Syracuse -ÊA new millenium, the same result.

The Wawasee Warriors started off the 2000 version of football the same way they started the past season, by defeating the Whitko Wildcats by a 20-point margin. The Warriors were able to defeat Whitko 42-22 by means of some big plays and some long, sustained drives. One season ago, Wawasee shut out the Wildcats 20-0 at Whitko.

One major reason for the impressive victory was the play of junior quarterback Brent Doty. Doty rushed for a team-high 62 yards, highlighted by a 57-yard touchdown, and passed for 107 yards, completing 11 of 15 attempts.

Wawasee coach Joe Rietveld was somewhat surprised by Doty's effort but appreciative of his talents.

"I've never seen Doty run like that," he said. "He didn't do that last year, but he is a great athlete and made some big plays."

Big plays he did make. Aside from the 57-yard scoring play, Doty also scored from 16 yards out and passed for another, a 10-yard play to Travis Klenke.

But it was Whitko which opened the scoring by going 82 yards on 15 plays, capped off by quarterback Adam Wendel scoring from three yards out on fourth down. The two-point conversion was good, giving Whitko a short-lived 8-0 lead.

Wawasee knotted the score at 8-8 by driving 57 yards in 10 plays when Jimmy Meyer went over from the 9-yard line. The two-point conversion, Doty to Klenke, evened the contest at the 9:47 mark of the second quarter.

The last two minutes of the second quarter are a time Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger would soon like to forget.

With just 1:24 remaining, Whitko elected to go for a fourth-and-two situation from midfield rather than punt. Sprunger called on a sprint-option, but Wawasee was more than equal to the task by stopping the Wildcats dead.

"We decided to go for the first down by trying to build some confidence. If the situation ever comes up again, I'd do it again," Sprunger said.

The momentum shifted in favor of Wawasee. The Warriors drove the 50 yards in just 1:04, Doty to Klenke from 10 yards out, to take a 15-8 lead into halftime.

The second half proved to be all Wawasee.

Doty scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to make the score 29-8.

Whitko was able to answer briefly when Brent Goble outraced the Warrior secondary for a 65-yard touchdown, making the score 29-14. The Wildcats got no closer as the Warrior defense asserted itself.

With the ball on its 7-yard line, Wendel went back to pass but was blindsided by right defensive end Justin Magid, causing Wendel to fumble. Linebacker Luke Speakman fell on the ball at the 11:54 mark of the fourth quarter, giving Wawasee an insurmountable 36-14 lead.

As for Magid's play, Rietveld said, "He's a kid that has done everything I've asked him. He did a great job, and he is one smart kid."

Magid had two sacks and forced two fumbles.

Wawasee was not done in the scoring column. At the 9:52 mark of the fourth quarter, Klenke gathered in a Whitko punt at his own 44, shed a tackle and raced down the sideline for an electrifying return of 56 yards, capping off the Warrior scoring for the evening.

This marked the third consecutive year Klenke returned a kick against Whitko. Klenke returned a punt one year ago and a kickoff two years ago.

As for Wawasee's overall effort, Rietveld was pleased.

"We did a pretty good job," he said. "It took a while for us to get going. We came out and we knew we could throw the ball."

The bad news for Wawasee was the inability to stop the run. Whitko gained 206 yards on 43 carries.

As for Whitko and coach Sprunger, Sprunger offered this: "We played some giveaway. We thought we could surprise them. But the thing about this team, we're going to get better."

Get better they must for Columbia City next invades South Whitley. Columbia City pasted the Wildcats one year ago 45-8. Warsaw beat Columbia City 19-13 last night.

Next up for the Warriors is a trip to Allen County for an engagement with Carroll High School. Rietveld described Carroll as "a very athletic team. It will be a good test."

Carroll handed Wawasee a 30-12 defeat at Warrior Field one year ago, and Carroll drilled Leo 44-14 last night.

WAWASEE 42, WHITKO 22

Whitko 8 0 6 8 -Ê22

Wawasee 0 15 14 13 -Ê42

Whitko Wawasee

First downs 15 11

rushing yards 43-206 30-159

passing yards 99 107

comp-att-int 9-14-0 11-15-1

total offense 305 266

fumbles/lost 3-2 2-1

punts/avg. 3-28 2-43

penalties/yards 2-9 5-35

First Quarter

Whitko - Adam Wendel 3 run (Goble run) 1:43, 8-0 Whitko

Second Quarter

Wawasee -ÊJimmy Meyer 9 run (Doty to Klenke pass) 9:47, 8-8

Wawasee - Brent Doty 10 pass to Klenke (Wooten kick) :20, 15-8 Wawasee

Third Quarter

Wawasee - Doty 16 run (Wooten kick) 6:16, 22-8 Wawasee

Wawasee - Doty 57 run (Wooten kick) 5:37, 29-8 Wawasee

Whitko - Brent Goble 65 run (run failed) 4:14, 29-14 Wawasee

Fourth Quarter

Wawasee - Speakman recovers fumble in end zone (Wooten kick) 11:54, 36-14 Wawasee

Wawasee -ÊKlenke 56 punt return (conversion failed, bad snap) 9:52, 42-14

Whitko -Êsafety (Wawasee hiked ball out of end zone) 2:37, 42-16 Wawasee

Whitko -ÊBrad Walpole 10 pass to Brett Lukens (conversion failed) 42-22 Wawasee

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing -ÊWhitko: Goble 6-100, Haywood 6-27, Shepherd 10-40, Wendel 10-1, Robbins 5-22, Boardman 4-6, Langhor 2-12. Wawasee: Klenke 7-48, Meyer 3-15, Doty 7-62, Lees 7-27, Conley 2-(-3), Evans 3-22, Siri 1-(-7)

Receiving - Whitko: Shepherd 2-23, Hall 2-22, Frantz 2-31, Lukens 1-10, Goble 1-5. Wawasee: Speicher 3-10 Adkins 1-5, Klenke 2-26, Chang 1-10, Edgington 1-25, Likens 3-25

Passing -ÊWhitko: Wendel 6-10-0-53, Walpole 3-4-0-46. Wawasee: Brent Doty 11-15-1-107. [[In-content Ad]]