Walendzak takes over winter workouts, wants more players involved

By Rex Kirts

Apparently, too many football Panthers didn't mind being 3-7 last year.
Didn't mind being part of the first losing team in two decades.
Otherwise, a lot more would take advantage of the winter workouts and try to build themselves into tougher, better players.
The players have been provided with an indoor facility on the west side of town where they can train. There they can get stronger and quicker and generate more team camaraderie so maybe they don't get pushed around and suffer another losing season.
YOU WOULD THINK that's what they'd do. You'd think they would enjoy winning and returning to the winning tradition.
But so far a lot seem more satisfied with 3-7 because they aren't present at the indoor facilitly workouts and weight workouts at school.
Part of the problem is that Drew Wood has resigned as head coach, and he's not present to steer the players into off-season workouts. A vacuum exists.
Principal Mark Fletcher and athletic director J.R. Holmes didn't want the program rudderless during this important time. They asked defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Dean Walendzak to take over, and he has stepped up in a major way. The things he's doing will be the same things he'll do should he get the head job, which he's applying for.
Walendzak joined the South staff two years ago. He's a long-time college assistant coach with a solid pedigree, and he's worked on offense as well as defense.
IN ADDITION to hopefully getting more players working out, one of the first areas he's dealing with is academics. He doesn't like it when the players are tardy to class or skip class, and he wants the grades to come up. People who don't do these fundamentals must show up Friday's at 7 a.m. and run. He calls it the breakfast Club.
Basically, Walendzak is holding the Panthers accountable. Discipline will be strong as he works on the culture surrounding the entire football program.
"I was asked to be the steward of the program by Drew and J.R. and Fletcher," Walendzak said. "I was asked because I'm the assistant head coach.
"My goal is, whoever the new coach is, he can hit the ground running. I'm working on grades, going to class, the weights and speed training. I want to give him a team that works hard." Tuesdays and Thursdays are spent in the weight room, Mondays and Wednesdays a the indoor facility.
PANTHER NOTE: Former Panther Earnie Morris is attending Eastern Illinois, trying to get his grades up this first year so he can play football the next four years. He is getting good help from the Eastsern staff, and his grades were solid the first semester.
Morris, a wide receiver and defensive back, is due to get football scholarship and Pell grant money next year but needs money to help pay off debts this year. Anyone wanting to help can contact Drew Wood at South at 330-7808.

NFF awards announced

By Rex Kirts

The Central Indiana chapter of the National Football Foundation, which includes several members from Bloomington, announced its awards Monday. The banquet will be Feb. 27 at the Colts Complex in Indianapolis.
The Distinguished American award will go to Blake Ress, commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Colts' linebacker Gary Brackett will receive the Courage Award, and the Collegiate Award will go to A.J. Edds of Greenwood High School and the University of Iowa. Tom Bohlsen will receive the Officials' Award.
Receiving the student-athlete awards will be Doug Sprowl of Indianapolis Washington, James Ringer of Mooresville, Andy Walsh of South Vermillion, James Kent of Rockville, Adam Shaffer and Brian East of Carmel, Alex Hines of Fishers, Stephen Roberts of Greenfield, James Hurst of Plainfield, Ross Hendrickson of Indianapolis Rittere, Ryan Tooley of Indianapolis Scecina, Michael Petruzzi of Hamilton Southeastern and Blake Lueders of Zionsville.
Ben Whitlatch of Bloomington South was a student-athlete nominee by coach Drew Wood.

Wood to start new job, coaches are inquiring about his old one

By Rex Kirts

Beginning Feb. 1 Drew Wood will still have a job in education. It just won't be in the teaching-coaching area he's had for nearly two decades
Wood will leave South as the head football coach-assistant athletic director-physical education teacher and be in charge of the new energy education position within the Monroe County Community School Corporation.
One of the good things about the position is his salary will be paid by a private company in Texas. His salary won't come out of MCCSC funds. This is critical because of the future budget cuts the MCCSC, as well as most school corporations in the state, will face next year.
Another good thing about Wood taking the job, as far as South is concerned, is that it opens up the teaching position, theoretically opening the way to fit in a new football coach-assistant AD.
That's the theory. But since the MCCSC is due to eliminate an estimated 50-70 teaching jobs next year it's not yet certain how this will affect the ability to bring in someone from outside the corporation to be the new coach.
Meanwhile, athletic director J.R. Holmes said there have been inquiries about applying for the football job. Some have come from as far away as Florida. If the school can go outside the system, and decides to do it, it appears there will be sufficient quality to choose from.

