By Daniel Schoettler
Sports Correspondent
The Whitewater Whippets offense improved in both the passing and the running game on Friday night. They dropped their eighth game on the year as the fell to Big Foot 48-20.
Big Foot was first on the board as quarterback Jackson Enz hit Aidan Greco on a 73-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0. Enz hurt the Whippets again in the first quarter taking a 43 yard run in for a touchdown to make it 14-0.
Enz wrapped up the first quarter scoring as he hit Pedro Sierra on a 14-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0. Enz and Sierra hooked up again to start the second quarter scoring with a 29-yard touchdown connection to make it 28-0.
Enz and Greco hooked up again to make it 35-0 on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Oliuh Craig ran one in for a touchdown later from two yards out to make it 41-0.
Michael Petkoff wrapped up the first half scoring with a one-yard touchdown run. Big Foot went into the locker room with a 48-0 lead at the half.
The Whippets didn’t give up and got on the board in the third quarter as quarterback Daniel Fuller hit Tyler Sheffield on a six-yard touchdown pass to make it 48-6. In the fourth quarter, Fuller would hit Jimmy DuVal on a 90-yard touchdown pass, and Ernie Magana would add on the two-point conversion to make it 48-14.
“Once again, our young team came back out in the second half and continued to battle even though the score was in Big Foot’s favor,” head coach Tom Grosinske said.
Aldo Soto capped off the scoring for the game with a one-yard touchdown run to make it 48-20. The Whippets went for two on a pass from Fuller and were unsuccessful.
Fuller was 10-for-25 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Big Foot’s Enz was 14-for-20 for 239 yards and four touchdowns.
“For portions of our passing game, we were able to get the timing back on track for releasing the ball into routes,” Grosinske said. “Daniel made some decisions to get the ball out of his hands toward his receivers and spread the ball around pretty well.”
Aldo Soto was the leading rusher for the Whippets with seven carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. DuVal was the leading receiver for Whitewater with five receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown.
“We ran the ball better this week as our backs gained more yards on the ground this week than in any game previously,” Grosinske said. “We were also pleased with our pass protection from our offensive line who often gave Daniel time to throw the ball.”
Cole Vance was the leading rusher for Big Foot with seven carries for 72 yards. Enz contributed four carries for 63 yards and one touchdown.
Greco led the way in receiving with three receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Sierra had five receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns for Big Foot.
The Whippets fall to 0-8 on the season, while Big Foot goes to 5-3. Whitewater closes out its regular season at home against Clinton for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday night.
“Friday is senior night, which is always a bittersweet game,” Grosinske said. “It is the final time our seniors will put on a Whippet uniform and we want their teammates to continue to battle all game long, which they will.”
