Season ended with a thud at Whiteland

By Rex Kirts

Whiteland is a new kid on the block in class 5A football, and Friday night it took on one of the division's former powers, South, and showed it how to play football.
Whiteland hit harder and ran faster. It excelled on offense, defense and special teams.
So once again South failed to make a big noise in the sectional, getting knocked out in the first round of the tournament, 37-14.
The difference in the performances was a shock, given South's history of success and Whiteland's lack of it. But Whiteland is clearly on the rise while South needs rejuvenated.
The Panthers are in a slide, from 3-7 last year to 2-8 this season. They have been especially ineffective in the tournament for several years, and Friday they exited the sectional with a long list of "things to do" to become competitive again.
TO A MAN, including head coach Kirk Kennedy, the South staff talks of getting stronger in the weight room. Whiteland completely manhandled the Panthers in every area.
Whiteland was also hurt less by penalties and played better on special teams. It's hard to imagine, but South had yet another punt blocked.
In total yards, Whiteland had 408 and South 208. On defense, Whiteland hit while South tried to arm tackle. South's tacklers would get dragged for several yards after contact, which has happened a lot this season, even by small running backs.
South has grown accustomed to being whipped good by such opponents as Center Grove and Columbus North, but to have up-start Whiteland do it is just a big shock.
"We have to get hungrier," Kennedy said. "We have a lot of work to do. There's no shortcut to success. We've got to be a lot more physically tougher and mentally tougher as well."
The Panthers played without fire in the second half in losing at Perry Meridian last week, and the disturbing trend continued at Whiteland.
"NO (WE WEREN'T READY)," Kennedy said. "We were very timid tonight on offense, and the defense wasn't attacking."
Whiteland's offense featured quick backs and a misdirection attack with a good ball-handling quarterback. That combination has hurt the Panthers all season. Whiteland ripped them inside and out.
"The defense needs to be disciplined and read their keys," Kennedy said. "They weren't getting off their blocks on the jet sweep. And the offense wasn't doing anything to help the defense."
South had one good drive of 73 yards in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7 on a two-yard run by quarterback Michael Bower.
THE PANTHERS didn't have much offense after that. Their second TD was an eight-yard run by Bower in the fourth quarter, which was set up by a 49-yard keeper by Bower.
Although Whiteland wasn't very big on defense, there simply weren't any holes for the Panther backs to run through.
There is a lot of work to do, and Kennedy won't waste time on getting started for next year. Weight room work will probably start in two weeks.
There will be a lot of rebuilding next year. Players up from a solid freshman team are expected to contend for starting jobs.