Article published October 17, 2009
Whitmer defense smothers Central
Panthers control their CL destiny
Whitmer's Teryl Mershon scores the first touchdown of the game on a 53-yard scoring run in the first half. Whitmer avenged losses to Central the last two years.
 VIEW: WEEK 8: Central Catholic - Whitmer photo gallery (Oct. 16, 2009)
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THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
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By STEVE JUNGA
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
After heartbreaking finishes the past two seasons against eventual City League football champion Central Catholic, Whitmer can thank a smothering display of defense for finally getting over the hump.
The Panthers hit two big offensive plays, held the visiting Irish to 121 net yards, and survived their one defensive glitch in taking a 14-7 victory before a crowd of 8,000 in a showdown last night at Memorial Stadium.
Whitmer (7-1, 4-1 CL), ranked No. 8 in the Division I state poll, controls its own destiny in trying to secure its first football championship since joining the City League in 2003.
The Panthers have league games remaining with Bowsher at home and at Start.
| HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL |
VIEW: WEEK 8: Central Catholic - Whitmer photo gallery (Oct. 16, 2009)
 VIEW : WEEK 8: Complete list of High School football scores
VIEW: WEEK 7: Central Catholic - St. Francis photo gallery (Oct. 09, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 6: St. Francis - Whitmer photo gallery (Oct. 2, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 6: Genoa - Eastwood photo gallery (Oct. 2, 2009)
VIEW : WEEK 6: Complete list of High School football scores
VIEW: WEEK 5: Bedford - Ann Arbor Pioneer photo gallery (Sept. 25, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 5: Anthony Wayne - Maumee photo gallery (Sept. 25, 2009)
VIEW : WEEK 5: Complete list of High School football scores
VIEW: WEEK 4: Southview - Anthony Wayne photo gallery (September 18, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 4: St. John's - St. Francis photo gallery (September 18, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 4: Whitmer - Rogers photo gallery (September 18, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 3: Central Catholic - Mishawaka Penn photo gallery (September 11, 2009)
VIEW: Northview - Rogers photo gallery (September 11, 2009)
VIEW : WEEK 3: Complete list of High School football scores
VIEW: WEEK 2: Clay - Perrysburg photo gallery (September 4, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 2: Whitmer - Fremont Ross photo gallery (September 4, 2009)
VIEW : WEEK 2: Complete list of High School football scores
VIEW: WEEK 1: Rogers - Anthony Wayne photo gallery (August 29, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 1: St. Francis - Southview photo gallery (August 29, 2009)
VIEW: WEEK 1: St. John's - Findlay photo gallery (August 28, 2009)
VIEW : WEEK 1: Complete list of High School football scores
 BCSN VIDEO: High school football: Northview - Clay
BCSN VIDEO: High school football: Oak Harbor - Springfield |
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"This is a really special win, not just for me, but for our players and our whole community," said Panthers coach Joe Palka, who had been 0-3 versus Central, his alma mater. "We played lights-out on defense. We knew they'd be good on defense, and I didn't think 14 points would be enough, but obviously it was tonight."
In 2007, Central secured its third straight City title with a 24-23 overtime win on this same field, and last season came back from a 14-0 deficit to take a 24-21 win at home on a late field goal from Kyle Burkhardt, locking up a fourth championship in a row.The Irish (6-2, 4-1), ranked No. 9 in D-II, will now need some major help to become the first CL team to win five consecutive crowns.
The two big plays enabled Whitmer to grab a 14-0 lead in a first half the Panthers dominated until a bizarre closing 22.5 seconds before halftime.
With 31.7 seconds left in the first quarter, Panther running back Teryl Mershon (12 carries, 71 yards) took a counter handoff to the right, got a clearing block from tackle Jesse Murray, and rambled 53 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.
"Our coaches told us all week that play was going to bounce," Mershon said, "so I had to get out there as quick as I could. I finally got the opportunity, and [Murray] made a good decision to get up the field.
"I've never seen him run that fast. That was great job by him recognizing what we had."
With 2:27 left in the half, Randall Kennedy, who shared quarterback/running back duties with Joe Missler (21 carries, 61 yards), zipped a pass over the middle to tight end Tevin Boykin at the Central 25. Boykin split Irish safeties Cheron Jenkins and Joey Schneider and sprinted to the goal on the 47-yard TD play for a 14-0 lead.
At that point, Central had earned just one first down and 10 total net yards. Further, the game had not yet had its first penalty, and there was only one turnover, Luc Meacham's fumble after his 70-yard kickoff return following Mershon's TD.
Whitmer's lone defensive glitch came with Central facing a third-and-14 from the Panther 29. Irish QB Dave Walender threw to the right corner of the end zone, where Whitmer safety T.J. Rowland tipped the ball. But Central's Nate Hobbs caught it while falling backward for a 29-yard TD with 22.5 seconds left in the half.
The first half ended, with turnovers on four straight plays, one fumble for both teams, then one interception each.
"Coach Palka told us to be physical and play hard throughout the whole game, and that's what we did," Panther defensive end Kenny Hayes said. "This is a big win. It feels good to beat Central, but we still have to get better each week."
Whitmer had a prime chance to expand its lead midway in the third quarter, blocking a Central punt and recovering at the Irish 32. But, after driving to a first-and-goal at the 5, the Irish defense stopped the Panthers for losses on three straight plays, and Panther kicker Austin Sweeney missed on a 35-yard field-goal attempt.
Central then drove to the Panther 20, but gambled and lost by opting for a fake after lining up for a 38-yard field-goal try by Burkhardt, who had made 57 and 51-yard field goals this season.
The Irish never got past the Whitmer 39 the rest of the way.
"We had no consistency offensively," Central coach Greg Dempsey said. "We got some things going in the second half, but still not on a consistent basis.
"They took it to us tonight, plain and simple. Their kids played hard and did a great job of executing their game plan. Obviously they got great pressure on us in the run game and the pass game."
The Panthers totaled 232 yards of offense. Missler was 6-of-10 passing for 59 yards, Kennedy 2-of-4 for 50. Walender was 3-of-15 for 76 yards for Central, which gained just 45 rushing yards.
Contact Steve Junga at:
sjunga@theblade.com
or 419-724-6461.
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