Vikings Win Title Outright
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
AKRON - Nothing could have been more satisfying for Bryan Sprunger and his Whitko Wildcat squad than to have played the role of spoiler in Friday night's game with Three Rivers Conference rival Tippecanoe Valley.
Valley, seeking its first undefeated conference record in ten years, only had to defeat the Wildcats to claim the Three Rivers Conference crown outright. Whitko entered the contest seeking its second official conference win of the year. Earlier in the week, Whitko received official word from the IHSAA that it would be forced to forefiet three of its conference wins when it was learned the Wildcats had played ineligble players during their Southwood, Northfield and North Miami wins this season.
Whitko would come up short in its attempt to ruin Valley's night, as the Vikings controlled the Wildcats in a 34-13 win.
Valley took little time getting on the board as it went to the air on its second set of downs. Facing a third-and-10 from its own 40, Valley signal caller Bryce Kelley went to the air and connected with junior O'Brian Thompson for a 60-yard strike. Jerrod Parker added the extra point and Valley jumped out to a 7-0 lead with over nine minutes left in the first quarter. Whitko kept the game close early, as it also went to the air to find success.
Nate Hart, senior quarterback for the Wildcats, found Nik Simison on a 15-yard pass to extend Whitko's next drive. The drive was capped off by Tyler Wilkinson, who found the endzone from five yards out. But, Doru Aldea missed his extra point for the Wildcats, leaving them trailing 7-6.
It was clear early that Whitko had no intention of relenting to the Vikings. But, the second quarter proved to be too much for the Wildcats.
Valley found the endzone early in the second quarter when Bryan Wong converted a fourth-and-goal from the 4 to give the Vikings their second touchdown of the night.
Valley scored again in the quarter by going to Wong on the ground. Wong broke loose for a 32-yard run, only to be pulled down on the 5-yard line.
Two additional runs from Wong - four yards and one yard - and Valley scored its second touchdown of the second quarter.
Valley finished its scoring in the quarter after a blocked punt by the defense set up a short field.
Valley then recorded its shortest drive of the night, when, on the first play from scrimmage Kelley connected with Matt Hellums for a 24-yard pass and another Valley touchdown. Parker connected on two of his extra point attempts, missing only his first attempt of the quarter, giving the Vikings the 27-6 advantage at the half.
Whitko came out in the second half and was able to hold the Vikings scoreless during the third quarter.
The Vikings' best drive stalled when a holding penalty forced a field goal attempt. The field goal attempt by Parker fell just short of crossing the crossbar.
In the fourth quarter, Valley got back to its scoring ways when Wong was able to find the endzone for the third time of the night. This time Wong scored from 14 yards out and Parker added his fourth point after attempt to give Valley the 34-6 advantage.
Whitko, not willing to surrender, found the endzone for the second time of the night with 1:21 remaining in the contest. Wilkinson scored from one yard out, and this time Aldea connected on his point-after-attempt, making the final count 34-13.
Wong finished his regular season career with yet another 100-yard night. Wong finished with 125 yards and three touchdowns. Wilkinson finished one yard shy of Wong with 124 yards of his own and two touchdowns.
Bryce Kelley also ended with an impressive night of his own for the Vikings, completing 10 of 15 attempts for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Sprunger remained optimistic on the performance of his Wildcat squad.
"It's easy to fold up your tent and go home and we didn't do that," said Sprunger. "We have to respond to challenges and we did to start the second half."
Valley head coach Scott Bibler had nothing but high praise for his team in winning its first outright conference title since 1994.
"This team has come a long way since the beginning of the season," said Bibler. "I am very proud of this team and it is a blessing to be a part of them. I can't give the entire team and coaching staff enough credit."
Whitko is now 1-8 on the season and will open sectional play when it hosts Fort Wayne Bishop Luers Friday night.
