SOUTH WHITLEY - Whitko's 1986 football team, a state champion, was honored at halftime last night. Current coach Bryan Sprunger was their coach 10 years ago, and that football team won the state title the way Sprunger likes to win all of his games - by running the football.

With several of the 1986 members looking on from the stands, the 1996 Wildcats borrowed a page from their playbook.

Whitko rushed for 514 yards on 105 carries and smashed a young North Miami squad 40-6. The North Miami defense had shaky statistics entering the game - the Warriors were allowing 32 points per game. Whitko's offensive line dominated the game, creating gaping holes that the backs shot through for big yardage. When the Wildcats weren't ramming the ball up the middle, they swung it around to the outside for even more yardage.

Quarterback Jimmy Linn, who could not be stopped unless he was gang-tackled, had runs of 29, 28 and 20 yards as he led the Wildcats with 115 yards on nine carries. Halfback Bryan Rose, who rushed for more than 100 yards last week, rushed for 84 on 17 carries. Adam Slater carried the ball six times and racked up 68 yards.

"Jimmy had a nice night," Sprunger said. "They came after us and were pretty intent on shutting us down from tackle to tackle. Jimmy and Bryan were able to get outside several times and create good yardage."

Fullback Keith Starkweather scored two touchdowns on one- and two-yard runs in the first half, helping the Wildcats to a 22-0 halftime lead. With Whitko leading 28-6 after three quarters, Linn put North Miami away for good in the fourth quarter.

Linn scored on a three-yard run with 11:48 left, putting Whitko up 34-6. Linn, who also plays defense, recovered a fumble and ran 35 yards for Whitko's final touchdown with 10 minutes left.

When North Miami and Whitko have battled in the past, usually it's for a spot near the top of the TRC. Sprunger said things are different this year.

"They're in a transitional period," Sprunger said. "I have the utmost respect for their football program. They're young like we are, but I think we outnumbered them a little."

North Miami is 1-5 overall and 1-4 in the TRC.

Whitko, 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the TRC, is at Rochester next Friday.

Five hundred rushing yards. Just like we did it in 1986, Sprunger said after the game.

"The tradition at Whitko is to run the football," he said. "We'd like to continue that tradition. I think at this level of football, it serves us well." [[In-content Ad]]