Wildcats claim team's first area championship

Photo/Jim Jackson Cody Brown leaps over a pile-up to bring down a Frisco runner in the Wildcats' 28-14 victory in the area championships. The team advances to regionals and will take on the Waco Lions at Kincaide Stadium in Dallas Saturday at 2 p.m.

Not only has this been Whitehouse's first trip to the state playoffs since 1997, the first district championship since 1978, but now, the 2006 Whitehouse Wildcats have claimed the ver y first area championship in school history.

Whitehouse continued on its quest for a state title last Friday with an exciting, 28-14, victory over the Frisco Raccoons at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco.

Frisco fans thought they had the "home field" advantage, but "Wildcat Nation" was in full force the day after Thanksgiving as the stands were filled with maroon and white. A n estimated crowd of 7,000 was in attendance, and more than two thirds made the trip west from Whitehouse to support their Wildcats.

The hometown Raccoons would get the ball first to start the game and would mount an 11-yard play down to the Whitehouse 23-yard line where the Wildcat defense would come up with a big fourth down and four stop to take over on downs.

The Wildcat drive would stall at the Frisco 42, and the stage was set for the first big play of the night. Whitehouse punter, Paul Metzner, would hit a high and over end punt trying to stop the ball inside the Frisco 10- yard line.

Wildcat Matt Pontze would see the ball bounce off a Frisco player and recover the deflection in the end zone for the score. Metzner's PAT would give the Wildcats the lead at 7-0 late in the first quarter.

The Wildcat defense would force a three and out series on Frisco's next possession, but a fumble on the Wildcats' next possession would give the ball right back to the Raccoons.

After a pass interference call gave Frisco the ball deep in Whitehouse territory, senior defensive tackle, Evan Beaton, would hit the Frisco QB from behind on a pass attempt and force a fumble which the 'Cats would recover.

The following drive would start out promising as QB Brady Attaway would hook up with Lesley Perdue on two big pass completions to move the ball into Frisco territory. However, the Wildcat offense could not find its way into the end zone, and after a Metzner punt, Frisco would get the ball back and start on a scoring drive of its own.

The Frisco drive was highlighted by a converted fourth down and six, and then they would score on a one yard QB sneak to tie the score at 7-7 with 5:04 left in the second quarter.

The Wildcat offense would finally settle in late in the quarter as they would start a drive from their own 45 with 2:46 left in the half. The first play of the drive saw Attaway find fellow sophomore Seth Cashion for a 16-yard completion down to the Frisco 39.

From there, the Wildcats would get an 11-yard run from Jimmy Kennedy down to the 28. After three plays, the Cats would face a fourth down and one. The Wildcats would send in its short yardage offense with Luke Shivers in the backfield.

However, much to the surprise of Frisco and even to Wildcat fans, Attaway would fake the handoff to Shivers and would find a wide open Beaton heading towards the corner of the end zone for a 16-yard TD toss to move the Wildcat lead to 14-7.

Then, the Wildcat special teams would strike again as Metzner would execute a perfect pooch kick which Frisco would fumble, and Whitehouse would recover at the 31- yard line.

After an initial first down on the drive, Attaway would hit Cashion over the middle on second and nine from the 19- yard line down to the three yard line, and with time winding down, Shivers would bull over for the three yard TD run to put the Wildcats up 21-7 at the half.

The Wildcats would come out in the second half determined to put the nail in the coffin early as they would take the opening drive and get to the 15 of Frisco after a long run by Kennedy and the help of a late hit 15-yard penalty.

However, a reverse pass on third down from Perdue intended for Attaway would get picked off in the end zone, and Frisco would dodge the bullet. Frisco would go on the attack and drive into Whitehouse territory, but the Cat defense would stiffen as senior Bradley Wallace would sack the Frisco QB to force a fourth and eight for the Raccoons.

A double pass looked as if it had the Wildcats fooled, but junior Steven Hicks would come from no where to knock down the pass in the end zone to give the ball back to the Wildcats.

The 'Cats would get some insurance points midway through the fourth quarter as Attaway would hit Metzner on a 37-yard TD pass to extend the lead to 28-7. Frisco would not go quietly as they would score on a 6- yard TD pass with 2:00 left in the game. Then, they would recover the onside kick and threaten to make things interesting, but Wallace would come up with a QB sack on fourth and nine to seal the win, 28-14.

"This was a great win for this program," said Coach Randy McFarlin. "Our coaching staff has always placed a big emphasis on special teams, and we saw tonight how plays by the special team can win ball games in the playoffs."

With the win, the Wildcats will now take on Waco High 2 p.m. Saturday in Dallas at Kincaide Stadium. Waco High defeated Dallas Hillcrest to advance to the regional final.

This game will put the Wildcats in a familiar role - the role of the underdogs as Waco High has been ranked in the top 10 in the state all year losing only to Class 5A Tyler Lee and Euless Trinity.

Individual Statistics:

Rushing - Kennedy 10-105, Shivers 10-50-1, Attaway 4-6

Receiving - Perdue 4-52, Cashion 3-38, Metzner 2-37-1, Shivers 1-24, Williams 2-21, Beaton 1-16-1

Passing - Attaway 13-22-174- 2, Perdue 0-1-0-1