Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NEW HAVEN -ÊLast season the Whitko Wildcats needed some late game heroics to beat Culver Military in the first round of the sectional football tournament.
There was magic in the air again Friday night for Whitko. Brandon Waterson busted through the New Haven defense with 2:08 left on the clock in the fourth quarter to carry the Wildats to a 22-19 win over the New Haven Bulldogs.
Early on it looked like New Haven was going to run away with an easy victory behind the play of tailback Mike Morrison. The Bulldogs senior had scoring runs of 28 and 67 yards in the first quarter to put Whitko in an early hole.
Tyler Wilkinson finally got Whitko on the board in the second quarter with a 14-yard run. That score pulled Whitko to within five points at the half as New Haven led 13-8.
That lead was quickly extended by New Haven. Once again Morrison broke free and this time crossed the goal line from 59 yards out.
However, the fourth quarter belonged to Whitko.
Three minutes into the final period Wilkinson punched the ball in from one yard out. After the 'Cats defense held New Haven in check Waterson broke out for his game-winning run.
Waterson had 150 yards on the night on 19 carries and Wilkinson carried the ball 15 times for 69 yards.
The win gives Whitko a record of 7-4 on the season. The Wildcats host Norwell Friday night in the sectional championship game.
Whitko 22,
New Haven 19
Whitko 0 8 0 14 - 22
New Haven 13 0 6 0 - 19
W NH
First downs 9 10
Rushing yards 44-199 43-330
Passing yards 48 5
Comp.-Att.-Int. 3-10-0 1-7-1
Total offense 247 335
Fumbles/lost 7-1 2-0
Punts/ave. 7-30.6 3-26.7
Penalties 5-35 6-46
Scoring
First Quarter
NH - Mike Morrison 28-yard run (PAT kick good), 7-0 New Haven
NH - Mike Morrison 67-yard run (PAT kick no good), 13-0 New Haven
Second quarter
W - Tyler Wilkinson 14-yard run (Two-point conversion run by Wilkinson good), 13-8 New Haven
Third Quarter
NH -ÊMike Morrison 59-yard run (Two-point conversion run no good), 19-8 New Haven
Fourth Quarter
W - Tyler Wilkinson one-yard run (Two-point conversion run by Brandon Waterson good), 19-16 New Haven
W -ÊBrandon Waterson 75-yard run (Two-point conversion pass no good), 22-19 Whitko
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Whitko: Brandon Waterson 19-150-1; Tyler Wilkinson 15-69-2
Passing - Whitko: Nate Hart 3-9-48 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Receiving - Whitko: Brandon Waterson 2-44
