SOUTH WHITLEY – After a heartbreaking loss to Three Rivers Conference champion Peru last week, the Whitko Wildcats had plenty of reason to smile Friday night. Junior quarterback Garrett Elder carried the ball seven times for 150 yards and three touchdowns, and threw for another score, as the Wildcats rolled over the Prairie Heights Panthers 45-0 in Class 2A sectional action at Ryan Huff Memorial Stadium. Very few things went wrong for the ‘Cats – they didn’t commit any turnovers and had held Prairie Heights to negative yardage at the conclusion of the game. The Wildcats had 325 yards on the ground by halftime. If there were any issues, they probably wouldn’t be detected until the coaches watched the game film, according to Whitko head coach Josh Mohr. “There’s always something,” said Mohr. “The speed of the game is something you take account of every week, and to trying to run what you run faster and work on the little details.” On top of Elder’s three rushing touchdowns, he tacked on an 8-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wideout Robbie Owsley. Sophomore fullback Hunter Reed carried the ball 16 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Gavin Powell also scored on the ground in the shutout victory. Mohr attributes his players’ success to their performance in practice this week. “The kids did a great job with preparation all week and just refining what we are doing and working out any kinks that we had,” said Mohr. “I was proud of them coming out fighting yard after yard, play after play, and to keep focused and to just move on to Week 2.” Prairie Heights, which finished the year winless, will carry a 17-game losing streak into next year. Their last win dates back to Oct. 10, 2014 when they defeated Fremont 23-6. Whitko will host fellow Whitley County school Churubusco in a sectional semifinal game Friday. The Eagles advanced by defeating the South Adams Starfires 34-3. “It will be fun to play an in-county school, one that we don’t usually play,” said Mohr. “We usually play Columbia City early in the season, but it’s never worked out with Churubusco for whatever reason. But it will be a fun thing, and the communities and the kids know each other, so it will be a lot of fun.” The last time that the two Whitley County schools faced each other was in 1975. The Wildcats won that game 14-12. The all-time series is knotted up at 1-1.
First Quarter W – Garrett Elder 58 run (Walker Hobbs kick) 7-0 W – Elder 27 run (kick failed) 13-0 W – Hunter Reed 3 run (kick failed) 19-0 W – Gavin Powell 4 run (kick failed) 25-0 Second Quarter W – Elder 8 pass to Robby Owsley (Hobbs kick) 32-0 W – Elder 26 run (kick failed) 38-0 Third Quarter W – Reed 16 run (Hobbs kick) 45-0
