Wheeler dominates Calumet for seventh straight win

Wheeler dominates Calumet for seventh straight win

Class 2A No. 10 and Indiana Preps NWI No. 5 Wheeler 42, Indiana Preps NWI No. 10 Calumet 6

By Paul Honeycutt

CALUMET TWP. – The Bearcats giving up under six points a game hasn’t happened by accident.

While the state has undoubtedly noticed the state’s leader in touchdowns in junior running back Levi Murray, it will also have to notice the effort of this smothering Wheeler defense.

The Class 2A No. 10 and Indiana Preps NWI No. 5 Bearcats forced a couple more turnovers in their 42-6 Greater South Shore Conference win over NWI No. 10 Calumet.

The Bearcats (7-0, 3-0 GSSC South) held the Warriors to just 132 total yards.

“Every Wednesday, we get pizza, go to the film room and watch watch watch until we find something we can key off of,” said senior OLB Conner Welch, who recorded two sacks and recovered an onside kick. “Coach Riley, our defensive coordinator, really hammers it into us what we need to do, what we need to see and what we need to know.”

On the opening kickoff, Calumet (5-2, 2-1) fumbled the ball on its own 21 and a little under two minutes later, Bearcats senior quarterback Logan Fox connected with freshman wideout Kaden Catone on an 8-yard TD pass.

First-year Wheeler coach Josh Wissing spoke about his QB’s evolution.

“For me, when Logan comes off the field and tells me what he sees and the verbiage I’m saying is what he’s talking about the same coming back, it makes a huge deal and we probably didn’t throw the ball as much as we should’ve, but every throw of his was on target,” he said.

The special teams woes worsened for the host Warriors, as Wheeler recovered an onside kick on the next kickoff and in short order, Murray plunged ahead for a 1-yard rushing score, making it 14-0 before Calumet’s offense even took the field.

The Warriors found their footing and fought back on their next drive with a 25-yard rushing score from senior running back Bryce Brandon, who recorded his 14th rushing score of the season.

During the second quarter, Murray added rushing scores of six yards and three yards, respectively, which sandwiched a couple crucial defensive plays.

With 8:50 left in the first half, Welch sacked Calumet QB Jaden Campbell, forcing a 13-yard loss and a fourth down.

Then with 1:52 left in the first half, senior defensive back Erik Diaz picked off Campbell.

Fox kept his hot start going in the second half after he hit Riley Luedtke on a 56-yard TD after evading a fierce Calumet rush.

“I think it definitely starts with film study because new this year we have iPads that we can see the plays on, so that’s definitely been a huge help,” said Fox, who finished 11 of 16 for 211 yards and two scores. 

Murray capped his scoring with another 1-yard rushing TD right at the end of the third quarter.

“Our counters have been working well with our guards pulling and our left tackle, Adam Koszyk, down blocking,” said Murray, who ran for 162 yards on 36 carries and upped his total TDs to 26. “The line has been put through many agility drills and they’ve been greatly coached.”

Wheeler has Whiting and a huge rematch with Griffith, who is also undefeated and playing some of the best ball in the area and then a difficult sectional with teams like Rensselaer Central looming. 

Only time will tell if this team can win its first sectional since 2011.

“Everyone has bought in,” Fox said.

“The standard has been raised now and there’s a different standard of what’s expected of you, especially with the seniors,” said Welch.

Wheeler 42, Calumet 6

Wheeler; 14 14 14 0 – 42

Calumet; 6 0 0 0 – 6

W – Kaden Catone 8 pass from Logan Fox (Leo Vega kick), 10:06 1st

W – Levi Murray 1 run (Vega kick), 8:58 1st

C – Bryce Brandon 25 run (run failed), 5:16 1st

W – Murray 6 run (Vega kick), 11:54 2nd

W – Murray 3 run (Vega kick), 2:15 2nd

W – Riley Luedtke 56 pass from Fox (Vega kick), 6:30 3rd 

W – Murray 1 run (Vega kick), 0:00 3rd

Wheeler;Calumet

First Downs;19;8

Total Yards;370;132

Rushes-Yards;38-161;22-102

Passing;209;32

Comp.-Att.-Int.;11-16-0;5-12-1

Penalties-Yards;4-45;6-26

Fumbles-Lost;1-0;1-1

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – WHEELER, Levi Murray 36-162, Bentley Simpson 1-0, Logan Fox 1-(-1). CALUMET, Bryce Brandon 14-88, Naeem Bilal 3-24, Brandon Smith Jr. 2-8, Jaden Campbell 3-(-10).

PASSING – WHEELER, Logan Fox 11-16-211-2-0. CALUMET, Jaden Campbell 5-12-32-0-1.

RECEIVING – WHEELER, Kaden Catone 3-53, Riley Luedtke 1-56, Levi Murray 3-36, Anthony Huron 1-35, Sam Rome 1-16, Conner Welch 2-15. CALUMET, Brandon Smith Jr. 3-19, Lamar Wesby 2-13.