfback Garrett Elder rushed 12 times for 87 yards and a score in the victory.
“I told them if we played with hustle and heart, it’s going to set us apart. At the end of the night, it did,” said Sprunger. “It got us to where we wanted to be, and it was a heck of a game.”
It was a sluggish start for Whitko, giving up the first points of the game on a 10-yard run by Khale Rider on Columbia City’s first possession. Six minutes later, the Eagles went up 14-0 after senior quarterback Brock Snouffer kept the ball on a one-yard run into the end zone.
The ‘Cats found themselves in a hole early. They produced just 12 yards of offense in the opening quarter, compared to the Eagles’ 93, and were down two scores. Adjustments had to be made quickly, and Sprunger knew what they had to do.
“We saw their outside linebackers sucking in on our inside run, so we went back to some of our old option runs,” said Sprunger. “Our boys are used to playing that, so we thought we could get to the edge. We thought if we could get out to the edge without any kind of motion, we’d be able to get outside to break a big one on them, and we did.”
After a defensive stop by the ‘Cats early in the second quarter, they made the best of their opportunity. An 11-play, 55-yard drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown run from Reed catapulted Whitko back into the game.
The Eagles got as close as the Wildcat 28-yard line with the clock winding down to halftime, but Snouffer was sacked by Whitko sophomore linebacker Isaac Walters, keeping Columbia City from scoring again.
Whitko’s defense stiffened, and it continued to carry them throughout.
Elder later cut to the outside on a sweep play and made the Eagles defense pay en route to a 36-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion from Reed tied the game up at 14 late in the third quarter, and the ‘Cats could feel the momentum shift.
After exchanging a few punts in the third and fourth quarters, something had to give. Finally, with just three minutes left in regulation, Reed was able to punch his way into the end zone for his second score of the evening.
The Eagles drove all the way down to the Wildcat 23-yard line with just over a minute remaining, and put the Whitko defense on its heels. A high snap that escaped the hands of Snouffer, however, resulted in a 21-yard loss. With the Eagles acing 4th down, Whitko defensive lineman Zach Hewitt found a way into the backfield to get to Snouffer and forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow lineman Gavin Howard to seal the victory.
With their first 2-0 start since 2008, the ‘Cats open Three Rivers Conference play next week as they travel to Bunker Hill to face the Maconaquah Braves.
Although the Braves are 0-2, Sprunger won’t look at the scenario as an easy one, as his team still needs to tweak a few things.
“We still have a lot of things to work on yet this week for Maconaquah, but we are excited for what is about to come,” said Sprunger.
WHITKO 20, COLUMBIA CITY 14
CC 14 0 0 0 – 14
W 0 6 8 6 – 20
CC W
1st downs 10 12
Rushing yds 51 190
Passing yds 99 16
Comp-Att-Int 9-19-1 2-4-0
Total yds 150 206
Fumbles/lost 3-1 1-0
Penalties/yds 2/19 8/80
Punts/avg. 4/36.0 4/27.5
First Quarter
CC – Kahle Rider 10 run (Chase Johnson kick) 7-0
CC – Brock Snouffer 1 run (Johnson kick) 14-0
Second Quarter
W – Hunter Reed 24 run (run failed) 14-6
Third Quarter
W – Garrett Elder 36 run (Reed run) 14-14
Fourth Quarter
W – Reed 12 run (run failed) 20-14
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Columbia City, Rider 14-63, Snouffer 9-17, Noah Judd 3-(minus 11), Michael Sievers 2-(minus 2), Jacob Wigent 1-4, team 1-(minus 20); Whitko, Reed 26-97, Elder 12-87, Colin Craig 6-(minus 8), Robby Owsley 5-11. Isaac Walters 1-3
Passing – Columbia City, Snouffer 8-18-93 yards 0 TD, 1 Int.; Dyson Redden 1-1-6 yds., 0 TD, 0 Int.; Wawasee, Craig 2-4-16 yds., 0 TD, 0 Int.
Receiving – Columbia City, Redden 5-27, Ethan Chrisner 2-61, Snouffer 1-6, Judd 1-5; Whitko, Zach?Hewitt 1-12, Reed 1-4
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