WHITING | In 2012, Whiting football fans better get used to seeing one thing and not seeing another.
They should get used to seeing a ball-hawking defense, and not seeing the offense on the field for a long time.
Whiting used big plays and quick drives on offense and an opportunistic defense in Friday night's 49-0 blowout win.
After Whiting (2-0) started at Gavit's 20 on its first drive because of a 9-yard punt, the Oilers went two plays, which was capped by a Justin Jendreas 6-yard run.
On the Oilers' third drive, senior wide receiver Rudy Wanek, who scored on a 26-yard run out of the Wildcat against Clark in Week 1, scored again out of the same formation -- this time for 90 yards.
"Our offense has a few main factors, but the Wildcat gives me a couple touches, gives the defense different looks, and keeps them on their toes," said Wanek, who hauled in three passes for 68 yards along with three TDs.
After adding another three-play TD drive on a Veloz to Wanek 8-yard pass, sophomore running back Ethan Young, who returned from a sprained thumb, scored from 49 yards out on Whiting's first play from scrimmage in its sixth drive.
"Everyone runs the ball hard," Cain said. "Ethan had a good week of practice. We still have some who haven't had as big of an impact yet, so we're hoping to get the rest healthy."
Gavit (1-1) mustered just 2 yards of total offense in the first half and only crossed into Whiting territory three times and recorded one first down, thanks to the Oilers being flagged for roughing the kicker.
Whiting focused on Gavit's speed and athleticism this week as the main part of preparations.
"No one has that much speed on our team as a couple of they do," Whiting's Marcelo Lopez said. "The coaches had us key on their speed because that's the only thing we feared from them."
Wanek added his third and final score of the night on a 27-yard pass from Veloz in Whiting's longest drive of the night (91 yards) in just 1:59.
When asked if Cain is concerned that his offense hasn't really put together a long touchdown drive in its two games, he simply said, "No, not at all."
"What does that do then? It puts the defense right back on the field," he added. "Our defense is apart of the offense right now."
Things really got for bad for the Gladiators when they fumbled a toss on their own 9 and Jendreas fell on it and landed in the end zone for a 2-yard fumble recovery for the team's final score of the night.
"One thing that we'll see on film is that there were 11 hats to the ball," Cain said. "Individually we can't match up with them, but when it's one-on-eleven, it becomes tough. The kids are understanding concepts, doing their jobs, and are believing in themselves."

















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