Wood resigns head coaching job

By Rex Kirts

Drew Wood resigned as South's football coach today (Jan. 5) after six years as the Panther head man.
"I'm going to pursue educational leadership," Wood said this morning, shortly before a meeting with the players to announce his decision.
Wood's goal is to become a superintendent, and at age 40 he said he needs to begin work on a doctorate. "I can't do that and be a coach, too," he said. "It's not fair to the kids and the community."
WHILE WORKING on the doctorate he will search for a job as assistant principal or in administration, possibly in the MCCSC.
It's not the best of times to go into the job market in education in Indiana because of the budget cuts recently announced by Governor Daniels. It's estimated that 50 to 70 teaching jobs may be cut in the MCCSC, and that could hurt South's chances of going outside to fill the head football job. Wood is also an assistant athletic director and teacher.
Coming to Bloomington after serving as the head coach at Homestead near Fort Wayne, Wood said from the beginning he likes Bloomington and the South football job is one of the best.
"I've loved it," he said. "This is a great place to be. I'm not leaving because I have any complaints. I think it will be a great job for whoever comes in.
"BUT THIS IS a good time for my family to pursue my goal." He and wife Heidi have four children, the oldest just ready to graduate from South.
Wood coached the Panthers from 2004-09. His records were 7-3, 7-4, 7-3, 9-3, 5-5, 8-3 and 3-7 for a total of 39-25. Highlights included Conference Indiana championships in 2005 and 2006.
During his tenure he started the drive to get an artificial turf installed, and this off-season an indoor facility, primarily for off-season work, is being leased on the west side of town.
"We've got things in place for the kids to train," Wood said. "We've got Dave Schunk to run the weight room, and coach Walendzak (Dean, the defensive coordinator) and the other assistants for the off-season work. The off-season training is going well.
"I FEEL GOOD about the way things are going with the football program. It's not in shambles."
The record took a hit last season, however. The Panthers had skilled players but were small and inexperienced in the lines. The defense was especially small up front.
Most of the offensive line returns next year as does quarterback Joey Forney. There are some linebackers and defensive backs returning, but linemen are needed.
Finding new talent will be a challenge for the new coach because the jayvee and freshman teams had losing records.
Athletic director J.R. Holmes will begin the search for Wood's replacement.

2009 awards presented

By Rex Kirts

Senior running back Jordan Hogue wan named South's most valuable player for this season when he won the B-Man award. It and many other awards were presented Tuesday at the school auditorium.
Hogue also won the Most Outstanding offensive back award, the Most Outstanding special teams player award and was named one of five Captains. In addition, he was named the the all-Conference Indiana team at running back.
Other Captains were seniors Ben Whitlatch, J.P. Tapp, Tito Valentin and Garrett Fell.
Tapp was the Most Outstanding offensive lineman, Darren Eads the Most Outstanding defensive lineman, Lucas Franz the Most Outstanding receiver, Derek Murphy the Most Outstanding defensive back and Alex Sarpa the Most Outstanding linebacker.
The James Marsh award for mental attitude was shared by Whitlatch and Tyler Fiddler. Kyle Porter and Garrett Kerr shared the Bobby Brown award for tenacity.
Joey Forney was named honorable mention all-conference.

Focus quickly shifts to next year

By Rex Kirts

The sound of putting away the football gear too early upsets the soul.
* * *
The significance of today, for those not still in the playoffs, is that it's one day closer to the start of football practice.
* * *

At the IU football camp last summer, Gibson Southern, a school almost a third the size of South, handled the Panthers on the line of scrimmage. It was not a mirage - it was an accurate sign of what was to come for South in the regular season.
Fielding one of the smallest and least experienced team in decades, the Panthers finished with a 3-7 record and were eliminated in the sectional by Center Grove for the second straight year.
It was a strange season. The Panthers were a few plays away from being 6-0, but those missing plays left them at 3-3. They dropped their last four games, failed to win a home game and lost to winless Perry Meridian in the final regular sesaon game.
It was discouraging for coach Drew Wood, in his sixth year with South, but the the ink had barely dried on 2009 when he began preparing for next year. He's excited about the program being prepared and the use of the indoor facility, a converted business, on the west side of town.
And like any coach Wood didn't want to think about the negatives. There were many things he liked about this team, some on the field and a lot about its personal conduct.
"THIS TEAM IS SPECIAL to me," he said, speaking of its character, following the sectional loss at Center Grove.
Naturally, he wants to win more football games. Good years from such standouts as running back Jordan Hogue, quarterback Joey Forney, nose guard Darren Eads, receiver Lucas Franz, safety Derek Murphy and outside/inside linebacker Alex Sarpa helped with the wins.
"We were in seven games," Wood said, "and won only three. We could have won more if we'd got more breaks. I knew it would be tight."
In the long haul, the Panthers' lack of size was a major factor in the results. A lineup of players 6-0 or under simply got overwhelmed by lineups of 6-2 and up. Toward the end of the season the Panthers couldn't move the ball on the ground or stop the run.
THE FIRST HALF of the year Hogue was a tremendous force rushing the ball, and the senior will be missed next year. He wound up with 1,147 yards rushing (6.0 average) and 10 touchdowns.
"Jordan Hogue had a great year," Wood said. "He's a player, strong, amazing desire."
Forney, hampered the last two games with an ankle sprain, completed 107 of 226 passes for 1,481 yards and 14 TDs with 11 interceptions. Franz led the receivers with 31 catches for 487 yards (15.7) and six TDs.
The defensive tackle leaders were Murphy, Sarpa, Eads and safety Theo Carver.
The Panthers return seven offensive starters and six defensive starters next year.
Back on offense are guards Reilly Flynn and David Tiwari, tackles Zach Bonnell and Jarred Mason, Forney, Franz and receiver Michael Bower. Also, Zach Weddle started on the line early.
Back on defense are tackle Colton Dixon, Sarpa, Murphy, Drew Volz at outside linebacker and cornerbacks Trae Washington and Adam Wiley. Plus, Joey Todd played a lot of tackle late, and Jon Campbell played a lot at outside backer.
SO THERE IS A GOOD NUCLEUS returning. The key to improvement is how hard they work in the off-season. They might not be much bigger next year, but they can be stronger and quicker.
Wood is excited about the prospects for a good off-season because of the indoor facility. He and defensive coordinator Dean Walendzak are setting up a program called Teamwork Performance Center that will emphasize speed and performance enhancement and have position specific training for all sports. There are free weights there, but most of the weight program will remain at South under the direction of David Schunk.
A strong effort this off-season will focus on improving the athleticism of the linemen.
"Our top priority is to train the kids, not about Xs and Os, but to get bigger and stronger," Wood said. "We'll have speed and skill next year and be good in the secondary. The emphasis has to be on the lines."
Wood feels he's got running backs who can step in, but he's looking for help up front on the defense.
PANTHER NOTE: Jordan Hogue is the only Panther to make the all-Conference Indiana first team. Darren Eads and Joey Forney were honorable mention.

