Whitko Set For Sectional Title Tilt
SOUTH WHITLEY – The chance to play for a championship.
The Whitko football team has earned that right come Friday night.
The surging Wildcats will face a huge test as they board the bus and head to face No. 4 and undefeated Woodlan in a Class 2-A Sectional 35 title game.
Whitko coach Josh Mohr, who team rallied in the second half for a thrilling 34-27 home win over Churubusco last week, says it’s all about the opportunity.
“It’s a huge opportunity for us and our kids have earned the right to be here,” said Mohr. “They have worked their butts off and have gotten better each week. Now it comes down to heart, the desire to get it done and mental toughness.”
The matchup of the 6-5 Wildcats, who have won four of their last five games, and the 11-0 Warriors will not be a place for the timid.
Woodlan features a smash-mouth, physical group that averages 35 points-per-game. The key for the Warriors, who have rushed for 3,258 yards this season, is senior Mitchell VanBrocklin. Thee 6-2, 242-pounder has 243 carries for 1,590 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Warriors also have a stellar sophomore class, led by outstanding and fast receiver Tre’von McCarter, who has 32 catches for 593 yards and 10 scores.
“We had a good blend of strength, speed and experience,” said Woodlan coach Sherwood Haydock. “We are big and physical and we don’t hold anything back. We’re going to run the ball at you. And McCarter is as good as any receiver who I’ve ever coached and I’ve coached eight who were Division I college players.”
Mohr says it’s about being tough physically and mentally Friday night.
“We have to come out and play physical and play fast,” Mohr remarked. “It’s all about attitude. Both teams like to play physical football. We just need to come out and set the tone early.
“We are treating it as just another game like we have done all season. We just need to be mentally tough and match their physicality.”
Haydock is in his fifth season at Woodlan. He came there after Fort Wayne Harding, where he coached the prior 11 years, closed. Haydock guided Harding to a state championship in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2003.
“The kids have done what I’ve asked and we have gotten some lucky breaks, including last week (when Woodlan edged Eastside 14-13),” noted Haydock.
“We know that Whitko is better than their record shows. They have put it together at the right time. They run the option well and their linemen get off the ball quick. I think the advantage we have is that Whitko has never played us before. We are so big and physical.”
Woodlan, which starts seven sophomores according to Haydock, allows just 10.3 ppg.
The Warriors also rely on sophomore quarterback Justin Durkes, who is 80-139 passing for 1,125 yards and 16 touchdowns. Sophomore Jack Rhoades has 139 carries for 916 yards.
Junior quarterback Garrett Elder leads the way for Whitko, which is averaging 23.5 ppt. and allowing 12.9. Elder had 13 carries for 249 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win. He broke the school single-season rushing record last Friday and now has 1,582 yards on the season with 21 touchdowns.
Sophomore fullback Hunter Reed has rushed for 719 yards and seven touchdowns for the Wildcats. Senior Garrett Smiley and junior Conner Sherwin each are over 300 yards on the ground.
Whitko has piled up 3,459 yards on the ground with its potent triple-option attack.
Whitko has won one sectional title in program history in 1986, when coach Bryan Sprunger guided the Wildcats to a state title. Woodlan owns three sectional titles, with the last coming back in 1988.
The winner of the Whitko-Woodlan game will face the winner of the Eastbrook (11-0) versus Winchester (9-2) contest in the regional round on Nov. 13.
The Whitko at Woodlan game kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday night in Woodburn in Allen County.