Quarterback Garrett Elder will led his Whitko team against Churubusco at home Friday night in a Class 2-A sectional semifinal game (File photo by Mike Deak)

SOUTH WHITLEY – Football coaches Josh Mohr of Whitko and Paul Sade of Churubusco are in complete agreement about one thing for their matchup on the gridiron Friday night.

They expect a physical game with both teams wanting to run the football.

“I think the No. 1 key is how physical we play up front,” said Mohr, whose team will host the Eagles in a Class 2-A Sectional 35 semifinal contest. “The team that can dominate the line on both sides physically will be in good shape.”

Sade concurs after watching the Wildcats on film.

“It’s going to be extremely important how we play up front and how we match their physicality,” said Sade. “We have to be prepared for a physical contest that’s for sure. Whitko is a physical bunch and we have to be ready to go right away Friday night.”

The teams are similar in several regards.

The Wildcats (5-5) have won four of their last five games after a turnover-filled 1-3 start. The Eagles (6-4) have won five of their last six games after also starting just 1-3. Both teams rolled last week in postseason openers as Whitko routed winless Prairie Heights 45-0 and Churubusco stopped South Adams 34-3.

“We’re a pretty young team and had some growing pains early,” said Sade, who like Mohr is in his third season as head coach. “Our kids are more comfortable now. It’s been a maturation process for them. They are playing faster now and have just gotten better.”

The Eagles, who play in the Northeast Corner Conference, are led by senior fullback Landon Harris. The 5-9, 180-pounder ran for 213 yards on 27 carries last Friday night and has rushed for 1,626 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season. Senior quarterback Drew Buffenberger returned last week for Busco after being sidelined in the season opener due to a broken collarbone. The Eagles have rushed for 2,852 yards and 36 touchdowns as a team.

“We want to run first and Landon is our focal point and very important to what we do,” stated Sade, whose team has lost to Lakeland (36-22), Lewis Cass (23-0) and Fairfield (45-14). “But we can throw the ball when we want to. Drew is a great leader for us and played pretty well last week for missing so much time.”

Whitko has been led by the excellent performance of its outstanding quarterback Garrett Elder. The junior has rushed for over 1,333 yards by averaging over eight yards per carry and 16 touchdowns for a triple-option attack that has gained 3,016 yards and scored 31 touchdowns on the ground this season. Elder, who has attempted just 58 passes all season, had seven carries for 150 yards and three scores last week. The Wildcats piled up 413 yards on the ground in the sectional opener.

Sophomore Hunter Reed has also been a big key in the backfield for Whitko with over 600 yards rushing and five scores. Conner Sherwin has 339 yards on the ground and Garrett Smiley 265 for the Wildcats.

“They (Whitko) are definitely a great running team,” said Sade. “You can tell that they have a comfort level with what they do. Their quarterback is one of the best athletes we have seen this year and their offensive line is one of the best, if not the best, that we’ve gone against.”

Mohr says it comes down to his team hanging their hats, or in this case helmets, on what they do best.

“We just need to do what we have all season,” commented Mohr. “Harris is a good fullback, they can throw the ball fairly well and are coached well. We have to come out and match their intensity and play fundamentally sound on defense.

“Our kids are very upbeat and excited. You can see their hunger. In a season of ups and downs, they have done a great job pushing forward and working hard. Garrett has done a great job for us. Our offensive line has been a big key too.”

“I think that it’s a very even matchup. The turnover battle is always big. It also may come down to special teams play.”

The Wildcats and Eagles, despite both residing in Whitley County, have played once twice. Whitko won the last meeting by a 14-12 final in 1975. The all-time series is even at 1-1.

Whitko averages 22 points-per-game and is allowing 11. The Eagles average 29 pp.., while giving up 20.

The Whitko-Churubusco winner advances to play either Eastside (7-3) or Woodlan (10-0) in the sectional title game on Nov. 6.

The Wildcats lone sectional title came in 1986, the year that they won a Class 1-A state championship. Churubusco has won four sectional championships, with the last coming in 2010 in Class 1A.

The matchup Friday night at Ryan Huff Memorial Stadium kicks off at 7 p.m.