Cinderella season ends
Turnovers plague Wildcats in 42-7 loss at regionals

Photos/Jim Jackson Asher Williams turns upfield after making a pass reception. Below, Zach Hill knocks the ball loose, creating a turnover that led to the Cats only score. Luke Shivers recovered the fumble and scored.

The clock struck midnight, and what some people called a Cinderella story came to an end last Saturday at Dallas Kincaide Stadium. Whitehouse fell victim to six turnovers and saw Waco High cruise to a 42-7 victory for the Region 2 championship.

It was a day when nothing seemed to go right for the Wildcats, and the Lions from Waco took full advantage of it. The Wildcats would get on the board first when Luke Shivers would scoop up a Lion fumble and take it to the house for a 28-yard TD, and after Paul Metzner’s PAT, the ‘Cats had an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Then came the second quarter, when three Whitehouse turnovers would result in 21 Waco points. The first turnover came when Seth Cashion took a shot after catching a Brady Attaway pass. The ball was popped loose by a Waco de- fender, and the Lions would take over on their own 43.

Minutes later, the Lions would score the tying TD on a six yard pass. On Whitehouse’s next possession, an errant pass by Attaway would get picked off at the Wildcat 27-yard line. The Lions would waste little time taking the lead as they would strike on the very next play on a 27- yard TD completion to take the lead, 14-7.

Things would then get worse for the Wildcats as their next possession would lead to another turnover as Attaway was picked off again. Unfortunately, this time the Lion safety would go the distance on a 39-yard interception return to extend the lead to 21-7.

The Lions would recover another Whitehouse fumble on the ensuing kickoff, but an interception by Jon Harvell would stop the drive and send the Wildcats into the locker room with a chance to regroup at the half.

However, the second half would not get any better as Waco would score on the opening drive to take a 28-7 lead. The Wildcats would again fumble the ensuing kickoff, and Waco would again take full advantage of the miscue scoring another TD, this time on a one yard run to put the game out of reach, 35-7.

The Lions would score a late touchdown to wrap up the scoring at 42-7.

Photo/Jim Jackson Chad Emmons breaks up a pass attempt.

The Lions would come up big defensively, holding the Wildcats to only 120 yards of total offense while grinding out the game with 233 rushing yards to wear down the Wildcat defense.

The loss ends Whitehouse’s (10-3) best season in school history which saw its first playoff appearance since 1997, and its first district championship since 1978.

In his post game talk with the team, Coach McFarlin first ad-

dressed his seniors telling them that this senior group was the hardest working group of young men he had ever coached.

“This team has set the bar. They have made school history and have set the foundation for all teams hereafter that will build on the traditions they have started and will continue to build this program.

“But, it all started with this team and this senior group and that is something they will all remember,” said Coach McFarlin.

Some people may look at this season as a Cinderella story and that last Saturday’s game was a final chapter to conclude that stor y, but the Whitehouse coaches, community of Whitehouse, and their supporters are hopeful that this is just the beginning of something even greater to come.

Wildcat Note: Be sure and read next week’s edition of the Tri County Leader to get Coach McFarlin’s insight on a “Season to Remember with Power, Passion, and Pride.”