Lakers Show Whitko Error Of Its Ways

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer-

SOUTH WHITLEY -ÊThe Whitko Wildcats knew they were going to have their work cut out for them Friday night when they played Lakeland in the second round of the football sectional.

The Lakers proved it on the first play of the game as Drew Leer returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown to give Lakeland a 7-0 advantage with just 11 ticks off the first quarter clock.

"They started out with that kickoff return," said Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger. "People were where they were supposed to be, but they just didn't get the job done. Then we started kind of going everywhere after that. The guys were just flying around out there out of control."

Then Maurice Satterfield caught two touchdown passes before the first quarter had expired, one at 5:43 and the other with 16 seconds left to put the Lakers up 21-0 heading into the second quarter of play.

But Whitko drew first blood in the second quarter. After starting the drive on thier own 10 yard line in the waning seconds of the first quarter, the Wildcats moved the ball 90 yards down the field. Adam Wendel put the exclamation mark on the drive with a 3-yard run to paydirt. After a two-point conversion pass from Wendel to Dustin Boardman, Whitko cut Lakeland's lead to 21-8.

However, that Lakeland responded to Whitko's drive with a touchdown of its own. Leer broke away for a 36-yard touchdown run, making the score 27-8.

Just two plays later, Whitko gave the ball back to the Lakers on a fumble. With 1:14 left in the first half, Satterfield made an over-the-shoulder catch good for 22 yards and another Lakeland touchdown.

"We got out of rhythm and lost a bit of focus in the first half," said Sprunger.

At the half, Lakeland held a 34-8 advantage over the Wildcats.

Whitko came out ready to play in the second half. On their first drive of the third quarter, the Wildcats moved the ball 66 yards down the field for another touchdown. Wendel connected with Burl Haywood for a 12-yard scoring pass. Again, the Whitko squad converted for two points to make the score 34-16 in Lakeland's favor.

"We didn't settle down until halftime," said Sprunger. "We played awful hard in the second half.

"We executed much better in the second half than we did in the first."

Whitko held Lakeland scoreless and forced them to punt on the next drive, and the Wildcats had all intentions of making a comeback worthy of rivaling last week's Dolphins-Jets matchup.

However, the Lakers had something else in mind. The punt touched a Whitko player and Lakeland recovered it on the Whitko 6-yard line. Two plays later, Leer had another touchdown under his belt and Lakeland owned a 41-6 lead.

Lakeland outscored Whitko (3-8) 6-0 in the final quarter of play to finish with a 47-16 victory.

The Lakers (6-5) move on to play 9-2 NorthWood in the sectional final Friday in Nappanee. Whitko ends the season 3-8.

LAKELAND 47, WHITKO 16

Lakeland 21 13 7 6 - 47

Whitko 0 8 8 0 - 16

W L

First downs 16 17

Rushes/yards 46-184 44-259

Passing yards 108 134

Comp.-Att.-Int. 9-16-0 10-5-0

Total offense 292 393

Fumbles/lost 7-5 1-0

Punts/avg. 2-26 3-41.7

Penalties/yards 2-10 9-76

First Quarter

L -ÊDrew Leer 80 kickoff return (Maurice Satterfield kick) 7-0 L, 11:49

L -ÊSatterfield 17 pass from John VanderRoest (Satterfield kick) 14-0 L, 5:43

L -ÊSatterfield 10 pass from VanderRoest (Satterfield kick) 21-0, 0:16

Second Quarter

W - Adam Wendel 3 run (Wendel to Dustin Boardman) 21-8 L, 4:01

L -ÊLeer 37 run (kick failed), 27-8 L, 2:05

L -ÊSatterfield 22 pass from VanderRoest (Satterfield kick) 34-8 L 1:14

Third Quarter

W - Burl Haywood 12 pass from Wendel (Wendel to Adam Hall) 34-16 L, 9:31

L - Leer 1 run (Satterfield kick) 41-16 L, 3:44

Fourth Quarter

L -ÊB.J. Kerns 28 run (kick failed) 47-16 L, 3:10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - W: Brent Goble 13-117, Burl Haywood 9-24, Adam Wendel 7-29, Drew Lopshire 11-15, Dustin Boardman 1-6, Alan Robbins 2-7, Brad Walpole 2-(-10); Adam Hall 1-(-4); L: Drew Leer 32-151, Jon Micken 6-44, Ben Miller 2-9, Maurice Satterfield 1-5, B.J. Kerns 3-43, Justin Lower 1-7

Passing -ÊW: Wendel 8-15-0 112 yards, Brad Walpole 1-1-0 (-4) yards; John VanderRoest 5-10-0, 134 yards 3 TD

Receiving - W: Alex Frantz 1-20, Brent Goble 3-43, Burl Haywood 3-36; Adam Hall 1-13, Dustin Boardman 1-(-4); Maurice Satterfield 5-134 [[In-content Ad]]

SOUTH WHITLEY -ÊThe Whitko Wildcats knew they were going to have their work cut out for them Friday night when they played Lakeland in the second round of the football sectional.

