Seventh-graders take 2 from Mavs

Photo/Jim Jackson Terrance Franklin hauls in a TD pass from QB Patrick Cook in the freshman "A" game.

The Whitehouse 7th grade claimed two victories last Tuesday at Wildcat Stadium over the visiting Marshall Mavericks.

The "B" team started out their game on offense and moved the ball well on their opening drive behind the strong running of Elijah Stevenson, but an interception by Marshall put a stop to the drive.

The Wildcat defense then answered the turnover with one as Brady Pate recovered a fumble at the Maverick 28. A TD pass from Braden Haskell to Alex Fort was negated by a holding call, and WH turned the ball over on downs to stop the drive.

Marshall failed to move the ball and a short punt gave Whitehouse great field position at the Maverick 24. Stevenson wasted little time on the next drive as he went the distance on the next play and then added the two-point conversion on the next play to give the Cats the 8-0 lead.

On Marshall's ensuing possession, the Mavericks looked to score and get back in the game, but a fumble was scooped up by Taylor Graham who returned it 80 yards for the score.

Fort then hauled in the two-point conversion pass to give the Cats a 16-0 lead at the half that stood for the final.

In the "A" game, the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead on the first drive of the game going 80 yards with the TD coming on a 10-yard pass to Derek Clemons from Will Weathers.

Weathers then hit Michael Nuon for the twopoint conversion for the 8-0 lead. The drive was highlighted by a 15-yard pass to Clemons early in the drive, and a 36-yard pass to Dylan Cantrell moving the ball to the Maverick 35.

Marshall got on the board on the ensuing drive to cut the lead to 8-6. After an interception by the Mavericks, the Wildcat defense stood up to the challenge as Aaron Clemons came up with the big hit on fourth down to force a turnover on downs.

Weathers then hit Nuon again deep on the next drive to the four of Marshall then took it himself on the next play, and the two-point conversion by Aaron Clemons put the Wildcats up 16-6 headed into the half.

Marshall wasted little time cutting into the lead as they scored on a 69-yard run on the first possession of the second half, and the two-point conversion made the score 16-14.

The Wildcats dipped into their bag of tricks to help score their next touchdown as Weathers lined up at receiver and took the pitch from Reid Hiler and threw the reverse pass deep to Cantrell to set up the final score for the 22-14 win.

The Wildcat defense, led by Hunter Conn, forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter to help preserve the win.