Wildcat freshman teams split in Hallsville; 'A' team remains unbeaten on season

The Whitehouse freshman teams split last Thursday in Hallsville as they took on the Bobcats.

The "B" team got down early and trailed the Bobcats 16-0 at the half.

A 62-yard TD run by QB Brendon Hedges cut the lead in the third quarter, but the Cats could not manage another score making the final score 16-6.

The "A" team struggled on defense but put together a four down stand late in the third quarter that propelled them to a 30-22 win to keep their district record unblemished.

After Jordan Cantrell picked off a pass on Hallsville's first possession, the Cats looked like they would strike early, but a fumble on the one-yard line after a 21-yard run by the running back gave possession back to the Bobcats.

Hallsville was forced to punt on its next possession, and the Cats wasted little time getting on the board as QB Conner Cashion hit Terrance Franklin over the middle for a 50-yard TD strike. Johnathan Parker's PAT gave Whitehouse the early 7-0 lead.

Hallsville took the lead on its next possession on a four-yard run and then converted the two-point conversion.

However, the Cats got the lead back on its next possession as Beasley rumbled 40 yards before Cashion hit Franklin again for a 23- yard TD, and with Parker's PAT, the Cats were back on top 14-8.

Hallsville immediately got the lead back at 16-14 scoring on its next possession. The Wildcat's next possession looked doomed, but Beasley picked up a first down on a hard third down run to keep the drive alive.

Cashion then found Logan Newton deep down the right side for a 42-yard strike moving the ball to the Bobcat 21.

Then the Wildcat offense faltered as Cashion was sacked back at the 25, and they faced a fourth down and 17.

Cashion found Newton, and despite double coverage, Newton hauled in the pass for a 25- yard score, and with Cashion's two-point conversion the Cats had a 22-16 lead at the half.

Ryan Ralson picked off a pass right before the half to preserve the lead.

Hallsville's first possession of the second half looked much like the first half as they moved the ball on the ground inside the Whitehouse 10-yard line.

However, the defense led by Matt Durst, Cashion, and Simon Webb, forced a critical fourth down play, and the pass in the end zone fell incomplete so Whitehouse was able to keep its lead.

Facing a third down and 15, Whitehouse went to Beasley again, this time on a screen pass for 17 yards and a first down, but Whitehouse turned the ball over on a fumble to end the drive.

After holding Hallsville on three plays and forcing a punt, Whitehouse went on a drive that ended on a 30-yard TD pass to Ryan Speake to give the Cats a 30-16 lead with 2:53 left in the game.

Hallsville scored with 23 seconds left to close the scoring and give the Wildcats a 30- 22 win on the road.

The freshmen play host to the Henderson Lions tonight with "B" game starting at 4 p.m. and "A" game approximately 5:30 p.m.