Southwood Wallops Whitko
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SOUTH WHITLEY - So far the Whitko Wildcats football team has been on a roller coaster season. After losing the opener to Wawasee, Whitko rebounded and beat Columbia City last week.
Then there was Friday. A 53-20 loss to Three Rivers Conference rival Southwood provided another down point for the Wildcats.
"We had one bright point offensively, but defensively, we just did not play well at all," Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger said.
That bright point was senior halfback Josh Gonzalez.
Gonzalez tallied 192 yards on 11 carries. He had runs for 71, 62 and 56 yards, including one punt return for a touchdown. Whitko quarterback Ben Mohr then hit short-yardage specialist Drew Dial for the 2-point conversion.
Outside of the conversion attempt, Mohr did not throw a pass as Whitko kept the ball on the ground the entire time.
"I guess it's back to the drawing board, and maybe next week we can tackle and defend those corners," Sprunger said.
And defense is what they needed. Whitko gave up 226 yards on the ground, 11 first downs and seven touchdowns.
"It's like starting all over, we'll try to learn to tackle," Sprunger said.
Whitko faces Manchester and the Squires' big weapon senior running back David Barrett Friday at Manchester.
SOUTHWOOD 53 WHITKO 20
Whitko 6 8 6 0 - 20
SouthWood 21 7 13 12 - 53
WH SW
First downs 5 11
Rushes-yards 22-189 23-226
Passing yards 0 32
Comp.-Att.-Int. 0-0-0 2-4-0
Total offense 194 258
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0
Punts-avg. 1-39 0-0
Penalties-yds. 2-15 4-45
First Quarter
SW - D.J. Mashall 5 run (Marshall kick), 7-0
WH - Josh Gonzalez 56 run (kick failed), 7-6
SW - Lonnie Heck 8 run (Marshall Kick), 14-7
SW - Paul Wright 17 run (Marshall Kick), 21-7
Second Quarter
WH - Josh Gonzalez 71 run (Drew Dial pass from Mohr), 21-14
S W - D.J. Marshall 9 run (Marshall kick), 28-14
Third Quarter
WH - Josh Gonzalez 62 punt return (pass failed), 28-20
SW - Clint Marshall 27 pass from Wright (kick failed), 34-20
SW - D.J. Marshall 4 run (Marshall kick), 41-20
Fourth Quarter
SW - Paul Wright 18 run (pass failed), 47-20
SW - Lonnie Heck 9 run (pass failed), 53-20
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Whitko, Josh Gonzalez 11-192, Seth Slater 11-51, Joe Potts 14-35. Southwood, D.J. Marshall 11-159, Lonnie Heck 3-80, Paul Wright 10-60
Receiving - Southwood, Clint Marshall 1-27
Passing - Whitko, Mohr 0-0-0 0. Southwood, Wright 2-4-0 32 [[In-content Ad]]
SOUTH WHITLEY - So far the Whitko Wildcats football team has been on a roller coaster season. After losing the opener to Wawasee, Whitko rebounded and beat Columbia City last week.
Then there was Friday. A 53-20 loss to Three Rivers Conference rival Southwood provided another down point for the Wildcats.
"We had one bright point offensively, but defensively, we just did not play well at all," Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger said.
That bright point was senior halfback Josh Gonzalez.
Gonzalez tallied 192 yards on 11 carries. He had runs for 71, 62 and 56 yards, including one punt return for a touchdown. Whitko quarterback Ben Mohr then hit short-yardage specialist Drew Dial for the 2-point conversion.
Outside of the conversion attempt, Mohr did not throw a pass as Whitko kept the ball on the ground the entire time.
"I guess it's back to the drawing board, and maybe next week we can tackle and defend those corners," Sprunger said.
And defense is what they needed. Whitko gave up 226 yards on the ground, 11 first downs and seven touchdowns.
"It's like starting all over, we'll try to learn to tackle," Sprunger said.
Whitko faces Manchester and the Squires' big weapon senior running back David Barrett Friday at Manchester.
SOUTHWOOD 53 WHITKO 20
Whitko 6 8 6 0 - 20
SouthWood 21 7 13 12 - 53
WH SW
First downs 5 11
Rushes-yards 22-189 23-226
Passing yards 0 32
Comp.-Att.-Int. 0-0-0 2-4-0
Total offense 194 258
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0
Punts-avg. 1-39 0-0
Penalties-yds. 2-15 4-45
First Quarter
SW - D.J. Mashall 5 run (Marshall kick), 7-0
WH - Josh Gonzalez 56 run (kick failed), 7-6
SW - Lonnie Heck 8 run (Marshall Kick), 14-7
SW - Paul Wright 17 run (Marshall Kick), 21-7
Second Quarter
WH - Josh Gonzalez 71 run (Drew Dial pass from Mohr), 21-14
S W - D.J. Marshall 9 run (Marshall kick), 28-14
Third Quarter
WH - Josh Gonzalez 62 punt return (pass failed), 28-20
SW - Clint Marshall 27 pass from Wright (kick failed), 34-20
SW - D.J. Marshall 4 run (Marshall kick), 41-20
Fourth Quarter
SW - Paul Wright 18 run (pass failed), 47-20
SW - Lonnie Heck 9 run (pass failed), 53-20
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Whitko, Josh Gonzalez 11-192, Seth Slater 11-51, Joe Potts 14-35. Southwood, D.J. Marshall 11-159, Lonnie Heck 3-80, Paul Wright 10-60
Receiving - Southwood, Clint Marshall 1-27
Passing - Whitko, Mohr 0-0-0 0. Southwood, Wright 2-4-0 32 [[In-content Ad]]