Whitlatch: Panthers excited about meeting Center Grove

By Rex Kirts

Center Grove dealt South a punishing defeat in the sectional last year. Of course, Center Grove did that to a lot of teams on the way to winning the state championship.
The teams link up again this year, meeting at Center Grove Friday in the first round of the sectional. And South, said senior wide receiver and captain Ben Whitlatch, is eager for another crack at the Trojans.
"We've got nothing to lose," Whitlatch said. "We're excited. We're just going to try hard."
One of the hardest things Whitlatch has had to do this season is recover from a shoulder injury in the second game against Martinsville at Lucas Oil stadium. He missed two games and part of another, and after returning he played offense only. Before the injury he started at cornerback, too.
THE SHOULDER is still a little ouchy, but the 6-0, 172-pound Whitlatch can play OK. Last week against Perry Meridian his production stepped up to seven catches for 79 yards, and he also completed a 41-yard pass.
"I do miss defense," he said. "It's fun. There's opportunities to make plays at the cornerback position. Trae (Washington) and Adam (Wylie) are doing a good job there now."
Offense is Whitlatch's staple at the moment, and he's hopeful the Panthers can put up points against Center Grove. The teams met in the pre-season scrimmage, and the Trojans put up a lot more points than the Panthers.
South, 3-6 and loser of its lsat three games, is coming off a sub-par performance against Perry Meridian, which was winless until whipping the Panthers. They must improve to contend with Center Grove.
"WE COULDN'T CAPITALIZE against Perry," Whitlatch said. "We drove the ball." They stumbled in the red zone, however.
Receivers don't just catch passes. For the offense to click they must block on running plays, too.
"I feel blocking is one of the strong points of my game," Whitlatch said. "I always feel confident i can seal the outside for Hogue (Jordan, running back). You never know where he's going to go
"It's a good feeling to make a block and see the running back go by my guy."
The Panthers lost all their home games this year. "It must be the new purple jerseys," he laughed. "We haven't won in them yet."
WHITLATCH keeps busy at school. In addition to football, he plays basketball, sings with the Sounds of South, is on the student council and the Riley Dance Marathon committee and has 4.1 grades.
"Ben is one of our many renaissance men," coach Drew Wood said. "He has a good sense of humor and is a heck of a football player."
Whitlatch and sophomore place kicker Drew Barlow share one of the leads in Brigadoon, the Sounds of South production currently playing. There are SOS practices after football every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
"It's quite a commitment," he said of SOS. "I play Jeff Douglas."
AS CAPTAIN on the football team he feels it's his job to lead by example. "You have to support the players who are down and pick them up. You have to make sure everybody is doing their job and not getting in trouble. It's like our motto says, 'as one.' "
There's a lot to like about playing the game, Whitlatch believes.
"The teammates, so many great memories, the big plays on the field, and all the hard work. It's fun when plays work in the game that you've worked on.
"And the jug line is just a great tradition. It's a great feeling to run through the jug line."
After high school Whitlatch plans to attend college and maybe play football or basketball, but he hasn't decided where yet. He's thinking of studying something in business or maybe pre-law.

Quiet Carver makes noise with his hits

By Rex Kirts

Listen carefully and the hint of an accent can be heard.
"I was born in Jamaica," South senior safety Theo Carver said. "I moved to Chicago when I was six or seven. Then I moved to Bloomington about eighth grade and lived with my aunt after my dad died."
The Jamaican lilt is there all right, along with a broad smile. Behind smile and the soft speaking, though, is a football player.
"Theo is quiet," coach Drew Wood said. That's off the field. On the field the 5-9, 174-pounder makes hits that can be heard.
"HE PLAYS HARD," Wood said. "Very explosive and one of our strongest players. He's had some of our better hits, our black jersey hits."
Carver has done some interesting things in his life, but the one he pointed toward for many years was football.
"I just wanted to play football, but dad didn't want me to play until I wasin high school," he said.
Dad must have thought football was a little rough, but he had no objection to moto-cross. That's a bit difficult to understand, of course, but he and Theo set sail on their bikes.
"I said I wanted to race, and I did for a year when I was about 13 or 14 and living in San Diego," Carver said. "I wasn't that good, didn't win any trophies."
About that time he moved to Bloomington and gave up biking for football.
The Panthers benefitted from the switch because Carver has been a two-year starter at free safety, after transferring from North as a junior. One of his best games was last week at Columbus North when he made numerous tackles.
AS A WHOLE the Panthers were sub-par at Columbus and are 3-5 going into Friday night's regular season opener against winless Perry Meridian at Fred Huff Memorial Field.
"I figured our season would be a lot better," Carver said. "Coach says we need to execute more. We still haven't been reading our keys - that's what we've got to do to advance in the playoffs.
"The Lawrence Central game was the only one we had fun. We executed and came out winners."
The last two games, Pike before Columbus, aren't the kind to build confidence, but Carver feels the Panthers are still eager to suit up.
"We are, but we need to concentrate fully," he said. That will happen, according to defensive coordinator Dean Walendzak, when the Panthers pay more attention during walk-throughs in practice. And once the game begins better tackling is a must.
OFF THE FIELD, Carver enjoys being outside most of the time. But he's also at home in the kitchen.
"I cook," he said. "I cook pretty much anything I'm hungry for."
For that reason Carver is thinking about studying culinary arts in college, either that or sociology. He's considering IU and Ball State and has had football interest from Lindsay Wilson College in Kentucky, Heidelberg in Ohio and Gannon in Pennsylvania.
PANTHER NOTE: Former Panther place kicker and punter Spencer Whitehead kicked a 37-yard field goal for Wabash in a win over Washington of St. Louis last Saturday.

