SOUTH WHITLEY – Though the schools are less than 40 minutes apart, Whitko and Churubusco haven't met on the football field in 40 years. When they clash Friday at Ryan Huff Memorial Stadium in South Whitley, there will be more than just Whitley County bragging rights on the line. The Wildcats (5-5) and Eagles (6-4) will square off Friday at 7 p.m. in a Class 2A Sectional 35 semifinal, with the winner advancing to next week's sectional final to face either Woodlan (10-0) or Eastside (7-3). Whitko lost to Peru two weeks ago in the Three Rivers Conference championship game. Coach Josh Mohr's team would love nothing more than to earn the right to play for a sectional tile, as evidenced by their dominating 45-0 win over Prairie Heights in the postseason opener. “It was good to build our confidence after such an emotional loss in the conference championship game,” Mohr said of his team's performance against Prairie Heights. “The loss to Peru was emotional because we went through so many ups and downs during the season. The kids fought through adversity and put themselves in position to win it.” The Wildcats enter this week's contest having won three of their last four games. During that span they've outscored their opponents 106-26. And yes, Mohr and his squad are excited to be playing on their home turf in such a big game. “Playing at home is always good,” said Mohr. “In the playoffs, any advantage helps.” Whitko, which hasn't played Churubusco in football since beating the Eagles 14-12 in 1975, hasn't won a sectional title since 1986, the year coach Bryan Sprunger led the team to a Class 1A state championship. Churubusco, winners in five of its last six games, beat South Adams 34-3 last week and has hopes of winning its first sectional title since advancing to the 1A semistate in 2010. “It adds to the anticipation and excitement for the game,” Mohr said of having not played Churubusco in so long. “We are similar schools who play each other in a lot of other sports, so I think it fits that we get to play each other now. “They are a good-sized, physical team. They run the ball really well and throw it effectively. They play hard and are fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game. Coach (Paul) Sade and his staff have done a great job with their team. “Churubusco has been successful in recent years. They have established themselves as a team that plays a physical, smash-mouthed brand of football.” Like the Wildcats, the Eagles pride themselves on a great ground game. Landon Harris, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior leads Churubusco in rushing with 1,626 yards and 20 touchdowns on 193 carries. Harris averages just over eight yards per attempt. Senior Caleb Partin has rushed for 450 yards and seven scores, while junior Sam Richards has tallied 404 yards and three touchdowns this season for the Eagles. As a team, Churubusco has rushed for 2,852 yards and 36 touchdowns this season, while only passing for 426 yards and five scores. Whitko's triple-option attack is led by junior quarterback Garrett Elder, who has carried the ball 153 times this season for 1,333 yards and 16 touchdowns. Elder, who has only attempted 56 passes, averages nearly nine yards per rushing attempt. “Garrett is an explosive athlete, but the line is where most of the credit goes,” said Mohr. “Those guys work hard and grind every day. We ask them to put their bodies through a lot during the season. Our offensive system also helps. Running the triple option, you never know who is getting the ball on any given play.” Hunter Reed has tallied 608 yards and five touchdowns for Whitko, while Conner Sherwin has rushed for 339 yards and two scores and Garrett Smiley has 265 yards and one touchdown. As a team, Whitko has rushed for 3,016 yards and 31 touchdowns, compared to just 133 passing yards and two scores. “It is an attitude to put the emphasis on the run game,” said Mohr. “It is a stop it if you can mentality. We put a lot of time into it, as do most teams. That doesn't mean we don't work on the passing game, we are more suited to run the ball.”
