WABASH – Led by junior running backs Devin Gerding and Tanner Hughes, Whitko High School’s varsity football team opened Three Rivers Conference play with a 41-35 win at Southwood Friday. On a night when the Wildcats ran for 366 yards as a team, Hughes carried 10 times for 133 yards and one touchdown, while Gerding rushed 29 times for 126 yards and two scores. Whitko, which is now 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the TRC, led 14-7 after one quarter of play, 35-28 at halftime and 41-35 at the end of the third quarter. Trace Killian also got in the act for Whitko, rushing eight times for 73 yards and a touchdown, while Ethan Nicodemus carried 10 times for 34 yards and a score. The host Knights, who fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in TRC action, were led offensively by Nathan Hollars’ 13 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Southwood’s Robbie Cole completed just 9 of 24 passes, but did so for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Danny Goff led Southwood’s receiving corps with three catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Whitko is in action again Friday when it hosts Manchester, while Southwood travels to Tippecanoe Valley.
