SOUTH WHITLEY – While Whitko High School football coach Josh Mohr’s offense has a good amount of experience returning, there are also some big holes to fill. When the Wildcats open the season Friday with a 7 p.m. home game against Wawasee, they will rely on the services of standout senior running backs Tanner Hughes and Trace Killian. Hughes rushed for just over 1,200 yards last season, helping Whitko to a 6-1 record in the Three Rivers Conference and a share of the league title. Killian averaged nearly nine yards per carry last season. Not a bad foundation for the second-year head coach’s triple-option offense. On the flip side of the coin, Mohr must replace graduated quarterback Ethan Nicodemus and graduated linemen Tyler Hinora, Ian Kearn and Doug Bollinger. Devin Gerding, who rushed for nearly 600 yards last season, averaging just over eight yards per carry, is currently a senior but is not on the team. “We’ve got a lot returning, but we’ve also got some good sized holes to fill,” said Mohr, whose team was 6-4 overall last year, ending the season with a 35-13 loss to Bellmont in the sectional opener. “Tyler Hinora was a three-year starter on the offensive line,” he added. “Ian Kearn started on the line for two years. We also have to replace Ethan Nicodemus at quarterback. Those kids were good leaders.” Mohr said junior Brady Weeks and sophomore Garrett Elder are in competition to be the team’s starting signal caller. “It’s very even at quarterback,” said Mohr. “Brady Weeks and Garrett Elder are both doing well. When you look at things, like film from the scrimmage, they both did some good things. I think I have two Friday night starters. That’s a good problem to have.” Lining up at split end will be seniors Zach Snep and Cole Kessie and junior Tanner Gaff. Responsible for playing in the trenches and protecting the aforementioned skill position players will be seniors Zach Baughman and Greg Hurd and juniors Garrett Cokl, Chase Bradley and Walker Hobbs. “Running the triple-option takes a lot of reps, if you’re going to be good at it,” said Mohr. “Everyday, we’re just trying to get better. The kids are working hard, it just takes some time to get some experience.” Defensively, the Wildcats return a plethora of experience, including its entire group of linebackers and a secondary that includes Gaff, Elder and junior Garrett Smiley. “We have quite a bit back on defense ... all of our linebackers,” said Mohr. “We’ve got some experience on that side of the ball.” Following home games with Wawasee and county rival Columbia City, the Wildcats open TRC play by hosting Southwood on Sept. 5. “Every year, our No. 1 goal is to win the conference championship,” said Mohr. “As a team, we want to get better every week. We have to put forth a lot of effort and work hard everyday.”
