Eigth-graders end year undefeated; claim district championship

Members of the undefeated Whitehouse Junior High "A" team: Trey Metoyer, Patrick Cook, Logan Newton, Preston Conder, Conner Cashion, Dee Mwape, Zach Thompson, Shundrick Beasley, Cody Mogle, Jonathan Parker, Todd Martin, Ryan Ralson, Simon Webb, Matt Durst, Cody Bryant, Cameron Varing, Edward Rodriguez, Tyler Barker, Stephen Chavez, William Lawrence, James Lenderman, Scott Sanders, Terry Brown, Joey Gautney, Quincy Aldridge, Brandon Neel, and Garrett Clark.

The Whitehouse 8th grade traveled to Nacogdoches last Thursday in search of two things: 1) a district championship and 2) an undefeated season. Both were accomplished in the same dominating fashion as most games have gone this season for these young Wildcats as they put up 37 first half points and then coasted to a 37-12 victory.

The Wildcats wasted little time getting on the board as they went to the airways on the first drive. QB Preston Conder found Quincy Aldridge on a 60-yard completion before connecting with Aldridge again for the 10-yard TD pass to stake the 'Cats to an early 6-0 lead.

After a Trey Metoyer interception, the Wildcats again scored on their next possession as QB Conner Cashion found running room up the middle on the option play to get in the end zone from eight yards out to make the score, 12-0.

Nacogdoches' next possession resulted in another turnover, this time on a fumble recovered by Dee Mwape at the Wildcat 38-yard line. The drive started out with a first down run by Shundrick Beasley to the Nacogdoches 48, and then Conder hooked up with Aldridge again for a 48-yard strike. The two point conversion was good, and the Wildcats led 18-0 at the end of the first period.

On its next possession, the Nacogdoches' offense would again shoot itself in the foot with another turnover, this time fumbling at its own 45-yard line.

On the first play of the drive, Cashion hit Aldridge on a quick out that led to a 13-yard gain. Beasley kept the drive going on a big third down run. Facing fourth down and four, Cashion hit Beasley out of the backfield for a 14-yard TD completion to extend the Wildcat lead to 24-0.

The next Nacogdoches' possession would not get any better as a hard Wildcat rush on the QB led to an errant pass that Cashion picked off in the flat and take the distance for a 30-yard interception return to push the Whitehouse lead to 30-0 with 3:56 left in the second quarter.

The Wildcat defense then forced a punt which led to the final Whitehouse score of the half as Conder would take it in from the four yard line, and the PAT by Jonathan Parker gave the 'Cats a 37-0 lead at the half.

With a big lead, the Wildcats gave up two scores in the second half to make the final score, 37-12. The win would finish off a dominating 9-0 season in which the combined score for the year was 335-48.

The 8th grade combined a strong defense with an explosive offense that should give Wildcat fans something to look forward to as they enter high school year next season.

"These young men were a joy to coach. I looked forward to each day of practice to spend with these guys. They have earned everything they accomplished this season," said Coach Danny Robey.

In addressing the team after the game, Coach Dennis Patrick said, "This was the result of a lot of hard work, and this team will only get better."