SOUTH WHITLEY - Experience, it's been said, is the best teacher.
And while Whitko High School's varsity football team was just 3-7 last year, a number of younger players were thrust into the Friday night spotlight for the Wildcats.As a result, Whitko returns starters at 16 of 22 offensive and defensive positions, as the Wildcats open the season tonight by hosting Wawasee.
Whitko is looking for the success it had in third-year head coach Wayne Swender's first season, when the Wildcats were 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the Three Rivers Conference.
"We ended up only having five seniors at the end (of last year), so we played a lot of sophomores and juniors," said Swender. "We had a lot of young kids get some varsity experience, and this is group that's been working hard."
Whitko's offense is highlighted by the return of running backs Dakota Harmon and D.J. Fouce, as well as linemen Austin Striggle, Joe Prater, Ben Hinora and Javi Morales.
Harmon carried the ball 96 times last season for 430 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Fouce rushed 54 times for 257 yards, an average of 4.8 yards per carry.
Chris Bumbaugh and Austin Mort will add a boost to Whitko's ground game, a facet of the game the Wildcats have been known for over the years.
Responsible for leading Whitko's offense is sophomore Alex Stoddard, who replaces three-year starter Gabe Starkey.
Starkey led the TRC last season with 1,008 passing yards and five touchdowns, completing 78 of 172 passes.
"Alex is a good athlete," Swender said of the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Stoddard. "He played some receiver last year, and he started at defensive back as a freshman, so he's got varsity experience. He's used to playing on Friday nights.
Swender went on to say that Starkey and Stoddard are different styles of quarterbacks.
"Gabe was a three-year starter for us and he did a lot of things for us," said Swender. "Alex brings some different things to the table."
On the defensive side of the ball, Swender said his linebackers will be a strength.
Playing linebacker for the Wildcats will be Cody Bays, Harmon, Fouce and Mort.
In the secondary for Whitko will be Brent Busz, Derek Snep and Stoddard.
"We've got some guys coming back at linebacker, and that should be a strength for us," said Swender. "We've also got some guys returning to the secondary."
After posting a 3-3 record in the first six games last year, the Wildcats lost their last four contests.
Three of those losses came by a combined seven points.
With the experience Whitko's players gained last season, things could be different this time around.
After tonight's game with Wawasee, the Wildcats host county rival Columbia City on Aug. 27 and then open conference play by hosting Southwood on Sept. 3.