Tapp: A No. 1 choice and a grand champion steer

By Rex Kirts

J.P. Tapp was honored like maybe no other center ever this fall. He was the No. 1 draft choice.
Centers don't go No. 1. That's usually the quarterback when coaches choose up sides for intrasquad scrimmages, or maybe it's the best defensive lineman.
But for South's Purple and White scrimmage the honor went to Tapp, a 6-1, 245-pound senior.
And he couldn't even be at the scrimmage.
"I had LOTS camp," Tapp said, "and I had a wedding that night. So I missed that game."
Tapp hasn't missed much since, and that's good for the Panthers because center isn't a position they're deep at. There has been only a couple of errant snaps all year, an outstanding result since the Panthers operate out of the shotgun most of the time.
"I'M PLAYING all right," Tapp said. "But the Pike game (last Friday) was absolutely terrible. They have one of the best D lines ever, as good or better than Center Grove's last year."
The Panthers came out flat and got whipped soundly to fall to 3-4 this season.
"Some games are just like that," he said. "I don't think we were intimidated (before the game started). They came out and hit us in the mouth first, and we never really hit 'em back."
The loss put the Panthers in a difficult situation. They're looking at possibly having their first losing season in 21 years unless they rebound this week at Columbus North and stay strong the following week in the regular season finale against Perry Meridian.
"Columbus is pretty athletic and pretty strong," Tapp said. "They try to trick the offensive linemen by twisting and stunting. It's a big rivalry game, like North."
IT WILL BE A primary task of Tapp and the other captains, Tito Valentin, Ben Whitlatch and Jordan Hogue, to point the team in the right direction heading into the stretch.
"I just try to keep everyone motivated," Tapp said of his captain's role. "I try to solve any problems in the locker room and help out the coaches."
"J.P. is a great kid when it comes to leadership," coach Drew Wood said. "He does what you ask him to. Nothing ruffles his feathers. He's real steady."
Tapp, like his brother Josh before him with the Panthers, is also heavily schooled in being a farm boy, a successful one.
"I had the grand champion Charlois steer last year," he said. "At auction the 1,388-pound steer sold for $2 a pound.
"YOU ONLY GET PAID for 1,300 pounds, though," Tapp explained. That's to keep from bulking the livestock up artificially.
His farm chores include helping with the pigs, putting up hay "and other stuff. We breed pigs. I had a reserve champion gilt."
One of Tapp's hobbies is tied into farm life. "I'm on the livestock judging team. We go around to different places."
His big hobby on the football field is hitting people. "I like hitting. And the team camaraderie is fun, all the friends you make."
An A-B student, Tapp plans to attend Purdue and study agriculture next year.
PANTHER NOTES: Tapp's initials stand for Joseph Phillip. "I didn't know until a couple of years ago that Phillip had two Ls because I never had to write it before then," he said . . . Players of the Week against Pike were Whitlatch on offense, Alex Sarpa on defense, Hogue on special teams, Nolan Rogers on scout offense and Matt Cassidy on scout defense. The leadership award went to Sebastian Helms and the mace award for the big hit to Sarpa.

Grossman happy to get opportunity with Texans

By Rex Kirts

In mid-June Rex Grossman was in Tampa, Fla., going nowhere. Uncertainty about the future dominated his thinking.
Then the Houston Texans called, and his life took on a glorious new meaning.
"Coach (Gary) Kubiak called me out of the blue," Grossman said. "I was flying to Bloomington for my 10th year reunion and got the message. I got on a connecting flight to Detroit and then to Houston, and I haven't been back home yet."

