Familiar Foes To Square Off
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Aside from being located 15 minutes away from each other, sharing similiar records, similiar points per game and points allowed a game, the two teams are also both in the 7 p.m. Class 2A, Sectional 26 semifinals Friday in South Whitley.[[In-content Ad]]"We've played Manchester numerous times," Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger said. "It can, and should, be a bit of a rivalry."
Along with both being a part of the Three Rivers Conference, the players have also gotten to know each other off the field.
"A lot of their young kids come over here to play in our youth league," Manchester coach Brandon Baker said. "So it's a rivalry, but there's also friendship between the guys since some of them have known each other since third or fourth grade."
Manchester finished the season 4-6 (3-4 TRC), with Whitko wrapping up 2007 with a 3-7 (2-5 TRC) mark. Of Manchester's four wins, one of them came on a Sept. 7, 16-6 victory at Whitko High School.
"That was not a very pretty game by either side," Baker said of that Week 4 contest.
Since that game, both teams have made changes. Manchester had just implemented a new offense for the Whitko game, while the Wildcats were in a transition period at quarterback, before settling on sophomore Gabe Starkey.
"Gabe's just younger," Sprunger said of the difference between him and junior James Stoddard.
"The kid they have now (Starkey) is a good athlete," Baker said. "He has the run-pass option, so we need to work on containing him and not letting him run."
No matter the quarterback, Whitko's running game may be a bigger concern for Baker.
"They have two very good running backs," Baker said of Ryan Bumbaugh and Matt Strandlund. "(Strandlund) runs the trap inside, which he did great against us and again last week (in Whitko's 34-28 overtime win over Wabash)."
For Manchester, their change in offensive schemes came about because of a lack of player response to the Squires' initial wing-T offense.
"We've gotten better each week, but it still comes down to lining up against the guy across from you," Baker said.
The switch in offensive schemes may have helped the Squires' offense, which is averaging 14 points a game to Whitko's 15, but it's their defense that's the backbone of the team.
"They switched their offense right before they played us, and they're a fine ballclub," Sprunger said. "They've done a good job, but they have a really, really good defense."
That defense is led by senior Blaine Miller, whose play has picked up recently thanks to different play calls for him.
"Blaine's done much better the past couple weeks," Baker said of his senior linebacker. "That's partially because we aren't blitzing him as much as we did. He can now sit back and read the offense."
But that's not to say Starkey will never see Miller coming at him. It's just that when he does, he needs to read it and make the proper read.
"They run a stunting defense," Sprunger said. "It's quite a risk-reward scheme for a defense. So we just need to make the plays when they're there."
And with a shot at a sectional championship game on the line, each team is staying focused on the job at hand.
"We've preached to the players to take it a play at a time and a game at a time," Sprunger said.
For Baker, he's had similiar instructions for his guys.
"They just need to step up and get after it," he said.
Aside from being located 15 minutes away from each other, sharing similiar records, similiar points per game and points allowed a game, the two teams are also both in the 7 p.m. Class 2A, Sectional 26 semifinals Friday in South Whitley.[[In-content Ad]]"We've played Manchester numerous times," Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger said. "It can, and should, be a bit of a rivalry."
Along with both being a part of the Three Rivers Conference, the players have also gotten to know each other off the field.
"A lot of their young kids come over here to play in our youth league," Manchester coach Brandon Baker said. "So it's a rivalry, but there's also friendship between the guys since some of them have known each other since third or fourth grade."
Manchester finished the season 4-6 (3-4 TRC), with Whitko wrapping up 2007 with a 3-7 (2-5 TRC) mark. Of Manchester's four wins, one of them came on a Sept. 7, 16-6 victory at Whitko High School.
"That was not a very pretty game by either side," Baker said of that Week 4 contest.
Since that game, both teams have made changes. Manchester had just implemented a new offense for the Whitko game, while the Wildcats were in a transition period at quarterback, before settling on sophomore Gabe Starkey.
"Gabe's just younger," Sprunger said of the difference between him and junior James Stoddard.
"The kid they have now (Starkey) is a good athlete," Baker said. "He has the run-pass option, so we need to work on containing him and not letting him run."
No matter the quarterback, Whitko's running game may be a bigger concern for Baker.
"They have two very good running backs," Baker said of Ryan Bumbaugh and Matt Strandlund. "(Strandlund) runs the trap inside, which he did great against us and again last week (in Whitko's 34-28 overtime win over Wabash)."
For Manchester, their change in offensive schemes came about because of a lack of player response to the Squires' initial wing-T offense.
"We've gotten better each week, but it still comes down to lining up against the guy across from you," Baker said.
The switch in offensive schemes may have helped the Squires' offense, which is averaging 14 points a game to Whitko's 15, but it's their defense that's the backbone of the team.
"They switched their offense right before they played us, and they're a fine ballclub," Sprunger said. "They've done a good job, but they have a really, really good defense."
That defense is led by senior Blaine Miller, whose play has picked up recently thanks to different play calls for him.
"Blaine's done much better the past couple weeks," Baker said of his senior linebacker. "That's partially because we aren't blitzing him as much as we did. He can now sit back and read the offense."
But that's not to say Starkey will never see Miller coming at him. It's just that when he does, he needs to read it and make the proper read.
"They run a stunting defense," Sprunger said. "It's quite a risk-reward scheme for a defense. So we just need to make the plays when they're there."
And with a shot at a sectional championship game on the line, each team is staying focused on the job at hand.
"We've preached to the players to take it a play at a time and a game at a time," Sprunger said.
For Baker, he's had similiar instructions for his guys.
"They just need to step up and get after it," he said.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092