Valley will take its 7-2 record on the road for the first round sectional at Culver Military Academy. [[In-content Ad]]
AKRON - Nothing could have been more satisfying for Bryan Sprunger and his Whitko Wildcat squad than to have played the role of spoiler in Friday night's game with Three Rivers Conference rival Tippecanoe Valley.
Valley, seeking its first undefeated conference record in ten years, only had to defeat the Wildcats to claim the Three Rivers Conference crown outright. Whitko entered the contest seeking its second official conference win of the year. Earlier in the week, Whitko received official word from the IHSAA that it would be forced to forefiet three of its conference wins when it was learned the Wildcats had played ineligble players during their Southwood, Northfield and North Miami wins this season.
Whitko would come up short in its attempt to ruin Valley's night, as the Vikings controlled the Wildcats in a 34-13 win.
Valley took little time getting on the board as it went to the air on its second set of downs. Facing a third-and-10 from its own 40, Valley signal caller Bryce Kelley went to the air and connected with junior O'Brian Thompson for a 60-yard strike. Jerrod Parker added the extra point and Valley jumped out to a 7-0 lead with over nine minutes left in the first quarter. Whitko kept the game close early, as it also went to the air to find success.
Nate Hart, senior quarterback for the Wildcats, found Nik Simison on a 15-yard pass to extend Whitko's next drive. The drive was capped off by Tyler Wilkinson, who found the endzone from five yards out. But, Doru Aldea missed his extra point for the Wildcats, leaving them trailing 7-6.
It was clear early that Whitko had no intention of relenting to the Vikings. But, the second quarter proved to be too much for the Wildcats.
Valley found the endzone early in the second quarter when Bryan Wong converted a fourth-and-goal from the 4 to give the Vikings their second touchdown of the night.
Valley scored again in the quarter by going to Wong on the ground. Wong broke loose for a 32-yard run, only to be pulled down on the 5-yard line.
Two additional runs from Wong - four yards and one yard - and Valley scored its second touchdown of the second quarter.
Valley finished its scoring in the quarter after a blocked punt by the defense set up a short field.
Valley then recorded its shortest drive of the night, when, on the first play from scrimmage Kelley connected with Matt Hellums for a 24-yard pass and another Valley touchdown. Parker connected on two of his extra point attempts, missing only his first attempt of the quarter, giving the Vikings the 27-6 advantage at the half.
Whitko came out in the second half and was able to hold the Vikings scoreless during the third quarter.
The Vikings' best drive stalled when a holding penalty forced a field goal attempt. The field goal attempt by Parker fell just short of crossing the crossbar.
In the fourth quarter, Valley got back to its scoring ways when Wong was able to find the endzone for the third time of the night. This time Wong scored from 14 yards out and Parker added his fourth point after attempt to give Valley the 34-6 advantage.
Whitko, not willing to surrender, found the endzone for the second time of the night with 1:21 remaining in the contest. Wilkinson scored from one yard out, and this time Aldea connected on his point-after-attempt, making the final count 34-13.
Wong finished his regular season career with yet another 100-yard night. Wong finished with 125 yards and three touchdowns. Wilkinson finished one yard shy of Wong with 124 yards of his own and two touchdowns.
Bryce Kelley also ended with an impressive night of his own for the Vikings, completing 10 of 15 attempts for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Sprunger remained optimistic on the performance of his Wildcat squad.
"It's easy to fold up your tent and go home and we didn't do that," said Sprunger. "We have to respond to challenges and we did to start the second half."
Valley head coach Scott Bibler had nothing but high praise for his team in winning its first outright conference title since 1994.
"This team has come a long way since the beginning of the season," said Bibler. "I am very proud of this team and it is a blessing to be a part of them. I can't give the entire team and coaching staff enough credit."
Whitko is now 1-8 on the season and will open sectional play when it hosts Fort Wayne Bishop Luers Friday night.
Valley will take its 7-2 record on the road for the first round sectional at Culver Military Academy. [[In-content Ad]]