Posted 1:59 am Saturday, August 29, 2009
Whitehouse's Comeback Attempt Falls Short
By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer
GARLAND -- On a night when Longview upset a defending Class 5A state champ, Whitehouse made a strong case for the 4A ranks as well.
Staff Writer
GARLAND -- On a night when Longview upset a defending Class 5A state champ, Whitehouse made a strong case for the 4A ranks as well.
Despite getting down by 28 points in the second half, the Wildcats made a furious comeback and seemingly scared the life out of Garland Naaman Forest. However, the Wildcats' attempt to pull off the upset fell short in a 41-34 loss to the Rangers at Williams Stadium.
Whitehouse quarterback Preston Conder connected with receiver Trey Metoyer for an 11-yard touchdown with 20 seconds remaining to pull within 35-34. On the road, the Wildcats went for the win but their 2-point conversion attempt was stopped short.
On the ensuing kickoff, Whitehouse recovered an onside kick and gave itself another chance. But Naaman Forest defensive back Stephan Eggins intercepted a Conder pass, and then darted to the end zone to punctuate the victory with no time remaining.
Whitehouse trailed 35-7 in the third quarter, but scored 27 unanswered points to almost make East Texas 2-for-2 on the night in 5A versus 4A matchups.
Conder, in his first start since taking over for arguably the most successful quarterback in school history (Brady Attaway), finished 29-of-46 for 398 yards and two touchdowns, plus ran for three scores.
Metoyer caught 16 passes for 163 yards and two scores, while receiver Skip Caldwell caught five passes for 110 yards for the Wildcats.
Naaman Forest running back Jerome Regal ran for 227 yards and three scores, while quarterback John Harris -- a Texas recruit -- finished with 95 yards on the ground.
Naaman Forest scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 28-7 lead into the break. Regan and Harris each went over the century mark on the ground; Regal ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns, and Harris stepped off 107 yards and a score.
Regal's first touchdown came on a 3-yard run to give the Rangers a 7-0 lead with 6:52 remaining in the first quarter. That score stood into the second quarter, during which Whitehouse moved the ball to the Naaman Forest 18 with just under nine minutes to go.
However, Conder steamrolled by a Rangers defender and defensive end Michael Daniels scooped up the fumble and raced 89 yards to the opposite end zone.
Whitehouse's only score of the half came on the ensuing drive, when Conder crossed the goal line from a yard out. The touchdown was set up by Conder's 58-yard completion to Caldwell, which moved the ball deep inside Rangers territory.
But the home team dominated from that point, thanks to scoring runs by Regal (8) and Harris (4) on consecutive drives.
-- -- --
Garland Naaman Forest 41, Whitehouse 34
Garland Naaman Forest 41, Whitehouse 34
At Williams Stadium, Garland
Whitehouse 0 7 14 13 -- 34
Whitehouse 0 7 14 13 -- 34
Naaman Forest 7 21 7 6 -- 41
First Quarter
First Quarter
NF - Jereome Regal 3 run (Michael Bychkowski kick), 6:52
Second Quarter
NF - Michael Daniels 73 fumble return (Bychkowski kick), 8:46
NF - Michael Daniels 73 fumble return (Bychkowski kick), 8:46
WHI - Preston Conder 1 run (Taylor Burns kick), 6:52
NF - Regal 8 run (Bychkowski kick), 4:58
NF - John Harris 4 run (Bychkowski kick), 1:49
NF - John Harris 4 run (Bychkowski kick), 1:49
Third Quarter
NF - Regal 1 run (Bychkowski kick), 10:07
NF - Regal 1 run (Bychkowski kick), 10:07
WHI - Conder 7 run (kick failed), 7:00
WHI - Conder 1 run (Logan Newton pass from Conder), 2:03
WHI - Conder 1 run (Logan Newton pass from Conder), 2:03
Fourth Quarter
WHI - Trey Metoyer 19 pass from Conder (Burns kick), 4:04
WHI - Trey Metoyer 19 pass from Conder (Burns kick), 4:04
WHI - Metoyer 11 pass from Conder (run failed), :20
NF - Stephan Eggins 65 interception return, :00.
WHI NF
First Downs 25 23
Rushes-Yards 34-96 56-323
First Downs 25 23
Rushes-Yards 34-96 56-323
Comp.-Att.-Int. 29-46-2 7-10-0
Passing Yards 398 70
Passing Yards 398 70
Fumbles-Lost 4-1 2-0
Penalties-Yards 8-65 6-50
Penalties-Yards 8-65 6-50
Punts-Average 5-36.8 3-21.7
Individual Statistics
Individual Statistics
RUSHING - Whitehouse, Shundrick Beasley 11-54, Preston Conder 18-19, Chad Lewis 3-17, Brenden Hedges 1-8, Trey Metoyer 1-(minus 2). Naaman Forest, Jerome Regal 32-227, John Harris 23-95, Stephen Eggins 2-1.
PASSING - Whitehouse, Conder 29-46-2 -- 398. Naaman Forest, Harris 7-10-0 -- 70.
RECEIVING - Whitehouse, Metoyer 16-163, Skip Caldwell 5-110, Logan Newton 5-84, Beasley 2-13, Brenden Hedges 1-28. Naaman Forest, Josh Lewis 3-25, Eggins 2-15, Davon Sneed 1-17, Regal 1-13.
