WHITING | After the scoreboard buzzed and was quickly turned off, the Whiting Oilers met in their own end zone, listening to coaches after their final game of the season.
They weren't looking across the field, where Culver was singing its fight song to celebrate a 48-21 win over Whiting in the Class A Sectional 33 final.
"We're tired of seeing people celebrate on our field with a sectional trophy, and we're going to come back next year and show them Whiting can win the big games," junior quarterback Matt Aponte said.
The Oilers last took home the sectional title in 1997, and the last time Culver captured it was 2001, at the Oilers' Ray P. Gallivan Stadium.
On Friday, the Cavaliers (8-4) used a rushing attack to quiet the Whiting defense. Culver had weapons in Kevin Hogan (175 yards, one touchdown) and Michael Salary (127 yards, two touchdowns), while quarterback Collin Stevens was 6-of-8 with 164 yards and touchdowns of 59, 11 and 58 yards.
"(Salary) was the kid we were trying to key in on, but they all had about 200 yards," Whiting coach Jeff Cain said. "We have to get better, but we have a lot of young kids."
Culver jumped out to an early 28-0 lead while Whiting (7-4) had only two first downs through the first 20 minutes of play. But the Oilers changed the game plan from the rush to the pass, and Aponte threw three quick first downs and finished with a 26-yard ricochet score to Juwan Simmons to give the Oilers a little momentum.
"The pass was effective and we came out passing then in the second half, but a couple turnovers and the momentum stopped," said Aponte, who also ran for a 28-yard touchdown with less than a minute left in the game.
The Oilers turned the ball over twice on fumbles and once on a second-half interception.
Whiting loses seven seniors from its 35-man sectional roster while the young Cavalier team goes on to meet Lafayette Central Catholic, a 58-13 winner over Caston.
"If we're going to compete in this sectional, we're going to have to get up to this level of (Culver's) conference," Cain said. "Every year they bring a strong team to the sectional."
PREP FOOTBALL
Class A Sectional 33
Championship
Culver Community 48, Whiting 21
The Oilers' Emerick Quiroz ran for a team-high 67 yards on eight carries and a touchdown.
