Font Resize
When Ray Gouker was named Gettysburg High's football head coach in 2010, he installed the Wing-T offense.
Following the graduation of all three starting backs -- D.J. Johnson, Carson Merine and Zach Hill -- and, with Chase Whiteman returning at quarterback for 2011 with 14 games started under center, Gouker made the change to the shotgun and a spread offense.
The result was a change from 74 percent of plays being runs in 2010 to 53 percent in 2011.
The shift was brought about not by just a change in personnel because of graduation, but also because of numerous meetings during the offseason.
"Part of the change was due to our personnel," Gouker said. "We had Chase coming back as an experienced quarterback, but also because of the relationship that our coaching staff has built with the coaching staff at Gettysburg College."
As a result of the change, Whiteman attempted 224 passes and completed 111 for 1,605 yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
"Chase is a smart kid," Gouker said. "He did a great job of picking up the new offense. He worked hard to improve and is a good leader."
On the receiving end of 46 of Whiteman's completions was Benttion Hendricks. The senior wideout had 777 yards receiving and caught seven touchdowns. He finished with nine total touchdowns.
Gouker singled out senior Kurt Hoffman as "the most improved player on the team." For the year, Hoffman scored nine touchdowns. He caught six passes for scores, earned a rushing
"Kurt worked hard last offseason to improve," Gouker said. "He was stuck behind three very good backs in D.J., Carson and Zach, which didn't allow him to play very much.
"But when he got the chance, he made the most of it."
While the offense averaged 19.8 points per game and 245.9 yards per game, the defense presented a big problem for the Warriors. They allowed 38.1 points per game and a Hanover-area worst 401.1 yards per game.
"We may not have been deep enough depth-wise on defense," Gouker said. "We had a lot of guys going both ways and that will obviously tire you out."
"The kids knew where they were supposed to be. But sometimes we weren't lined up quite right and were a little slow on our reads."
The 2-8 record in 2011 is Gettysburg's worst since the Warriors went 1-7-1 in 1961. It's also the third losing season in the past four for Gettysburg.
However, Gouker cited a 35-34 win over Waynesboro in Week 9 as the team's high point of the season. It was a game in which the Warriors led 21-7 at halftime, only to fall behind 34-21 in the fourth quarter. However, two touchdowns in the last two minutes propelled the Warriors to victory.
In that game, Whiteman completed 19-of-34 for 359 yards and four touchdowns. Hendricks caught 10 balls for 209 yards and the winning score with 26 seconds left.
"Chase, Benttion and Kurt's leadership really shone through against Waynesboro," Gouker said. "They kept everybody in it even when we fell behind."
Looking forward to the 2012 season, Gouker wouldn't give a number of wins as a goal, but said that a.500 season "would be a nice step forward."
He will have 10 starters returning, two of them two-way starters. Among the returnees are three on the offensive line -- Brett Crushong, Gary Harding and Cory Hardman. The Warriors also return Dane Purdy, their third-leading receiver.
And on defense, Harding, Hardman and Dave Matthews return on the line. Pete Metzger, Jordan Nye and leading tackler Jason Nye, who had 69 tackles and an interception, all return at linebacker.