Photo courtesy

of Houston Texans

He and wife Alison moved to Tampa from Chicago after he and the Bears parted ways. Alison maintains their home in Tampa while Rex has an apartment in Houston, where he has a one-year deal with the Texans.
THE FORMER SOUTH QUARTERBACK, who led the Panthers to the undefeated state championship in 1998, is the No. 2 quarterback with the Texans. Now, nobody wants to be No. 2, but in this case it's OK. It was a big deal when he beat out Dan Orlovsky for the spot, one rung below Matt Schaub
"I'm doing all right, hanging in there," he said from Houston last week. "It's a surprise to be No. 2 and exciting. I'm one chance away from getting to play on a pretty darn good offense. It's rewarding because in the middle of June I didn't know what team I would be on."
Grossman's six-year career with the Bears was rocky. It included two season-ending injuries on the low end and quarterbacking them to the Super Bowl on the plus side. After the Super Bowl it got tough for him in the Windy City, with the media and fans harassing him.
His last year in Chicago was a one-year contract, but the Bears gave the quarterback job to Kyle Orton. Not fun for the guy who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting his sophomore year at Florida and was named Mr. Football in Indiana while at South.
GROSSMAN'S PSYCHE was still in good shape after the Bears let him go.
"I know I can play in this league," he said. Making the Texans confirmed it. "My personal confidence is as high as it's ever been. The more you're around this league the more you know and the easier it is. I know I can play at a high level.
"This is a whole different organization. I think I've shown them what I can do."
There's a lot of similarity in the offenses at Houston and Chicago because both came out of the West Coast offense.
Grossman changed agents after Chicago, replacing Eugene Parker with Drew Rosenhaus.
"There was nothing wrong with my other agent," Grossman said. "I ran into Drew Rosenhaus at (Bears tight end) Greg Olsen's wedding, and I felt Drew was a little more aggressive. My signing with Houston was a combination of Drew and the team being interested. It was easy to find me."
During the lull after Chicago, Grossman worked out with former NFL quarterback Steve DeBerg, played some golf, visited friends and traveled around a little bit.
"BUT I WAS ALWAYS by the phone at all times," he laughed. "I was a little nervous that people wouldn't give me an opportunity, but I felt something would come along."
Kubiak is involved with the offense in Texas, and Kyle Shanahan is the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.
"Kubiak is very demanding of his quarterbacks," Grossman said. "The offense is extremely structured - the quarterback doesn't have a lot of leeway." Playing for a demanding coach is nothing new. Steve Spurrier was like that at Florida, and Mo Moriarity liked things done his way at South.
Joining the Texans and getting started happened quickly. "They talked to me on Friday, and I was in mini-camp Monday. It was kind of crazy," Grossman said.
It was a good crazy, though.
Grossman was close to getting his degree at Florida when he left a year early to play in the NFL. He wants to finish his degree during the next off-season.
PANTHER NOTES: For South all-star guard Patrick Hillenburg is starting again this year at Franklin College. He will graduate in December and look for a job in law enforcement. Another former Panther, Lindsay Letner, is a cheerleader at Franklin and as part of her schooling is a trainer at Columbus North.

Eads a welcome addition to the defense

By Rex Kirts

After practices, even hard ones, Darren Eads, Ben Farmer and Ethan Farmer occasionally run extra laps around South's football field. They are also wrestlers, and playing football doesn't get them in wrestling shape.
Larry Litten, another similar Panther dual-sport athlete many years ago, was asked what it was like, conditioning-wise, going from football to wrestling.
"The first time I try to wrestle six minutes I turn blue," Litten grinned.
Eads played football as a freshman but didn't come out the next two years to concentrate on the mat sport. The decision had some merit because he made it to the state finals last year. It ended quickly, however, when he was pinned in the first round by the eventual state champ.
All winter, Panthers who played football goaded Eads about coming out this year. "I kept hearing, 'Hey, Eads, football next year, right?' "
WITH THAT KIND of peer pressure, how could he resist?
The 5-10, 190-pound senior is glad he came out. So are the coaches because Eads became a starter at a vital spot along the defensive front line, nose guard. After five games he was second on the team in total tackles to strong safety Derek Murphy.
Eads came out after talks with coach Drew Wood.
"We talked personally." And Eads decided that since it was his senior year he shouldn't miss out on any opportunities.
"It was a good decision," he said. "Football is a little more laid-back, more of a team sport. Not everything is relied on yourself."
That's right - there's no place to hide on the mat. Of course, the game tape doesn't lie, either, so everyone knows who carried out their duties when the tape rolls. In this, Eads is doing well.
"I FEEL I'VE played pretty good," Eads said. "There are a few things I'm not used to, but I'm giving 100 per cent every play, so you can't ask for more."
"Darren is having a great year," Wood said. "Number one, he's a neat kid. A tough kid, obviously. He's been on the mat and is not afraid to go up against anybody. He's been real steady."
During the summer, Eads was tried at inside linebacker. Early in two-a-days he was shifted to nose. That position is almost made for wrestlers, who are accustomed to close combat of the type nose guards face.
"I was a little skeptical at first," Eads said of the move. "But it was what the coaches needed, so I decided to fill the spot."
It can be difficult for someone 5-10 to play there, opposite bigger centers and guards. With his quickness and strength, Eads can handle most challenges down there in the pit.
It's not unusual to get double-teamed at nose. "When that happens you know the play is usually coming to you," he said.
EADS AND THE PANTHERS (3-3 overall, 2-2 in Conference Indiana) face another stout opponent in Friday's homecoming game. Pike is 5-1 and the only team still unbeaten in conference play.
"Pike is big and fast," Eads said. "But we know what they're doing - they're not going to hide anything. So we'll see who wants it more."
Eads is a 3.8 student who is thinking of attending the University of Indianapolis and wrestling. He is considering studying athletic medicine.
PANTHER NOTE: Players of the Week in the win at Lawrence Central were Jordan Hogue on offense, Adam Wylie on defense, Tyler Fiddler on special teams, Will Newsome on scout offense and Ben Farmer on scout defense. The leadership award went to Kyle Porter and the mace award for the big hit to Theo Carver.

