Posted 7:37 am Saturday, September 27, 2008
Whitehouse Rallies Past Celina, 23-22
By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer
WHITEHOUSE -- A steady flow of seven Whitehouse players attempted rushes during the first three quarters, trying to establish a running game. An eighth received his first touch with the game in the balance and the final buzzer near, and made it worthwhile.
Staff Writer
WHITEHOUSE -- A steady flow of seven Whitehouse players attempted rushes during the first three quarters, trying to establish a running game. An eighth received his first touch with the game in the balance and the final buzzer near, and made it worthwhile.
Seth Cashion scored on a 24-yard run with 1:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Wildcats a dramatic 23-22 victory against tradition-rich Celina before a supportive audience Friday night at Wildcat Stadium. The standout linebacker darted through a stingy Celina defense that had yielded only 78 yards to that point, helping improve Whitehouse to 4-1 in its final contest before district.
The Wildcats meet Jacksonville in the District 14-4 opener on Friday, Oct. 10.
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Celina (3-2), the defending Class 3A Division II champion, is the only UIL football team to have won eight state titles.
Whitehouse began the game-winning drive at its own 24-yard line. Big plays by sophomore running back DeJuan Shelton (26-yard run) and junior receiver Skip Caldwell (16-yard pass from senior quarterback Brady Attaway) quickly moved the Wildcats downfield.
The plays set up first down at the Celina 33, where Shelton picked up another four yards to help set up fourth-and-1 at the 24. Then Cashion received his carry and raced seemingly untouched to the end zone to make the score 23-22, and kicker Taylor Burns made the extra point for the lead.
Celina, which enjoyed success in its misdirection return game all night, returned the ensuing kickoff to the Whitehouse 44 to make the home crowd hold its collective breath. Yet other than an 11-yard pass that set up third-and-1, the Bobcats couldn't overcome the Wildcats defense.
Attaway finished the night 18-of-35 for 186 yards and a touchdown, spreading his passes to several receivers in typical fashion. Junior receiver Skip Caldwell had four receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown, while senior receiver Asher Williams (four receptions, 58 yards) and junior running back Kevin Hickman (5-39) also made key plays in the passing game.
Whitehouse finished with 98 yards rushing.
Celina senior running back Troy McCartney finished with 26 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Celina senior running back Troy McCartney finished with 26 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Whitehouse went into the break leading 9-7, thanks in large part to a Celina gamble. Facing fourth-and-1 from their 23, the Bobcats went for it and were stuffed for a loss.
It was the second such gamble Celina made, but the Bobcats stopped the Wildcats on fourth down inside the 10 on the previous possession. They paid the second time around, however, when Attaway connected with receiver Skip Caldwell for a 9-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats a 9-7 lead with 2:34 remaining before halftime.
Up to that point, Celina led for most of the half. The Bobcats answered a Wildcats field goal in the first quarter, driving just over half the field in six plays and scoring on Cody Worrell's 1-yard run.
Surely indicated by the 9-7 score, the defenses dominated the half. Whitehouse held Celina to 103 yards rushing and minus two yards passing. Whitehouse was limited to 96 yards passing and 10 yards rushing.
In the third quarter, Whitehouse stretched its lead to 16-9 with a 3-yard run by Chad Lewis with 8:16 on the clock. However, Celina stormed to a 22-16 advantage with a pair of scores entering the final quarter.
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Whitehouse 23, Celina 22
At Wildcat Stadium, Whitehouse
Whitehouse 23, Celina 22
At Wildcat Stadium, Whitehouse
Celina 7 0 15 0 22
Whitehouse 3 6 7 7 23
Whitehouse 3 6 7 7 23
First Quarter
WHI - FG Taylor Burns 37, 5:53
CEL - Cody Worrell 1 run (Alex Juarez kick), 3:19
WHI - FG Taylor Burns 37, 5:53
CEL - Cody Worrell 1 run (Alex Juarez kick), 3:19
Second Quarter
WHI - Skip Caldwell 9 pass from Brady Attaway (kick blocked), 2:34
WHI - Skip Caldwell 9 pass from Brady Attaway (kick blocked), 2:34
Third Quarter
WHI - Chad Lewis 3 run (Burns kick), 8:16
WHI - Chad Lewis 3 run (Burns kick), 8:16
CEL - Andy James 43 pass from Worrell (Juarez kick), 6:30
CEL - Troy McCartney 2 run (Austin Carey pass from Worrell), 3:13
Fourth Quarter
WHI - Seth Cashion 24 run (Burns kick), 1:53
WHI - Seth Cashion 24 run (Burns kick), 1:53
CEL WHI
First Downs 10 15
Rushes-Yards 39-159 29-98
First Downs 10 15
Rushes-Yards 39-159 29-98
Passing Yards 70 186
Comp.-Att.-Int. 5-14-1 18-35-1
Comp.-Att.-Int. 5-14-1 18-35-1
Punts-Avg. 3-41 3-32.7
Penalties-Yards 3-20 2-15
Penalties-Yards 3-20 2-15
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-0
Individual Stats
RUSHING - Celina - Troy McCartney 26-130, Cody Worrell 10-27, Caleb Lavey 1-3, Ryan Merritt 1-1, Jose Romero 1-(minus 2); Whitehouse - DeJuan Shelton 6-42, Seth Cashion 1-24, Chad Lewis 6-20, Brady Attaway 6-10, Trey Metoyer 1-4, Kevin Hickman 6-1, Logan Newton 1-(minus 1), Jarone Reddick 2-(minus 2).
Individual Stats
RUSHING - Celina - Troy McCartney 26-130, Cody Worrell 10-27, Caleb Lavey 1-3, Ryan Merritt 1-1, Jose Romero 1-(minus 2); Whitehouse - DeJuan Shelton 6-42, Seth Cashion 1-24, Chad Lewis 6-20, Brady Attaway 6-10, Trey Metoyer 1-4, Kevin Hickman 6-1, Logan Newton 1-(minus 1), Jarone Reddick 2-(minus 2).
PASSING - Celina - Worrell 5-13-1 -- 70, McCartney 0-1-0 -- 0; Whitehouse - Attaway 18-35-1 -- 186.
RECEIVING - Celina - McCartney 2-18, Andy James 1-43, Austin Carey 1-11; Romer 1-(minus 2); Whitehouse - Hickman 5-39, Asher Williams 4-58, Skip Caldwell 4-64, Trey Metoyer 4-22, Jayme Antu 1-3.
