Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY -ÊMake it 45.
After Fort Wayne Elmhurst fell to Whitko 47-11 Friday night in the first round of the sectional, that is where the Trojans' number of consecutive losses stands.
Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger summed up the game in one quick phrase: "I'm glad it's over."
Elmhurst struck first blood with a 33-yard field goal at the 5:37 mark in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead.
However, Whitko had not yet touched the ball. When the Wildcats finally got their hands on the ball, they scored early and often.
Whitko's first touchdown came with 11 ticks left on the first-quarter clock when Burl Haywood ran 26 yards to paydirt. After quarterback Adam Wendel kept the ball and ran it in for the conversion, Whitko owned an 8-3 advantage.
But the Wildcats did not stop there. Whitko scored three more times in the second frame on a 2-yard Haywood run, a 45-yard Alan Robbins run, and a 2-yard Brent Goble run.
Whitko allowed Elmhurst to gain just 49 total yards in the second frame, and the Trojans were penalized for 30 yards in the quarter.
"We moved the ball fairly well on the ground, especially in the first half," said Sprunger.
At the half, Whitko held a 28-3 advantage.
Whitko continued to pummel Elmhurst in the third quarter. Brent Goble caught a 9-yard Wendel pass at the 9:23 mark, and then Adam Hall caught a 29-yard bullet from Brad Walpole to give Whitko a 41-3 lead going into the final quarter of play.
"We came right out after halftime and scored right away," said Sprunger. "We did not want to let them control the second half. We eastblished ourselves early in the third quarter, and that was very important for us."
Dustin Boardman ran 2yards for another touchdown at the 10:03 mark of the fourth quarter to give Whitko a 47-3 lead.
The final score of the game came when Elmhurst's Josh Fleming broke away for a 47-yard touchdown run at the 8:29 mark, making the final score 47-11.
"We controlled the ball well in the second half," said Sprunger. "We moved the ball and were able to take time off the clock."
Robbins led Whitko's ground attack with 10 attempts for 148 yards, while Goble added 137 yards on seven rushes. Burl Haywood gained 66 yards in 12 attempts. Hall caught two passes for 62 yards.
"We are getting better every week," said Sprunger. "I am pleased with the progress we have made throughout the season.
"I told the guys this was a new season, and we wanted to start this one better than the last one. We will continue to work to improve."
Whitko will host Lakeland Friday night in South Whitley.
"Now we can move on to step No. 2," said Sprunger.
WHITKO 47, ELMHURST 11
Elmhurst 3 0 0 8 - 11
Whitko 8 20 13 6 - 47
W E
First downs 16 8
Rushes/yards 48/412 32/124
Passing yards 74 93
Comp.-Att.-Int. 1-2-0 6-16-2
Total offense 486 217
Fumbles/lost 1/0 2/0
Punt/ave. 1-9 2-38
Penalties/yards 5/20 10/55
First Quarter
E -ÊAndre Genovese 33 field goal, 3-0 E, 5:37
W - Burl Haywood 26 run (Adam Wendel run), 8-3 E, 0:11
Second Quarter
W -ÊHaywood 3 run (pass failed), 14-3 W, 7:44
W -ÊAlan Robbins 45 run (run failed), 20-3 W, 4:05
W -ÊHaywood 3 run (Wendel to Frantz pass), 28-3 W, 2:15
Third Quarter
W -ÊBrent Goble 8 pass from Wendel (kick failed), 34-3 W, 9:25
W -ÊAdam Hall 29 pass from Brad Walpole (Damon Shepherd kick), 41-3 W, 2:53
Fourth Quarter
W - Dustin Boardman 2 run (kick failed), 47-3 W, 10:03
E -ÊJosh Fleming 47 run (Woods run), 47-11 W, 8:29
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - W: Burl Haywood 12-66, Alan Robbins 10-148, Drew Lopshire 3-8, Brent Goble 7-137, Adam Wendel 3-22, Dustin Boardman 6-18, Dane Bause 4-4, Kevin Feldman 3-9; E: Chuck Geyer 13-39, Jafus Woods 6-19, Josh Fleming 6-56, Demetrus McClendon 1-(-1), Adam Bixby 4-11, Nick Philpot 2-0
Passing - W: Wendel 3-5-45 yards, 1 TD, 0 int., Brad Walpole 1-3-29 yards, 1 TD, 0 int.; E: Bixby 5-12-79 yards, 0 TD, 2 int., Chuck Geyer 0-2-0 yards, 0 TD, 0 int.; Nick Philpot 1-2-14 yards, 0 TD, 0 int.
Receiving - W: Adam Hall 2-62, Alex Frantz 1-4, Brent Goble 1-8; E: Chuck Geyer 2-48, Demitrus McClendon 2-15, Jafus Woods 2-30