Peck finds a home at F back

By Rex Kirts

South's coaches knew they had to find a place for Nate Peck to play regularly, and this year they settled on F back, a hybrid position where he can line up at tight end, wide receiver, fullback or running back.
It's been a pretty good fit. With his athleticism, the 6-0, 186-pound senior has contributed as a receiver and runner for the Panthers.
In the first five games, Peck is the third leading receiver with eight catches for 105 yards (13.1) and two touchdowns and the third leading rusher with 13 carries for 90 yards (6.9).
THE ROAD to a starting position has been curvy. He was center as a freshman but didn't come out as a sophomore. Talked into coming out last year, he was a backup defensive tackle, and backup running back late in the season, who seldom played. He expected to be a D lineman this year.
"I loved the defensive line," Peck said. "I was always faster than everybody and could blitz off the line."
In a talk with coach Drew Wood during the off-season, Wood said another receiver was needed and F back would be the perfect spot for Peck.
"Nate has surprised people a little bit this year," Wood said. "When you put the ball in his hands he's pretty competitive."
"Coach Mark Sutor said at F back I could make the big plays when we needed them. And I make the key blocks off the edge for (Jordan) Hogue," Peck said.
WHILE ADMITTING he still needs to improve his blocking, using his hands more instead of blocking with his body, Peck likes what he's doing at the position.
"I like F because the linebacker tries to cover me, and I'm always faster," he said. "When the safety comes up I take him with me and that opens it up for someone else."
The Panthers are 2-3 with a tough schedule ahead of them, beginning Friday at Lawrence Central. Peck feels they should have a better record, maybe even 5-0.
"We're three or four plays away from 5-0," he said. "The North game we should have scored , The Southport game . . . Martinsville we were intimidated. In the locker room we got quiet."
PECK THINKS the team needs to concentrate on getting the job done. "We need to show people what we can do," he said. "We haven't played four quarters yet."
He wants to see no heads hanging any time and excitement from the sidelines during games.
Also a member of the Panther basketball team, Peck has to decide on whether he'll play football or basketball in college. He is thinking of studying law enforcement or something in sports.
PANTHER NOTE: The Players of the Week against Southport were Hogue and Joey Forney on offense, Darren Eads on defense, Forney on special teams, Nolan Rogers on the scout offense and Cullen Flynn on scout defense. The leadership award went to Garrett Kerr and the Mace award for the big hit to Hogue.

Franz making his mark catching

By Rex Kirts

Junior Lucas Franz has emerged as South's leading receiver this season, but he wishes he could have one play over.
Driving for what could have been a 28-20 lead with under seven minutes remaining in last week's game against North, Franz had a shot at a touchdown reception. Upon contact with the ground, however, the ball bounced free. Soon after, North began a 98-yard drive for a 28-21 win.
"I SHOULD HAVE had it," Franz said.
There will be other opportunities probably for the 6-3, 190-pound junior. This season he's caught 13 passes for 187 yards (14.3 average) and two touchdowns going into Friday's game against Southport.
Franz had already played a major role in the Panthers' season. After a disappointing loss to Martinsville, the Panthers dug themselves a 14-0 hole at Franklin Central in the first quarter. At that point, the rest of the season had a gloomy outlook.
But helped by two Franz TD catches and a revived defense, the Panthers rallied for a 20-14 win. On his second TD, Franz simply out-leaped the defensive back for the ball.
"Franklin Central was his coming out party," coach Drew Wood said.
Franz had knee surgery in June to correct a long-standing problem. His comeback from the operation was rapid, and he's full go. He's especially full go on deep routes, where his long stride enables him to run past unsuspecting DBs.
"I watch myself pass people on the films," he said.
"Lucas is a fun kid to coach," Wood said. "He has a lot of energy, and he'll get better."
"My season has gone pretty good," Franz said. "With how many athletes we've got and the number of touches I've had I'm really happy with that."
IT'S A BENEFIT to the Panthers' passing game that Franz and quarterback Joey Forney have played together since the seventh grade. " In certain situations I know what he's going to do," Franz said.
He prefers remaining awas from contact as much as possible. "I like to be in control, once I have the ball in my hands and can do with it what I want. And I like the confidence of knowing I can come down with the ball.
When the running backs make a long gain, it takes the help of blocking by the wide receivers. Franz admits there's some work to do there. "Blocking is something I definitely have to improve on. I still take plays off," he said.
South's passing game should be improved this week with the return of the other staring wideout, Ben Whitlatch. He banged up a shoulder against Martnsville and missed the last two games.

