Back’s big night lifts Whiteland

CONNERSVILLE

Only one thing outmatched Whiteland’s defensive intensity in its football game at Conners­ville on Friday.

That was the Warr­iors’ offensive efficiency.

Class 5A Whiteland amassed 521 total offensive yards and held the Class 4A Spartans to 205 yards en route to a 42-14 non-conference win Friday night.

Whiteland senior running back Aaron Harris finished with 24 carries for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Warriors senior quarterback Adam Gutermuth went 7-for-16 passing for 82 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another 74 yards.

Sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Calaway made six catches for 70 yards and two scores for Whiteland. Junior running backs Zack Duff and Jeffrey Wooten each rushed for one touchdown.

Whiteland (3-2) got little traction on the ground in the first quarter against Connersville (3-2). So it came out throwing early in the second quarter for two scores.

The Warriors’ passing then opened up their running game as Harris scored his 11th rushing touchdown of the season on a 70-yard run with 3:58 remaining in the first half, and Whiteland led 21-7 at the break.

Coach Darrin Fisher said the Warriors just took what Connersville gave them.

“What Connersville did early was a great job of taking away our inside run,” he said. “They gave us a split-six front and took the off tackle away. We did a good job of adjusting.”

Connersville scored again early in the second half to bring the score to 21-14 before Whiteland put the game out of reach.

Gutermuth said the offense just worked its plan Whiteland practiced all week.

“We prepared very well and our coaches had a great plan for us this week,” he said. “Our offensive line really came out and played hard. They fought like they do every week.”

The Warriors resume conference play next Friday when they travel to Martinsville.