Whitko Escapes Against Rochester
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
ROCHESTER - Teams just can't be expected to come up with big play after big play the way Whitko did Friday night against the Rochester Zebras. Facing what seemed like insurmountable odds time after time, the Wildcats met the challenge in a thrilling 18-17 victory.
Rochester kicker Josh Smith missed a 21 yard field goal attempt wide right with two seconds to play that gave Whitko a wild come-from-behind victory on Senior Night in Rochester.
Consider the opportunities Rochester had to put the final touches on the game before the field goal attempt:
• In the second quarter, Rochester led 14-6 and just regained the ball with two minutes to play after stopping Whitko on a fourth-and-one. The Wildcats stopped them six times inside the twenty-yard line, and held them to a field goal to close out the half and stay close.
nOn the first drive of the second half, Rochester drove to the Whitko 10 yard line. Whitko forced Mike Smith, the Zebras quarterback, to fumble the ball away on third-and-twelve.
• After cutting the lead to 17-12, the Wildcats forced Rochester into a passing situation on third-and-thirteen. Smith threw an interception to Jimmy Linn, who returned the ball to the Rochester 29 yard line.
• After falling behind 18-17, Rochester drove to the twenty yard line, where Bret Henderson was hit hard and fumbled the ball away with just over six minutes to play.
The first quarter began as if the Zebras would dominate the game, as they took the ball 80 yards on six plays for the opening score. The drive was highlighted by runs of 23 yards and 32 yards from Andy Swank, and was capped off with a 13-yard run to the end zone by Henderson.
"On the first drive, we were just flying to the football and overpursuing," said Whitko head coach Bryan Sprunger. "Either they were bouncing it out, or they were cutting back."
However, Whitko struck back with a six minute, 14-play drive that ended with a six yard touchdown on a quarterback keeper from Jimmy Linn. They missed the two point-conversion attempt, though, to stay behind 7-6.
Rochester scored again three minutes into the second quarter on a seven-yard run by Swank to go ahead 14-6.
The only scoring in the rest of the half was the 21-yard field goal from Josh Smith to extend the Rochester lead to 11.
"We told the kids to stay home, and they sat down on their heels the entire second quarter," said coach Sprunger. "We just played defensively poorly in the first half."
Swank rushed for 110 yards in the first half alone and the Zebras averaged 7.9 yards per carry.
"I got a chance to talk to them at halftime," said coach Sprunger, "and get them settled down and doing the things they needed to do. I told the kids we can do all the X-in' and O-in' we want to do, but we can't give them the courage and the desire to play hard."
After recovering the fumble on Rochester's opening drive of the third quarter, Whitko drove 80 yards on 12 plays with Keith Starkweather punching it in from four yards out. Once again, the two-point conversion attempt was no good, but Whitko was only down 17-12.
Whitko scored again two minutes into the fourth quarter, after the Linn interception gave them great field position. Adam Slater carried the ball into the end zone from seven yards away to give the Wildcats the one point lead.
"Jimmy Linn's a good football player," said coach Sprunger. "He's not a great quarterback, he's not a great strong safety, but he's a great football player, and he played hard tonight."
Rochester had two more drives, each ending in disastrous results. First was the fumble at the Whitko twenty yard line, then came the missed field goal with two seconds to play that gave the Wildcats the big Three Rivers Conference victory, their third win in a row.
"You've got to give the kids a lot of credit for coming back," said coach Sprunger. "You dig yourself a 17-6 hole like we did at halftime against a very fine Rochester football team; We're just happy to get out of here alive."
For Whitko (5-2, 4-2), the win keeps them in a three-way tie for second place with Tippecanoe Valley and Oak Hill in the TRC.
The Wildcats head to Mentone to battle the Valley Vikings on Friday. [[In-content Ad]]
ROCHESTER - Teams just can't be expected to come up with big play after big play the way Whitko did Friday night against the Rochester Zebras. Facing what seemed like insurmountable odds time after time, the Wildcats met the challenge in a thrilling 18-17 victory.
Rochester kicker Josh Smith missed a 21 yard field goal attempt wide right with two seconds to play that gave Whitko a wild come-from-behind victory on Senior Night in Rochester.
Consider the opportunities Rochester had to put the final touches on the game before the field goal attempt:
• In the second quarter, Rochester led 14-6 and just regained the ball with two minutes to play after stopping Whitko on a fourth-and-one. The Wildcats stopped them six times inside the twenty-yard line, and held them to a field goal to close out the half and stay close.
nOn the first drive of the second half, Rochester drove to the Whitko 10 yard line. Whitko forced Mike Smith, the Zebras quarterback, to fumble the ball away on third-and-twelve.
• After cutting the lead to 17-12, the Wildcats forced Rochester into a passing situation on third-and-thirteen. Smith threw an interception to Jimmy Linn, who returned the ball to the Rochester 29 yard line.
• After falling behind 18-17, Rochester drove to the twenty yard line, where Bret Henderson was hit hard and fumbled the ball away with just over six minutes to play.
The first quarter began as if the Zebras would dominate the game, as they took the ball 80 yards on six plays for the opening score. The drive was highlighted by runs of 23 yards and 32 yards from Andy Swank, and was capped off with a 13-yard run to the end zone by Henderson.
"On the first drive, we were just flying to the football and overpursuing," said Whitko head coach Bryan Sprunger. "Either they were bouncing it out, or they were cutting back."
However, Whitko struck back with a six minute, 14-play drive that ended with a six yard touchdown on a quarterback keeper from Jimmy Linn. They missed the two point-conversion attempt, though, to stay behind 7-6.
Rochester scored again three minutes into the second quarter on a seven-yard run by Swank to go ahead 14-6.
The only scoring in the rest of the half was the 21-yard field goal from Josh Smith to extend the Rochester lead to 11.
"We told the kids to stay home, and they sat down on their heels the entire second quarter," said coach Sprunger. "We just played defensively poorly in the first half."
Swank rushed for 110 yards in the first half alone and the Zebras averaged 7.9 yards per carry.
"I got a chance to talk to them at halftime," said coach Sprunger, "and get them settled down and doing the things they needed to do. I told the kids we can do all the X-in' and O-in' we want to do, but we can't give them the courage and the desire to play hard."
After recovering the fumble on Rochester's opening drive of the third quarter, Whitko drove 80 yards on 12 plays with Keith Starkweather punching it in from four yards out. Once again, the two-point conversion attempt was no good, but Whitko was only down 17-12.
Whitko scored again two minutes into the fourth quarter, after the Linn interception gave them great field position. Adam Slater carried the ball into the end zone from seven yards away to give the Wildcats the one point lead.
"Jimmy Linn's a good football player," said coach Sprunger. "He's not a great quarterback, he's not a great strong safety, but he's a great football player, and he played hard tonight."
Rochester had two more drives, each ending in disastrous results. First was the fumble at the Whitko twenty yard line, then came the missed field goal with two seconds to play that gave the Wildcats the big Three Rivers Conference victory, their third win in a row.
"You've got to give the kids a lot of credit for coming back," said coach Sprunger. "You dig yourself a 17-6 hole like we did at halftime against a very fine Rochester football team; We're just happy to get out of here alive."
For Whitko (5-2, 4-2), the win keeps them in a three-way tie for second place with Tippecanoe Valley and Oak Hill in the TRC.
The Wildcats head to Mentone to battle the Valley Vikings on Friday. [[In-content Ad]]