Whiteland stays unbeaten, blanks Franklin in rivalry win
There's a slogan that generations of Whiteland football players live by, "Break the rock," and within that slogan comes the motto "Three more feet."
The motto is an adaption of self-help author Napoleon Hill's 'Three Feet from Gold,' a tale about the California Gold Rush of the 1840s, when a prospector got tired of digging and sold his gold mine, only for the next prospector to find gold three feet into the mine.
The slogan teaches its players to keep grinding and fighting to break through in pursuit of victory, fitting for the Warriors and their ground-and-pound option offense. Against rival Franklin the Warriors showed their big-play potential, racking up over 300 total yards in a 21-0 win over the Grizzly Cubs.
"It's always about 'three more feet,'" Whiteland coach Darrin Fisher said. "You never know which play in the game is gonna be the one that wins it. And that's what we talked about, playing each play one play at a time, the best effort you can give and let the score take care of itself. I thought our guys really did that tonight."
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Eight Whiteland ball carriers helped the Warriors rush for 254 yards on 42 carries. Whiteland's option offense features lots of motions, shifts and ball fakes designed to keep the defense off balance. A player in motion may sprint one way, only for the ball to be heading in the opposite direction. Add in running back Peyton Emberton's dives up the middle and a defense has a lot to worry about.
The offense can be methodical, but Jonathon Crowley broke the game open with a 64-yard run up the middle for a score early in the first quarter. Quarterback Kevin Denham added a 1-yard QB sneak touchdown midway through the second quarter. Crowley rushed for 98 yards on seven carries. Emberton added 98 yards on 21 carries.
The Warriors passing attack came alive late. They used a jet motion to the left to set up a throwback screen to Emberton for chunk yardage, setting up a 24-yard touchdown pass from Denham to Brady Stanifer for the final score of the game.
Whiteland wants to have about a 70/30 split of run to pass, but Denham's ability to throw on the run and keep the defense honest with ball fakes adds another wrinkle. Denham went 5-of-6 for 69 yards.
"Coach Fisher is pretty hard on us in practice about fakes every day," Denham said. "Especially in the game, I keep doing the fake, we run the ball, run the ball, and eventually they get tired.
"The time they think I'm faking, I have the ball. Next thing you know, I'm wide open with guys on the field to throw to. That's why we try to work hard on fakes every play, never take one play off."
Franklin's (3-1) top offensive weapon Max Clark missed the rivalry game due to commitments to USA Baseball. Without Clark to take the top off the defense, the Grizzly Cubs struggled to generate big plays. The Warriors held their rivals to just 132 total yards. Mason Darlington's sack forced a fumble on Franklin's final possession.
Whiteland (4-0) remains undefeated and should stay atop Class 5A. The Warriors aren't looking toward the postseason, but their willingness to grind three feet at a time means they plan to be at their best when it matters most.
"We're very confident and one thing that is big ‒ we play better in October. So that's pretty scary," Emberton said.
Whiteland 21, Franklin 0
Franklin 0 0 0 0 --- 0Whiteland 7 7 0 7 --- 21
Scoring Plays
F --- Jonathan Crowley 64 run (David Mathis kick)F --- Kevin Denham 1 run (Mathis kick)F --- Brady Stanifer 24 pass from Denham (Mathis kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing --- Franklin: John Shepard 11-17, Clay Pinnick 12-27, Beau Baker 4-19, Kaleb Owens 5-5, Nick Barger 1 - (minus 3). Whiteland: Jonathan Crowley 7-98, Maalik Perkins 5-44, Peyton Emberton 21-98, Nyrius Moore-Smith 4-13, Denham 1 (minus 1), Slate Valentine 2-10, Tyson Owens 1-2, Austin Steele 1 (minus 3).
Passing --- Franklin: Pinnick 7-21-0 67. Whiteland: Denham 5-6-0 69.
Receiving --- Franklin: Shepard 2-49, Luke Bechert 1-1, Bryce Richardson 3-22, Barger 1 (minus 3). Whiteland: Gunnar Hicks 1-10, Brady Stanifer 2-29, Cameron Cooper 1-15, Emberton 1-15.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA football: Whiteland stays perfect, defeats Franklin