Valentin conquers size problems, big and small

By Rex Kirts

At the end of practice Tuesday, senior Tito Valentin was second in the down-and-back sprints. Valentin is a defensive tackle, and tackles never finish second in sprints.
But Valentin is accustomed to doing the extraordinary.
At the end of his sophomore year he packed 275 pounds on a 5-8 frame. Despite the extra weight Valentin showed promise because even then he had some quickness and was a battler.
THIS WAS EASY to see on the wrestling mat. He didn't win a lot of matches that year, but he kept sticking his nose in there.
Today, Valentin is 207 pounds and runs the 40 in 5.3. His skills are such that last week coach Drew Wood added offensive tackle to his responsibilities.
Losing weight requires tremendous discipline. Valentin did it, he said, primarily because he wanted to get out of the heavyweight class in wrestling. Not only did he lose, he has kept it off.
"Chicken and vegetables" was his dietary formula. Extra exercise included running two miles and doing "killers" (back and forth sprints) in his driveway.
"I LOST WEIGHT to get faster, get more in shape," he said. "I knew I had to lose to get more agile and faster feet. It was mostly for wrestling."
Wrestlers quite often are good football players. The toughness on the mat carries over to the gridiron. Valentin, a captain in football, is another good example of that.
"Tito has a great attitude," Wood said. "He will keep trying to do what you ask him - he's willing to play both ways. He's a wrestler, and he works hard."
Playing both ways is tough, Valentin admits. "But wrestling helps my endurance. It's rough sometimes, but you get used to it."
IN THE TRENCHES, down there where only the tough survive, Valentin has to make up for his lack of size. It's not unusual to give up 50 or 60 pounds.
"He's quick," Wood said, "and he has pretty good technique. He gets off the ball and pursues the ball."
"I think it (lack of size) is a blessing," Valentin said, "because I'm so low to the ground, and with my quick feet I usually go around them. I don't initiate contact - I just make a juke step and go around them."
The job of a defensive tackle is tokeep from getting blown out. And there's more. "You've always got to watch the quarterback," Valentin said, "to keep him contained. And you always have to keep the backside contained unless the runner cuts back."
That will be a major chore Friday night when the Panthers host North and its standout runner, D'Angelo Roberts. He runs behind a huge line and fullback.
"I KNOW they're big, and the running back has a lot of speed," Valentin said.
The Panthers go into the game, and the rest of the season, in a better mental state after last week's 20-14 win at Franklin Central. They trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before arising from a slumber and playing with heart and passion.
"Our defense started clicking," Valentin said when asked what jump-started the Panthers at Franklin Central. "Tyler Hearne made some key stops. And the offense started kicking in. Then me and (Derek) Murphy blocked the punt, and that got everyone excited."
Getting excited was something the Panthers hadn't done much, but they'll have to maintain it to be competitive the rest of the year.
After high school Valentin wants to attend Rutgers and wrestle. "But I have to win state to get a scholarship there," he said. He's thinking of studying art history or psychology.

Hogue hustles all the time

By Rex Kirts

Jordan Hogue is a delight to watch on a football field, either at practice or a game, because he's mastered one of the toughest things in athletics. He hustles every play.
He runs hard, every time, whether it's carrying the ball from running back or covering on kickoffs. There's no letup in the 5-7, 185-pound senior.
Carl Barzilauskas, now a Bloomington businessman, played defensive tackle for IU and the NFL's Jets and Packers. He said the hardest thing to do is play hard every play. Barzo would love to watch Hogue.
"I GET MY HUSTLE from my dad and mom and brother," Hogue said. "My brother (Stefen, who preceded Jordan at running back) always pushes me.
"Sometimes I want to take a rest, but I tell myself I've gotta stay with it, be all I can be. I stay in shape and drink a lot of water.
"And I love running, even when I don't have to. I go all out."
South coach Drew Wood agrees with the all out statement. "He does everything full speed," Wood said.
And the speed is good, 4.58 in the 40. So is his strength and his moves. They're all packaged in a tight frame with an attacking attitude.
In South's two games Hogue has rushed for 112 yards each time. All he needs is a little daylight and he's a threat to turn the play into a big gainer.
TO WATCH the enthusiastic Hogue is to believe he was born to play football. He tried the other sports but settled on football and track.
"Football is my favorite thing," he said. "It comes from my family.
"I like the contact, love hitting kids till the whistle. I just the sport, love running. And it's a team sport."
In contrast to some others, he even loves practice. Well, most of the time. "I look forward to practice, except Mondays," he laughed.
The games, of course, are special. "I like the competition," Hogue said. "I love hitting. I love getting in their face and making them mad. And I like seeing what works."
What works best, he's learning, is what happens when he runs the ball north-and-south. There's a tendency to try to beat everyone to the sideline, but too often he runs out of room without advancing the ball.
"I learned that at Terre Haute (the opener at T.H. South)," Hogue said of too much east-and-west running. So he's working on ""sticking my head in there" and heading upfield.
On kickoff coverage Hogue enjoys heading straight for the return man. He can deliver a fierce blow.
"I LOVE KICKOFF," he said. "It's one of my favorite things. I'm always the first one down there, and I feed myself - that's what I call it." Feed with a big stick.
Hogue gets a lot of pleasure from things other than football. A solid student, he is a serious artist, graphic designer and videographer. Art is what he's thinking of studying in college.
"Art is my favorite class," he smiled. "My brother was always drawing, and I wanted to draw like him. Every year I get a notebook and draw in it. I like to draw people, cartoons, graffiti stuff. I try to keep on it every day to get better."
Besides football, track and art, Hogue excels in another activity, snow boarding. "I'm pretty good at snow boarding," he laughed.
Wood will miss Hogue's presence next year. "He's a nice young man," the Panther coach said. "Nice sense of humor, nice to be around."
Hogue isn't sure where he'll go to college. He's looking for the best offer.

