Whiteland quarterback Oliver Taylor scrambles during Friday’s game against visiting Martinsville.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
Whiteland quarterback Ollie Taylor literally got a big push from his teammates.
Taylor scored on three quarterback sneaks to lead the Warriors to a 34-23 victory over visiting Martinsville Friday night in Mid-State Conference action.
“The offense did amazing,” Taylor said. “We did what we needed to do to drive the ball down the field. Every time I scored, they would help push me in. All we had to do was keep pushing and pushing. We kept doing what we had to do.”
Taylor scored twice on 1-yard runs. The other came on fourth and 1 from the Martinsville 3, where he was able to push ahead for the score.
Warriors coach Darrin Fisher said he watched as Taylor grew up during the game.
“When you run the football like we do, play action pass is important,” Fisher said. “He’s getting better at his faking and his ball handling. Tonight was evidence of that.”
The Warriors (3-3, 2-2) also scored touchdowns on defense (via an interception return in the first quarter) and special teams.
“That was a good team win in all three phases of the game,” Fisher said.”Our special teams came up with a big play. Our defense obviously had some big plays. Offensively, we came up with some big conversions when we needed them. We saw a lot of young kids grow up. We played a lot of sophomores. We had a freshman long snapper. It was the first varsity game for three of our guys because we’re so injured.”
Martinsville’s record is now 3-3 and 2-2.
The Warriors’ final score came on a 35-yard run by sophomore Dane Kunz on a fake punt to give the Warriors a 34-16 lead with 4:11 left in the fourth quarter.
“Dane is not our normal punter, but Gunnar Hicks is injured,” Fisher said.”Zach Rudolf, our special teams coach, does a fantastic job of getting our team ready to play. That was something he saw that was there and it was the right call at the right time. It close the game out.”
Junior Slate Valentine run for 115 yards on 29 carries to lead the Warriors.
“Kaiden Davidson had some nice runs as well,” Fisher added.
On the game’s first play from scrimmage, sophomore Jordan Palmer intercepted Chase Davis’ pass and took it 22 yards to give the Warriors a 6-0 lead with just six seconds gone. The PAT was blocked.
“Starting fast is always important,” Fisher said. “They had a young quarterback in the game. When you score on defense, that gives you a good leg up.”
Martinsville had taken a 16-13 lead midway through the third quarter on a 22-yard pass from Davis to Jace Lafary.
The Warriors went ahead 20-16 on Taylor’s 3-yard TD run. Taylor’s third TD made it 27-16 early in the fourth quarter.
Martinsville’s final score came on a 7-yard TD pass from Davis to Hunter Stroud with 2:41 left in the game.
Following Martinsville’s Charlie Rawlins’ 30-yard field goal. Warriors running back Maalik Perkins suffered a leg injury on Whiteland’s first offensive play. Perkins was just returning after being out with a leg injury since early in Week 2.
The Warriors capped a 80-yard drive with a 1-yard QB sneak by Taylor to take a 13-3 lead with 5:13 left in the second quarter. Martinsville closed the deficit to 13-9 on Brayden Shrake’s 4-yard TD run with 1:44 to go before intermission. The Artesians missed the PAT.
Shrake finished with 122 yards rushing.
