<p><strong>T</strong>he level of competitiveness Trevor Larence brought to practices and games had a domino effect on Whiteland’s football team last season.</p><p>No one was happier than Warriors coach Darrin Fisher, whose team rebounded from an uncharacteristically disappointing 2017 campaign to finish with an 8-3 record. Fisher recently referred to the 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback as the driver of the energy bus.</p><p>“It’s his attitude. Everything is a competition to Trevor Larence. If he wins, great, but if he loses he wants to play again. He does it with a smile on his face,” Fisher said. “Trevor sells something positive every day. He makes you want to come to practice.</p><p>“Trevor’s influence on everyone else was evident. His competitiveness took him over the top.”</p><p>On July 9, Larence reports to the University of Indianapolis to prepare for the annual IFCA North-South all-star game. He’ll join two other Johnson County players, Center Grove defensive lineman Brian Gaffney and Franklin receiver Cory Richards, as teammates on the South squad.</p><p>In the fall, Larence had 60 tackles and led the county in interceptions with six.</p><p>Fisher said Larence brought great work ethic, attitude and ball skills the first half of his Warriors football career. Unfortunately, he was undersized, which prevented him from playing substantial minutes for a Class 5A team.</p><p>Larence performed on special teams as a junior, also playing snaps at running back, corner and outside linebacker. In his breakout senior season, Larence averaged 5.8 tackles per game in helping Whiteland race to a 5-1 start. He finished the season with 16 pass deflections and a fumble recovery.</p><p>Larence scored two touchdowns last fall, one on an interception return and another on a fumble return.</p><p>Whiteland is coming off a season in which it fielded the second-stingiest defense in the Mid-State Conference. The Warriors allowed 19.1 points per outing, less than half the 42 points they gave up a year earlier.</p><p>The Warriors’ connection with the annual all-star game goes back to 1978, when defensive back Ken Sears, now the athletic director at his alma mater, played for the South. The North has dominated the series of late with four consecutive victories.</p><p>Larence being Larence, he wants to be on the team that gets the South back on track.</p><p>“It means a lot to me because there are only 12 other Whiteland kids who have played in the game,” Larence said. “I do really want to win. It would feel good for the South to get the win.”</p><p>Larence will play football at Anderson University and major in criminal justice. He has no intention of deviating from the formula that’s brought him to this point. Larence will practice hard, play hard and be the best possible influence for his Ravens teammates.</p><p>“I think I get it from my mom (Misty) because she’s always trying to make me the best person I can be,” he said. “It’s just who I am. I try to keep people positive because it keeps the team going.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><p><strong>IFCA North-South All-Star Football Classic</strong></p><p>When: July 12, 7:15 p.m.</p><p>Where: North Central High School</p><p>Admission: Adults $10, students $5</p><p>Series: South leads, 27-25</p><p>Last year: North 27, South 24</p><p><strong>Local players</strong></p><p>South — DL Brian Gaffney, Center Grove; CB Trevor Larence, Whiteland; WR Cory Richards, Franklin</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
