The Whitewater Whippets downed Big Foot 26-22 in the football home opener on Friday night, August 22.
Comments from Coach Bartlett:
We went into this game with the mindset of proving that Whitewater football is ready to fight for all four quarters. Our season mantra is Pound the Stone — a reminder that every play matters and that adversity is always part of the game.
Big Foot gave us a tough battle, and we had to overcome our own mistakes, but our players never stopped grinding. We opened strong with a defensive three-and-out followed by a touchdown on our first offensive play. Big Foot responded immediately, setting the tone for a back-and-forth fight the rest of the way.
Our players’ resilience showed late in the fourth quarter when, down by a score, we put together the game-winning drive. Junior quarterback Ty Bucholtz delivered a huge throw to junior Emmett Spear across the middle, while senior Christian Minett and Bucholtz powered through with tough runs to keep the chains moving. That drive was set up by a momentum-shifting kick return from junior Hayden Armstrong after Big Foot had just taken the lead.
New offensive coordinator Daniel Strause called an excellent series to close out the game, while new defensive coordinator Jacob Biesterveld kept our defense locked in and battling all night. Our entire coaching staff — Michael Maas, Michael O’Neal, Quinn Williams, and Jacob Brown — played a vital role in the victory.
Senior Casey Lyon (#2) also stood out, making plays at wide receiver while anchoring our defense at middle linebacker with toughness and athleticism.
This win was a true team effort and an important step in showing who we are becoming as a program: a Whitewater team that will keep pounding the stone until the final whistle.
Stats:
Rushing
· #4 Ty Bucholtz 8 Rushes, 60 Yards, 1 TD
· #33 Christian Minett 14 Rushes, 85 Yards, 2 TD
Passing
· #4 Ty Bucholtz 8-16, 156 Yards, 1 TD, 1 Int
Receiving
· #1 Trevor Piper 1 Catch, 3 Yards
· #2 Casey Lyon 6 Catches, 113 Yards, 1 TD
· #3 Emmett Spear 1 Catch, 17 Yards
· #15 Connor Brummeyer 1 Catch, 23 Yards
Defensive Notable Stats
· #3 Emmett Spear 5 Solo, 6 Assists, 11 Total Tackles
· #50 Deavion Olson 2 Solo, 2 Assists, 1 TFL
Photo Credit Olivia Kowlaski