The Lakers proved it on the first play of the game as Drew Leer returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown to give Lakeland a 7-0 advantage with just 11 ticks off the first quarter clock.

"They started out with that kickoff return," said Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger. "People were where they were supposed to be, but they just didn't get the job done. Then we started kind of going everywhere after that. The guys were just flying around out there out of control."

Then Maurice Satterfield caught two touchdown passes before the first quarter had expired, one at 5:43 and the other with 16 seconds left to put the Lakers up 21-0 heading into the second quarter of play.

But Whitko drew first blood in the second quarter. After starting the drive on thier own 10 yard line in the waning seconds of the first quarter, the Wildcats moved the ball 90 yards down the field. Adam Wendel put the exclamation mark on the drive with a 3-yard run to paydirt. After a two-point conversion pass from Wendel to Dustin Boardman, Whitko cut Lakeland's lead to 21-8.

However, that Lakeland responded to Whitko's drive with a touchdown of its own. Leer broke away for a 36-yard touchdown run, making the score 27-8.

Just two plays later, Whitko gave the ball back to the Lakers on a fumble. With 1:14 left in the first half, Satterfield made an over-the-shoulder catch good for 22 yards and another Lakeland touchdown.

"We got out of rhythm and lost a bit of focus in the first half," said Sprunger.

At the half, Lakeland held a 34-8 advantage over the Wildcats.

Whitko came out ready to play in the second half. On their first drive of the third quarter, the Wildcats moved the ball 66 yards down the field for another touchdown. Wendel connected with Burl Haywood for a 12-yard scoring pass. Again, the Whitko squad converted for two points to make the score 34-16 in Lakeland's favor.

"We didn't settle down until halftime," said Sprunger. "We played awful hard in the second half.

"We executed much better in the second half than we did in the first."

Whitko held Lakeland scoreless and forced them to punt on the next drive, and the Wildcats had all intentions of making a comeback worthy of rivaling last week's Dolphins-Jets matchup.

However, the Lakers had something else in mind. The punt touched a Whitko player and Lakeland recovered it on the Whitko 6-yard line. Two plays later, Leer had another touchdown under his belt and Lakeland owned a 41-6 lead.

Lakeland outscored Whitko (3-8) 6-0 in the final quarter of play to finish with a 47-16 victory.

The Lakers (6-5) move on to play 9-2 NorthWood in the sectional final Friday in Nappanee. Whitko ends the season 3-8.

LAKELAND 47, WHITKO 16

Lakeland 21 13 7 6 - 47

Whitko 0 8 8 0 - 16

W L

First downs 16 17

Rushes/yards 46-184 44-259

Passing yards 108 134

Comp.-Att.-Int. 9-16-0 10-5-0

Total offense 292 393

Fumbles/lost 7-5 1-0

Punts/avg. 2-26 3-41.7

Penalties/yards 2-10 9-76

First Quarter

L -ÊDrew Leer 80 kickoff return (Maurice Satterfield kick) 7-0 L, 11:49

L -ÊSatterfield 17 pass from John VanderRoest (Satterfield kick) 14-0 L, 5:43

L -ÊSatterfield 10 pass from VanderRoest (Satterfield kick) 21-0, 0:16

Second Quarter

W - Adam Wendel 3 run (Wendel to Dustin Boardman) 21-8 L, 4:01

L -ÊLeer 37 run (kick failed), 27-8 L, 2:05

L -ÊSatterfield 22 pass from VanderRoest (Satterfield kick) 34-8 L 1:14

Third Quarter

W - Burl Haywood 12 pass from Wendel (Wendel to Adam Hall) 34-16 L, 9:31

L - Leer 1 run (Satterfield kick) 41-16 L, 3:44

Fourth Quarter

L -ÊB.J. Kerns 28 run (kick failed) 47-16 L, 3:10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - W: Brent Goble 13-117, Burl Haywood 9-24, Adam Wendel 7-29, Drew Lopshire 11-15, Dustin Boardman 1-6, Alan Robbins 2-7, Brad Walpole 2-(-10); Adam Hall 1-(-4); L: Drew Leer 32-151, Jon Micken 6-44, Ben Miller 2-9, Maurice Satterfield 1-5, B.J. Kerns 3-43, Justin Lower 1-7

Passing -ÊW: Wendel 8-15-0 112 yards, Brad Walpole 1-1-0 (-4) yards; John VanderRoest 5-10-0, 134 yards 3 TD

Receiving - W: Alex Frantz 1-20, Brent Goble 3-43, Burl Haywood 3-36; Adam Hall 1-13, Dustin Boardman 1-(-4); Maurice Satterfield 5-134 [[In-content Ad]]

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