Whiting bounces back from big loss

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UNION MILLS -- South Central was coming off a big 25-6 victory over Bishop Noll, Whiting, though 2-1, was pounded by Wheeler 58-6 last week.

How would the Oilers react to the Satellites, who struck gold on the first play Friday night, 11 seconds in, with freshman Ethan Biggs breaking free for a 63-yard touchdown run?

Whiting didn't do that badly, scoring themselves with 9:38, with Emerick Quiroz pushing in from four yards out. They were down 7-6, and eventually, they would shake the Satellites for a 21-7 victory. But the Oilers had some problems getting their offense going.

"It was like Novocain, you've got to work it out," said Whiting coach Jeff Cain. Even so, Satellite coach Jud Tolmen knew it would be difficult to keep the momentum up after a big week in the victory over Bishop Noll, then the early score.

"That first play was almost too easy," Tolmen said. He added that, "We didn't get the (help) we needed up front." Sophomore Bryant Hoover started for South Central, after he had played so well the week before. Tolmen had last year's starter, Mike Catalano back from the injured list.

"He took about half the reps this week. Hoover left fairly early,after struggling to move the offense early. Catalano came in, and though he looked a bit ragged, Tolmen believes he'll be ready for next week.

"I wanted to ease him in, and I wanted to see if we could keep it (the momentum) going with Hoover. But Catalano came in, and though Tolmen noted,

"He took some hard hits, but he looks alright, doesn't he?" Cain said. (South Central is a good , young team. Biggs is gong to be a great running back. I hate to say that we'll see him for three more years.

"I was disappointed in our effort the first half. First drives are often the key."

And that's what his Oilers were able to do out of the second half starting gate.

The Oilers picked up their second touchdown, with quarterback Dan Macon scoring from four yards out, and Quiroz adding two points on the conversion. Whiting was ahead for good.

They added a fourth quarter TD, with Macon completing the drive with a 4-yard run. Whiting pretty much was in control the rest of the way. In fact, the Oilers had a chance to run the clock out, but fumbled the football away.

South Central went four downs and out, and the game was in the Oilers' win column. But he started sophomore Bryant Hoover for the second week, despite the possibility that Michael Catalano, who was coming off a dislocated shoulder might be ready.

"I wanted to ease him in, and I wanted to see if we could keep it (the momentum) going. Quiroz rushed for 93 yards, and he might have been over 100 except for some strong defensive plays by the Satellites.

Macon was 5-14 and 102 yards passing, and though he was only 14 for 27 yards rushing, he scored two rushing TDs.