By DOUG DONNELLY

OTTAWA LAKE – No. 1 ranked Whiteford will take a 9-0 record into the state playoffs next week after beating Pioneer North Central 30-0 Friday in a game that the visiting Eagles decided to not play the second half.

The Bobcats built a 22-0 lead with 3:49 left in the first quarter when the Eagle staff asked for a continuous running clock and a 10-minute second quarter instead of 12. At halftime, with the Bobcats lead 30-0, Eagle coach Scott Thompson pulled his squad from the field. Whiteford’s players were already in the locker room and had to return to the field for the post-game handshake.

Thompson said he had three injured players in the first half that were unable to continue. They came into the game without three starters.

“It was a compassionate call,” Thompson explained after the game. “We dressed 17 and were down to 14. We can’t play.”

Whiteford coach Todd Thieken said he offered to play the Bobcat JV squad in the second half, but the Eagles declined.

“In all my years I haven’t seen anything like that,” Thieken said after the game. “On the good side, there were some things we wanted to work on and we got the chance to do that. It’s disappointing, but bottom line is we won and now we have to come back Monday and get ready for the playoffs.”

Hunter DeBarr scored on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Shea Ruddy and on a 15-yard run. Luis Trejo caught a 21-pass from Ruddy and Drew Knaggs scored on an 8-yard run.

Whiteford’s defense held North Central to 20 yards of offense and zero first downs. Stepan Masserant intercepted a pass. Jake Iott, who had eight tackles, recovered a fumble.

With his 128 yards passing, Ruddy surpassed the 1,000-yard passing mark for the third straight season, tying a Whiteford record. He was making his 40th career start Friday, 30 of which have been Bobcat victories.

Whiteford will be in the Division 8 playoffs in Michigan with the pairings being announced Sunday. North Central (6-4) remains in contention for a playoff spot in the Ohio playoffs.

Thompson said he and the Eagle staff would have to re-evaluate his team’s situation over the weekend as to whether or not they can play in the playoffs. North Central won six games this season, including a 34-14 win over Erie Mason.

The game was senior night for Whiteford, who will likely end the season as the No. 1 team in Division 8 in MHSAA playoff points, meaning they will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Whiteford 30, North Central 0

NORTH CENTRAL 0 0 0 0 – 0

WHITEFORD 22 8 0 0 – 30

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

W – Hunter DeBarr 15 run (run failed), 7:19

W – Luis Trejo 21 pass from Shea Ruddy (Ryin Ruddy pass from S. Ruddy), 6:25

W – Drew Knaggs 8 run (Jake Iott run), 3:49

Second Quarter

W – DeBarr 65 pass from S. Ruddy (Trejo run), 9:18

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – North Central: J. Burt 4-13, Q. Burt 4-6, Hicks 1-1, Benedict 3-1, Meyers 1-(minus)-1. Totals 13-20. Whiteford: D. Knaggs 4-67, S. Ruddy 1-18, DeBarr 1-15, Iott 1-6. Totals 7-106.

Passing – North Central: J. Burt 0-1-0-1. Whiteford: S. Ruddy 5-7-2-0 128.

Receiving – North Central: Whiteford: DeBarr 2-67, K. Masserant 1-23, Trejo 1-21, D. Knaggs 1-17.