Work is hard but success is worth it, Gross says

By Rex Kirts

Derek Gross waited a long time - almost his entire high school career - to fulfill his desire to come out for football. Then he quickly doubted the wisdom of his decision.
"At first I didn't like it," the senior cornerback said "because it was too hard."
It wasn't the physical part that was so difficult, even though Gross weighs only 155 pounds. It was the mental part which proved troublesome despite the fact he's almost a straight A student.
"I DIDN'T KNOW how to stop certain routes," Gross explained. "But I accepted the challenge. Football grew on me, and I stuck with it. I'm glad I did."
South benefitted immediately from his decision. After earning a starting job he opened the season at Terre Haute South last week with two interceptions. On the first he stuck to a tipped pass, and the second was thrown right to him with no receivers in sight.
"It was great to have him come out," coach Drew Wood said. "Derek is very athletic and has football savvy. He was a pretty good player in middle school."
Gross played football in middle school, but an injury limited him to two games his eighth grade year. Moving up to high school, he decided to limit his sports to baseball, where he plays right field and pitches.
"HE'S A PRETTY GOOD football player, with good speed. He'll get better," Wood added.
Gross came out because "I just thought it would be fun. I thought about it all through high school." He didn't talk to anyone about coming out - he just showed up.
But he didn't show up too early, waiting until after the IU camp in June to come out.
And has football been as much fun as he hoped?
"Yeah, it really has," Gross said. "I like the excitment and the adrenalin rush from making a good play. It's definitely been worth all the hard work. That first interception was definitely worth it."
He nearly returned the first pick into a touchdown, but a penalty would have negated it. The second interception was a gift, just a bad throw.
"I WASN'T EXPECTING the second one," he said. "I didn't see it till it got right to me."
Gross came out with the goal of playing wide receiver. "But coach Wood said we needed cornerbacks. At first I didn't like it because it was too hard."
That changed, of course. Now playing corner seems like a good fit.
"This has been a great experience," Gross said. "The coaches, the whole system. Everyone is totally committed
"I played all right in the first game (a 14-7 Panther win), but I missed a couple of tackles. I'm still learning a lot."
THE PANTHERS have decent overall quickness on defense, with good pursuit.
"The coaches stress pursuit and using our speed," Gross said.
Overall, football has provided several surprises. "The whole thing has," Gross said. "I was surprised at how well the coaches understand all the positions and the plays. Everything is precise detail."
The experience has convinced Gross to think about playing football as well as baseball in college. "I'll try to find somewhere to play baseball and maybe walk on if it's at a small school," he said.

Conference Indiana and South scores and stats

FINAL 2009

CONFERENCE INDIANA
Conf. AG
Pike 7-0 9-2
Bloomington North 4-3 8-4
Columbus North 4-3 5-5
Southport 4-3 5-5
Franklin Central 3-4 4-6
Lawrence Central 3-4 6-6
South 2-5 3-7
Perry Meridian 1-6 2-9
Friday's games
Avon at Pike
North Central at Lawrence Central
Perry Meridian at Warren Central
Whiteland at Bloomington North

FINAL SOUTH OFFENSIVE STATISTICS (3-7)
Rushing C Y Av. TD
Jordan Hogue 191 1147 6.0 10
Nate Peck 17 108 6.3 0
Ben Whitlatch 8 52 6.5 0
Joey Forney 94 45 0.4 1
Michael Bower 6 34 5.6 0
Sebastian Helms 9 28 3.1 0
Tyler Hearne 4 19 4.7 0
Trae Washington 1 1 1.0 0
Theo Carver 1 -3 -3.0 0
Passing C A I Y TD
Joey Forney 107-226-11-1481-14
Michael Bower 2-3-0-46-0
Ben Whitlatch 1-1-0-41-0
Jordan Hogue 1-2-0-19-0
Receiving
C Y Av. TD
Lucas Franz 31 487 15.7 6
Nate Peck 21 352 16.7 4
Michael Bower 24 335 13.9 1
Ben Whitlatch 18 250 13.8 2
Jordan Hogue 11 88 8.0 1
Trae Washington 5 55 11.0 0
Scoring
TD X1 X2 FG TP
Jordan Hogue 11 0 0 0 66
Lucas Franz 6 0 1 0 38
Nate Peck 4 0 0 0 24
Drew Barlow 0 17 0 1 20
Ben Whitlatch 2 0 0 0 12
Michael Bower 1 0 0 0 6
Adam Wylie 1 0 0 0 6
Jordan Forney 1 0 0 0 6

SOUTH DEFENSIVE STATISTICS (3-7)
T A Sa Int
Alex Sarpa 56 8 1 2
Derek Murphy 51 13 0 0
Darren Eads 46 8 0 0
Theo Carver 42 10 0 0
Garrett Kerr 36 13 0 1
Tyler Hearne 28 9 1 0
Drew Volz 31 4 4 2
Tito Valentin 25 7 1 0
Jon Campbell 19 5 0 0
Trae Washington 17 3 1 0
Joey Todd 14 1 0 0
Colton Dixon 11 4 0 0
Derek Gross 11 3 0 3
Michael Bower 10 2 0 1
Ben Whitlatch 7 1 0 0
Adam Wylie 4 1 0 1
Eric Abel 3 2 1 0
Jackson Phillips 3 0 0 0
Jordan Hogue 3 0 0 0
David Tiwari 2 0 0 0
Tyler White 1 1 0 0
Skyler Newton 1 0 1 0
Kyle Porter 1 0 0 0
Cullen Flynn 1 0 0 0

Varsity scores
South 14, Terre Haute South 7
Martinsville 19, South 10
South 20, Franklin Central 14
Bloomington North 28, South 21
Southport 36, South 33
South 33, Lawrence Central 21
Pike 36, South 13
Columbus North 44, South 14
Perry Meridian 17, South 14
Sectional
Center Grove 49, South 6

Junior Varsity scores
South 14, Terre Haute South 12
Martinsville 28, South 14
South 30, Franklin Central 18
South 28, Bloomington North 20
South 14, Southport 8
Lawrence Central 28, South 6
Pike 18, South 6
Columbus North 33, South 6

Freshman scores
Terre Haute South 20, South 12
Martinsville 22, South 0
Franklin Central 14, South 6
South 14, Bloomington North 6
South 18, Southport 6
Lawrence Central 34, South 0
South 7, Pike 6
Columbus North 36, South 0
South 19, Perry Meridian 16