Garrett Elder breaks a run outside against the Woodlan defense during Friday’s 22-19 loss. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

WOODBURN – It was a bitter end to a sweet season for the Whitko football team Friday night. The Wildcats took the field for their first sectional title game appearance since 2003 and faced an undefeated Woodlan team. The host Warriors would cling to a 22-19 victory to claim the IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 35 Championship.

“We fought for 48 minutes against a very, very good, big, physical team,” said Whitko head coach Josh Mohr. “I’m sure that score was a lot closer than anybody thought it was going to be. I could not be prouder of our guys for being as resilient and as physical as they were here tonight.”

Resiliency was a big key for both team in Friday’s contest. Whitko started the game on defense and forced a quick three and out. Two plays later the Wildcats lost a fumble. Woodlan turned that turnover into a two-yard scoring run for Mitchell VanBrocklin.

An offside penalty on the ‘Cats on the extra point try gave Woodlan the ball at the one. The Warriors used the extra yard to go for two and take an 8-0 lead with 7:04 left in the first quarter. It looked bad for the Wildcats after that unfortunate sequence, but Whitko responded.

Garrett Elder broke away for a 45-yard score with 5:29 left in the opening frame, a Walker Hobbs kick cut Woodlan’s lead to 8-7.

The next score wouldn’t happen until midway through the second quarter as Jackson Rhoades gave the Warriors a 15-7 lead with a four-yard run. A surprise onside gave Woodlan the ball back but that resiliency kicked in again for Whitko as the Wildcats would hold on a fourth down try.

Hunter Reed punched in a score for Whitko with 1:09 left in the first half, the Wildcats would fail on the two-point attempt and trail 15-13 at the half.

The third and fourth quarters came down to missed opportunities by the Wildcats. Whitko received the ball to start the third quarter and would have a 7:45 drive end with no points. Coming up empty handed on that possession was not necessarily a turning point in the game, but it was certainly a drive the Wildcats need points on.

Whitko’s defense remained strong and held Woodlan to a fourth and short situation early in the fourth but the visitors were drawn offside by a hard count, giving the Warriors a fresh set of downs. This was turning point in the contest.

“In a close game like this it’s going to be a handful of plays that make a huge difference,” Mohr remarked.

Woodlan would score a few plays later on a 50-yard run from Justin Durkes. With just 6:54 remaining in the game, Whitko had its back against the wall down two possessions. Again, the Wildcats responded. Using just a minute off the clock, Whitko would close the gap to 22-19 on a 59-yard run from Elder.

Whitko’s defense again held on the ensuing drive and gave the offense a chance to win the game. A huge pass interference call a third and 17 play followed later by a 28-yard run from Elder on fourth and three gave Whitko an opportunity deep in Woodlan territory. The game came down to a fourth and six situation, but a delay of game made it fourth and 11. The following play would be an incomplete pass, clinching the game for the Warriors.

Mohr said his team will meet next week to discuss plans for next season, but wanted to leave this night to celebrate his senior class.

“Those guys,” Mohr said before pausing,”I don’t know if I can really express in words how much they’ve meant. It’s not just their character on the field, it’s off the field, it’s their drive in the weight room. A lot of them are three sport athletes. They play three sports and still go in and lift in the summer and have put everything on the line as far as the work they put in to get where they are.”

Whitko finishes the season at 6-6. Woodlan (12-0) will move on to the regional for the first time since 1988.