SOUTH WHITLEY – Three different Wawasee players scored rushing touchdowns, including a 92-yard run for a touchdown from converted quarterback DJ Semon as the Warriors defeated the host Whitko Wildcats 20-7 in the opening week of the high school football season Friday. Wawasee's triple threat of Semon, Derrick Sorensen and Gabe Rhodes combined for 294 yards on 38 carries. The first score of the game came when Whitko pinned Wawasee on its 8-yard line when Connor Stouder booted a 62-yard punt. The flood gates opened when Semon broke loose for a 92-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0. "We've got some pretty nice kids running the ball this year," said Wawasee head coach Tom Wogomon. "Derrick is going to be one of the guys getting this thing going. D.J. was a tailback last year, so we're able to use both of them in a balanced way." Neither Semon or Whitko senior quarterback and captain Alex Stoddard were effective in the air, connecting on only three pass attempts between the two of them. "We've got South Bend St. Joseph's next week, so we're going to have to throw the ball a little bit better," said Wogomon. Both were effective on the ground, however. Stoddard rushed 10 times for 51 yards and made several escapes from tackles for loss. He rolled his ankle late in the second quarter, but returned after halftime. "He's going to be all right," said Whitko head coach Wayne Swender. Errors committed by the 'Cats, whether they were penalties or turnovers, ultimately doomed them. They were flagged for four penalties as well as turning the ball over four times. "We were moving the ball offensively in the first half," said Swender. "We just need to hang on to the ball." After a fumble by Whitko halfback Devin Gerding, Rhodes scored on his first carry of the game – a run from 20 yards out with 4:31 remaining in the half. The Wildcats got on the board in the third quarter when Connor Stouder read a pass play from Semon, taking it 70 yards the other way to bring the Wildcats within seven. They also made several key stops throughout the game that helped boost the confidence in their defense. "We're really happy defensively, learning a new system," said Swender. Sorensen responded later with a 10-yard touchdown run 16 seconds into the fourth quarter, but a failed point-after-attempt kept the Wildcats within 13. Whitko put together another impressive drive that only resulted in another turnover when Stoddard fumbled with 9:53 remaining. The Wildcats host county rival Columbia City Friday night. The Eagles lost 20-14 to Warsaw last night. Wawasee returns to Syracuse Friday to host South Bend St. Joseph's, the back-to-back state runners-up in Class 3A.
