Comeback leads Cats over Forney

Whitehouse's Trey Johnigan follows Lesley Perdue upfield for a Wildcat gain. Photo/Jim Jackson

Say what you want about last week's road win over Forney, but as Coach Randy McFarlin told his group after the game "any win is a good win."

Coach McFarlin would later say that this was a test of character, and the Wildcats passed the test early in the season and will surely have more such tests, and others, as the Cats set out to defend their district 12- 4A championship from last year.

The season opener did not start out good as the Wildcat offense would come out cold and would have three and out series on its first two series of the night.

On Forney's second possession, they would convert a big fourth down and eight from the Whitehouse 28-yard line which would eventually lead to a 12- yard touchdown run to stake the Jackrabbits to a 7-0 lead.

On Whitehouse's next possession, Forney would pick off a Brady Attaway pass along the sideline and return it to the Wildcat 42-yard line.

The Forney drive would again be keyed by a big third down conversion leading to a 5- yard touchdown run to push the Jackrabbit lead to 14-0.

Photo/Jim Jackson Asher Williamsl attempts to break up a pass against Forney.

Whitehouse would finally get its first first down of the game at the 4:32 mark in the second quarter that would lead to its first scoring drive of the season.

The drive would be highlighted by a fourth down run by Matt Ponce and then a third down pass from Attaway to Jacob Holmen before Attaway would find a wide-open Heath Mayo for a 16-yard touchdown pass.

Taylor Burns' extra point attempt would cut the Forney lead in half to 14-7 going into halftime.

The second half would start out gloomy, as Forney would return the second half kickoff 87 yards to build a 21-7 lead and put Whitehouse fans in a state of shock.

After trading three and out series, the Wildcats would get the break they needed as Jon Harvell would force a fumble, and Quincy Aldridge would pick up the loose ball at the Whitehouse 42-yard line.

Attaway would waste little time taking advantage of the turnover, as he would hit Bart Henderson deep along the sideline to the Forney 18-yard line. Attaway would then connect with Henderson again on a 12- yard scoring strike to put the Wildcats back in the game at 21- 14 at the 9:07 mark in the third quarter.

The Wildcat defense rose to the occasion holding Forney on three plays and forcing a punt to the Wildcat 39-yard line.

On the first play of the drive, Steven Hicks would burst through the left side of the line and get all the way down to the Forney 10-yard line.

After two pass interference calls in the end zone and a holding call against the Wildcats, Attaway would hit Lesley Perdue in the end zone, but the extra point attempt would again get blocked giving Forney a slim 21-20 lead with 6:44 left in the period.

On Forney's next possession, the defense would once again come up big as defensive tackle, Zach Hill, would step in front of a screen pass for an interception and a personal foul penalty against the Jackrabbits that would give Whitehouse the ball at the Forney 21-yard line.

Attaway would hit Trey Johnigan on the next play for a 21-yard scoring strike to give the Wildcats a 26-21 lead. The Wildcat defense would stiffen again on a fourth down and 11 play to give the ball back to the offense.

This time, Attaway would hit Perdue on a post route down the middle good for a 43-yard touchdown, but the two point conversion would fail for the second time on the night to extend the Wildcat lead to 32-21 with 8:38 remaining in the game.

Forney would kick a field goal with 5:19 left to cut the lead down to 32-24 and would then get the ball back on a controversial call on a fumble by Perdue when it appeared as though he was down.

A desperation pass on fourth and 8 would connect and put the Jackrabbits on the Wildcat 11 with a chance to force a tie. However, on the next play, Seth Cashion would come up with a big hit to force a fumble that Hill would recover to seal the Wildcat win.

"We overcame a lot tonight to win this game," said Coach McFarlin after the game. "Many fans don't know this, but we had to battle some injuries and sickness this week and that played a part in some areas of the game tonight," he stated.

"I know that we will get better, and now we have to get set for our home opener against Sulphur Springs. They took it to us last year, and that was a turning point to our season.

"I hope our kids do a better job in preparing next week and returning the favor from last year," stated McFarlin.

	Score By Quarters
	1st	2nd 3rd		4th	Total
WH	0	7	29	6	32
Forney	7	7	7	3	24

Individual Statistics:

Rushing: Hicks 3-53, Hernandez 7-30, Ponce 7-13

Passing: Attaway 20-35-233- 5-1

Receiving: Henderson 5-73- 1, Perdue 5-67-2, Mayo 2-28-14, Johnigan 1-21-1, Holmen 1-12