Whitko Wildcats Win Again
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Cliff Tanner-
Whitko senior running back Adam Jarrell scored with 2:04 remaining in the game to secure the win, running straight up the middle, outrunning the Leo defenders from 26 yards out.[[In-content Ad]]"Tonight was definitely a game of momentum for us. When Leo scored earlier in the game we just got down and went into the locker room at halftime that way," Whitko coach Wayne Swender said.
Whitko gave the Lions a chance on the ensuing kickoff after being called for unnecessary roughness with a late hit on the tackle. With the penalty, Leo received the ball on the Whitko 49-yard line.
However, on the second play of the series Whitko's Kyle Slater put an end to the game when he stepped in front of the Lions receiver and intercepted the ball to give the Wildcats the ball with 1:28 remaining. The pick was Slater's second interception of the game.
Early on, it was Dan Aldea who began the scoring when he hit a field goal from 38 yards out at 5:10 left in the first quarter.
Aldea then kicked the ball out of the end zone on the kickoff giving Leo the ball at the 20.
After eating up the remainder of the first quarter clock, the Lions scored two plays into the second quarter when Kyle Marzek ran 41 yards to take the lead at 6-3 at the half. The extra point was blocked by James Tash.
Marzek also ran 47 yards to set up the second Leo score, finishing with 101 yards on 13 carries. Marzek's long run set up Connor Kacsor for a 1-yard score to 13-3 after Alex Heegan hit the extra point.
Whitko tried to get the passing game going in the second quarter and into the third.
Gabe Starkey had a difficult time completing passes as he was constantly rushed. In the third quarter, Starkey hit Cory Snep with 41-yard catch and run play to open up the offense.
Snep caught three passes on the drive for 58 yards.
With Snep's production, Starkey then hit Ryan Bumbaugh with a 14-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 13-10 after William Graves hit the extra point.
"We made some mistakes tonight on both sides of the ball. We have some things that we need to work on in practice," Swender said.
Starkey completed a pass to Bumbaugh for 11 yards after being sacked for a four-yard loss the play earlier to set up the winning score. Jarrell took the ball two plays later for the score.
Starkey finished the game 14-of-28 passing for 103 yards and one touchdown.
"Gabe Starkey is one of our hardest working kids on this football team. He worked very hard during the off season," Swender said.
The Whitko defense also rose to the occasion when it needed to.
Along with Slater's interceptions, Snep came close to having a couple of them himself. Snep knocked down the two passes as the Lions were on drives that were stopped because the play of Snep
"Our defense did a nice job for us tonight. They played hard. Other than the two 40-plus yard runs we did a good job of stopping them when we needed to," Swender said.
Bumbaugh had an all around good night offensively, finishing with 34 yards on nine carries and catching two passes for 25 yards.
Whitko goes into conference play against Southwood at home Friday.
Whitko senior running back Adam Jarrell scored with 2:04 remaining in the game to secure the win, running straight up the middle, outrunning the Leo defenders from 26 yards out.[[In-content Ad]]"Tonight was definitely a game of momentum for us. When Leo scored earlier in the game we just got down and went into the locker room at halftime that way," Whitko coach Wayne Swender said.
Whitko gave the Lions a chance on the ensuing kickoff after being called for unnecessary roughness with a late hit on the tackle. With the penalty, Leo received the ball on the Whitko 49-yard line.
However, on the second play of the series Whitko's Kyle Slater put an end to the game when he stepped in front of the Lions receiver and intercepted the ball to give the Wildcats the ball with 1:28 remaining. The pick was Slater's second interception of the game.
Early on, it was Dan Aldea who began the scoring when he hit a field goal from 38 yards out at 5:10 left in the first quarter.
Aldea then kicked the ball out of the end zone on the kickoff giving Leo the ball at the 20.
After eating up the remainder of the first quarter clock, the Lions scored two plays into the second quarter when Kyle Marzek ran 41 yards to take the lead at 6-3 at the half. The extra point was blocked by James Tash.
Marzek also ran 47 yards to set up the second Leo score, finishing with 101 yards on 13 carries. Marzek's long run set up Connor Kacsor for a 1-yard score to 13-3 after Alex Heegan hit the extra point.
Whitko tried to get the passing game going in the second quarter and into the third.
Gabe Starkey had a difficult time completing passes as he was constantly rushed. In the third quarter, Starkey hit Cory Snep with 41-yard catch and run play to open up the offense.
Snep caught three passes on the drive for 58 yards.
With Snep's production, Starkey then hit Ryan Bumbaugh with a 14-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 13-10 after William Graves hit the extra point.
"We made some mistakes tonight on both sides of the ball. We have some things that we need to work on in practice," Swender said.
Starkey completed a pass to Bumbaugh for 11 yards after being sacked for a four-yard loss the play earlier to set up the winning score. Jarrell took the ball two plays later for the score.
Starkey finished the game 14-of-28 passing for 103 yards and one touchdown.
"Gabe Starkey is one of our hardest working kids on this football team. He worked very hard during the off season," Swender said.
The Whitko defense also rose to the occasion when it needed to.
Along with Slater's interceptions, Snep came close to having a couple of them himself. Snep knocked down the two passes as the Lions were on drives that were stopped because the play of Snep
"Our defense did a nice job for us tonight. They played hard. Other than the two 40-plus yard runs we did a good job of stopping them when we needed to," Swender said.
Bumbaugh had an all around good night offensively, finishing with 34 yards on nine carries and catching two passes for 25 yards.
Whitko goes into conference play against Southwood at home Friday.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092