Harden, Warrior defenders stop Hawks

PUBLISHED IN THE SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 EDITION

Gunner Hicks of Whiteland eludes two Decatur Central defenders as he scores on a 20-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of Friday’s Mid-State Conference matchup.
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY STEVE PAGE)

Whiteland junior Carlos Ogega reaches up to deflect a Brycen Bonawitt pass that went to Warrior teammate Scott Harden for a pick-six touchdown during Friday’s home game with Decatur Central.

By Steve Page
Correspondent

At the start, there didn’t appear to be much difference between Whiteland and Decatur Central in Friday’s Mid-State Conference showdown on the Warriors’ field.

Scott Harden and his defensive teammates decided to make the difference.

After DC quarterback Bo Polston suffered what appeared to be a serious neck injury late in the second quarter, the Warriors pressured backup Brycen Bonawitt deep in Hawk territory. Carlos Ogega batted his pass into the air, and Harden pulled it down and ran it in for a 16-yard score. That boosted the lead to 17-7 just 2.8 seconds before intermission, and Whiteland went on to record a 31-15 victory.

With Whiteland leading 24-7 early in the fourth quarter, the Warriors forced a bad snap deep in DC territory, and Harden recovered the ball in the end zone for a 31-7 lead.

“We went all out,” said Harden, a 6-3, 218-pound senior. “We came up big after that upset against Kokomo (27-13). We wanted to get them (the Hawks) early. On defense, we prepared well. We came out with intensity.”

And the Warriors, ranked sixth in Class 5A, came away with a perfect start in MSC play, improving to 2-1 overall. Fourth-rated DC slipped to 0-1, 2-1.

“Our kids played with relentless effort tonight,” said Whiteland coach Darrin Fisher. “Our guys played with that kind of passion, and when you do, when the ball bounces, it bounces your way.

“Those bad snaps where we recovered the football, that’s guys playing hard. Every ball that bounces, bounces your way because you’re hustling to get there.

“That was a great team win. It was more than offense, defense and special teams. Our scout team made practice very tough on Tuesday and Thursday. This was a complete team effort.”

There’s more.

Junior running back Slate Valentine rushed 18 times, gaining 121 yards and scoring on a 20-yard race around right end in the second period.

DC struggled after losing Polston. The good news for the Hawks was that by Sunday, he was much better, according to Hawk coach Kyle Enright.

“There was nothing dirty or illegal about the tackle,” he said. “The young man did what he was coached to do but, unfortunately in football, these things happen.

“We are very thankful that Bo did not suffer any major injuries from the play. As his coach, I am very proud of how the training staff, medical team, coaches, players and fans responded during a very emotional and scary event.”

Fisher sympathized with the Hawks, noting that his quarterback, Ollie Taylor, had been injured a week earlier.

“He battled and battled all week to come back, and tonight, he was back,” Fisher noted. “He did a good job running our offense.”

Taylor was 3 for 7 passing for 37 yards.

Senior slotback Gunner Hicks raced around right end for a 20-yard touchdown and a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter after the Warriors blocked a punt. He finished with 57 yards on six carries.
Whiteland totaled 226 yards of offense.

Sophomore kicker Noah Pope opened the scoring with a 31-yard field goal. His kick came after the Warriors recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff, with the Hawks looking directly into the sun. He also kicked four conversions.
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The Warriors return to MSC action Friday, traveling to Franklin, also 1-0 and 2-1. The Grizzly Cubs opened by topping Perry Meridian 26-20 in overtime.

Oliver Taylor, Whiteland’s junior quarterback, fires a pass over the rush of Decatur Central’s Halbert Aguirre during Friday’s MSC game on the Warriors’ field.

Whiteland senior Scott Harden reaches to block a punt by Decatur Central quarterback Bo Polston, leading to the Warriors’ first touchdown in Friday’s home game.

With Peyton Williams (88) blocking Decatur Central’s Brycen Bonawitt and Luc Wineland-Moening holding, Whiteland sophomore Noah Pope follows through as he kicks a 31-yard field goal on the Warriors’ opening possession of Friday’s Mid-State Conference home game.

Whiteland RB Gunner Hicks and Cullin Wilson celebrate a Warrior touchdown.
​(Photo by doug.clements@promotionphotos.com)

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