The Indiana Football Coaches Association is looking at its proposal for revamping the football playoff system as a way to improve the sport, while IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox wants it to transcend to multiple sports.
SOUTH WHITLEY – The Columbia City football team hadn’t played Whitko since 2004. And it had never seen this newfangled Eel River Rivalry trophy until this week, when it was brought to the school for a look-see.
But there was no denying the Eagles’ drive to defeat the Wildcats and get that hardware for their trophy case Friday night.
There were so many individual stars for the Eagles in their 30-0 victory – quarterback Logan Rehrer, running back Jacob Johnson, running back/defensive back Dylan Miller, to name a few – but really it was the swarming Columbia City defense that cinched the victory.
“I’d like to see how many sacks we had. Our defense played over the top, which is just outstanding,” Eagles coach Randy Hudgins said.
The Eagles had seven sacks, making life miserable for Whitko sophomore quarterback Alex Stoddard, who was held to 76 passing yards.
“Jeff Clark, our defensive coordinator, does an outstanding job and those guys just get to the football and they gang tackle,” Hudgins said. “And they get there with a pretty mean attitude and they play together.”
Eagles junior Derek Lamle had 2 1/2 sacks, while junior Connor Ruby had two.
“Anytime you play a team like (Whitko) and get them behind the chains, force them into a passing situation, and especially rush the quarterback, then that’s really going to throw them off,” Hudgins said. “I think our defense did a great job of that, getting them behind the sticks and forcing them to play from long-yardage situations.”
Offensively, the Eagles (2-0) were sound. On their first drive, a 10-yard Johnson run set up a 70-yard pass from Rehrer to senior Blake Creech, which was followed by a 5-yard Johnson touchdown run.
Columbia City took advantage of a muffed punt return – Miller recovered two such fumbles in the game – and got a 13-yard Miller touchdown run on the next play in the second quarter.
A 24-yard field goal from senior Devin Rice gave Columbia City a 16-0 halftime lead.
Johnson, a junior, who took more than two years off from football before this season, ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
“The offensive line really came out and blocked for me, made big holes and I just hit them,” Johnson said. “I have to thank them for that. … This is my first year playing since eighth grade, and I’m loving it. Our whole team is coming together this year, and it’s a great feeling.”
Rehrer, a senior, completed 6 of 17 passes for 145 yards, including three to senior Thomas De La Cruz for 57 yards.
The Eagles had 10 penalties for 90 yards, including one that negated a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown by sophomore Jared Murphy, who also intercepted a pass.
For Whitko (1-1), junior Chris Bumbaugh rushed 14 times for 40 yards.
