Whip-Purs turning things around

The Whip-Purs have reeled off two wins in a row over Big Northern Conference foes Byron and Richmond-Burton, and have done so quite handily.

One key is the Whips haven't turned the ball over during their recent two-game stretch. They've also been dominant on offense, putting up a combined 733 yards of total offense -- 462 of which came a Week 4 win over Byron -- while allowing their opponents just 332 yards of total offense. Hampshire has also racked up 44 first downs, 22 of which were picked up by senior fullback Joe Moore.

But if you ask the Whips, this is how they should have been playing all year.

"It feels good that we're back to where we wanted to be the whole season," said Hampshire quarterback Evan Brenner, who has thrown for 158 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in the last two games. "We are back on track and looking forward to making a splash in the Big Northern Conference."

The guys in the trenches have also been getting it done for the Whips. After getting noticeably beaten off the line during the 0-3 start, the offensive and defensive lines have been winning the battles up front.

The turnaround was most evident when R-B had first-and-goal at the 5-yard line, threatening to tie the game at 7 last Friday. But pressure up front and a nice open-field tackle by senior James Goebbert forced the Rockets back to the 7-yard line and had they to settle for a field goal.

"Our defense held them when they had to, especially when they had first and goal there," Cavanaugh said. "That was huge."