Whiteland Warriors look to Break the Rock

For the Whiteland High School football team, the philosophy is simple. Working at the Daily 1-0 Plan with Precision, Passion and Relentlessness develops the Traits of the Team That Nobody Wants To Play. Those Traits allow us to Fight for 3 more Feet in October and have a chance to Break the Rock in November. That is the belief of a program that is an impressive 103-65 overall since 2005 and has a 75 percent winning percentage in October the last 15 years. And for head coach Darrin Fisher and the Warriors, it is the mentality of the 2020 season, one in which they hope to improve off of last year’s 6-4 record and contend for its first sectional title since 2014. The Warriors bring back a wealth of talent this season on both sides of the ball, as a total of 15 starters and 23 lettermen are back for Whiteland. Offensively, Fisher notes that 90 percent of the offensive production is back at the skill positions. Ethan Myers, a 6-foot-5-inch, 305-pound offensive lineman is back and is a four-year starter. He is the lone starter back on the offensive line. In the backfield, Whiteland brings back running backs Melvin Taylor and Chase Valentine, both seniors. Taylor had 91 touches for 659 yards and five touchdowns last fall, while Valentine amassed 503 yards and seven touchdowns on 77 carries. Also back are senior wingbacks Desmen Singleton and Dalton Murray. Singleton rushed for 506 yards and four touchdowns on 52 touches, while Murray went for 523 yards and six touchdowns on 63 carries. Wide receiver Dalton DeBaun is back in 2020. A season ago, he reeled in only three catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing 22 times for 140 yards. Junior quarterback Brant Kunz is back after throwing for 393 yards and five touchdowns to go along with six rushing touchdowns in 2019. The final offensive starter back is tight end Maxwell Sullivan, who stands 6-foot-6-inches and weighs 207 pounds.

On the defensive side of the football, linemen Lenario Greer, Donnevan Plummer and Sullivan all return. Greer recorded 50 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 11 quarterback pressures and one sack last year. Plummer had 49 total stops, two tackles for a loss and two quarterback pressures. Sullivan notched 19 total tackles, two tackles for a loss and two quarterback pressures. In the secondary, Ewan Niccum is back and enters 2020 with 19 career pass breakups and two interceptions. Linebackers Daniel Adams, Kayden Welling and Ardeth Maldonado are all back. Adams had 55 total stops, two tackles for a loss, one sack and one interception last year, while Welling added 58 tackles, six tackles for a loss, two sacks and four pass breakups. Maldonado notched 36 tackles.

The biggest unknowns for Whiteland this season are molding an offensive line, replacing playmakers at defensive line and defensive back and finding a new kicker and punter.

According to Fisher, his team responded to adversity early in the 2019 season by coming closer together and playing for one another.

“The commitment to team has carried forward into a precision, passion and relentless energy in preparation for the 2020 season that gives us a chance to be a good football team,” Fisher said.