Whitko Extends TRC Win Streak
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Ryan Villanueva-
However, a few key plays in the second half led the Wildcats to what coach Wayne Swender described as an ugly 31-14 victory in South Whitley.
“It wasn’t very pretty, but we found ways to score some points and our defense stepped up in the second half,” Swender said. “Second half, we had a breakdown where they scored, but we had a good team effort tonight. It wasn’t very pretty, but we found ways to score some points and our defense stepped up in the second half.”
It did not take very long for the Wildcats to draw first blood from the Norse. Alex Stoddard completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Nettrouer a little more than two minutes into the game.
Chris Bumbaugh scored for the Wildcats (4-2 overall, 4-0 TRC) late in the first quarter on a 3-yard run to increase the Wildcats' lead to 14-0. Bumbaugh finished with 114 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns, including a 33-yard scoring run later in the game.
A momentum shift in favor of the Norse came after Stoddard threw an interception to Northfield's Joe Frieden near the end of the first quarter.
Northfield (2-4 overall, 0-4 TRC) ended Whitko's shutout streak in the TRC on the ensuing possession with 5:37 remaining in the second quarter after junior fullback Andy Roser punched it in from two yards out. On the ensuing PAT, Whitko commited consecutive offsides penalties, placing the ball inside Whitko 1-yard line. Roser again ran it in to bring the Norse within six points.
The Norse had a chance to at least tie the game late in the second quarter, but an interception by Stoddard with under a minute remaining in the first half preserved Whitko's lead going into halftime.
Stoddard completed 3 of his 8 passes for 71 yards, tossing two interceptions on the night. However, it was Stoddard's heroics on defense and a 60-yard run with 2:41 remaining in the that helped secure the Wildcats' 11th straight TRC victory.
Although they may not have been satisfied, Bumbaugh and his teammates look to improve going into next week.
“We just know that when we are down and we aren’t winning like we need to be, we need to get up and get after it,” Bumbaugh said. “That’s something that’s been our goal all year long.”
Swender said his team’s keys to the second half were to be able to run the ball off the tackle.
“Our offensive line did a nice job tonight, and our fullback and halfback did as nice job as well.”
Whitko was without senior wide receiver Derek Snep, who was resting this week after rolling his ankle last Friday against Wabash. Snep is expected to return next week when the Wildcats travel to North Miami.
North Miami, Rochester, Tippecanoe Valley and Whitko are all 4-0 in the TRC.
Whitko's victory completes the four-game sweep of the Wabash County schools in the TRC. Whitko posted a combined score of 145-14 against the Norse, Manchester, Wabash and Southwood. The Wildcats’ last conference game loss was Oct. 16, 2009, when they fell 21-20 to Tippecanoe Valley.[[In-content Ad]]
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However, a few key plays in the second half led the Wildcats to what coach Wayne Swender described as an ugly 31-14 victory in South Whitley.
“It wasn’t very pretty, but we found ways to score some points and our defense stepped up in the second half,” Swender said. “Second half, we had a breakdown where they scored, but we had a good team effort tonight. It wasn’t very pretty, but we found ways to score some points and our defense stepped up in the second half.”
It did not take very long for the Wildcats to draw first blood from the Norse. Alex Stoddard completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Nettrouer a little more than two minutes into the game.
Chris Bumbaugh scored for the Wildcats (4-2 overall, 4-0 TRC) late in the first quarter on a 3-yard run to increase the Wildcats' lead to 14-0. Bumbaugh finished with 114 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns, including a 33-yard scoring run later in the game.
A momentum shift in favor of the Norse came after Stoddard threw an interception to Northfield's Joe Frieden near the end of the first quarter.
Northfield (2-4 overall, 0-4 TRC) ended Whitko's shutout streak in the TRC on the ensuing possession with 5:37 remaining in the second quarter after junior fullback Andy Roser punched it in from two yards out. On the ensuing PAT, Whitko commited consecutive offsides penalties, placing the ball inside Whitko 1-yard line. Roser again ran it in to bring the Norse within six points.
The Norse had a chance to at least tie the game late in the second quarter, but an interception by Stoddard with under a minute remaining in the first half preserved Whitko's lead going into halftime.
Stoddard completed 3 of his 8 passes for 71 yards, tossing two interceptions on the night. However, it was Stoddard's heroics on defense and a 60-yard run with 2:41 remaining in the that helped secure the Wildcats' 11th straight TRC victory.
Although they may not have been satisfied, Bumbaugh and his teammates look to improve going into next week.
“We just know that when we are down and we aren’t winning like we need to be, we need to get up and get after it,” Bumbaugh said. “That’s something that’s been our goal all year long.”
Swender said his team’s keys to the second half were to be able to run the ball off the tackle.
“Our offensive line did a nice job tonight, and our fullback and halfback did as nice job as well.”
Whitko was without senior wide receiver Derek Snep, who was resting this week after rolling his ankle last Friday against Wabash. Snep is expected to return next week when the Wildcats travel to North Miami.
North Miami, Rochester, Tippecanoe Valley and Whitko are all 4-0 in the TRC.
Whitko's victory completes the four-game sweep of the Wabash County schools in the TRC. Whitko posted a combined score of 145-14 against the Norse, Manchester, Wabash and Southwood. The Wildcats’ last conference game loss was Oct. 16, 2009, when they fell 21-20 to Tippecanoe Valley.[[In-content Ad]]
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