Lufkin Dominates Whitehouse + Moves to 2-0 in District 16-5A

WHITEHOUSE -- Following a challenging three-week run in non-district, the Lufkin Panthers have begun District 16-5A with a vengeance.

Lufkin improved to 2-0 in league play Friday night with a 47-3 rout of Whitehouse at Wildcat Stadium. The Panthers (3-2), which shut out Nacogdoches in the district opener last week, have now outscored their first two league foes by a score of 85-3.

Panthers junior quarterback Kordell Rodgers continued a strong start to his season by completing 14 of 16 passes for 247 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He had all four scoring tosses in the first half, which ended with Lufkin holding a 33-0 lead.

Lufkin senior running back Ellis Jackson rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown, and added a 28-yard scoring reception. Rodgers added 53 yards on six carries.

The Panthers featured eight different receivers. Malik Jackson led the way with six receptions for 94 yards. Jeremiah Davis, Kenneth Warren, and Dalvin Smith had touchdown catches in addition to Ellis Jackson.

Whitehouse (2-3, 0-2) struggled for much of the night offensively. The Wildcats were held to just 87 first-half yards, and committed three turnovers on the night.

Starting quarterback Collin Bullard completed 20 of 27 attempts for 131 yards and two interceptions, while junior Tanner Roach came on in relief to go 6 of 13 for 146 yards. Senior receiver Trent Williams caught nine passes for 147 yards.

Whitehouse managed just 18 rushing yards on the night.

Lufkin scored a couple of touchdowns and got a safety in the opening quarter. Rodgers hit Davis for a 13-yard score on the Panthers' first drive of the night, a bad snap to the Whitehouse punter resulted in a Lufkin safety, and Rodgers' 8-yard touchdown pass to Smith gave the Panthers a 16-0 lead.

Rodrigo Molina's 21-yard field goal increased Lufkin's lead on the Panthers' next series, and Rodgers' touchdown pass to Ellis Jackson and the quarterback's 29-yard scoring strike to Warren pushed the Panthers' lead to 33-0 at halftime.

Lufkin added a touchdown apiece in the third and fourth quarter. Ellis Jackson scored on an 8-yard run, and Khalil Brown rushed for a 13-yard touchdown.

Whitehouse avoided the shutout when Eddie Godina knocked through a field goal from 32 yards with 34 seconds remaining in the game.

Both teams resume their seasons next Friday night. Lufkin plays host to John Tyler (2-3, 2-0), while Whitehouse travels to Ennis (3-2, 2-0).

Lufkin 47, Whitehouse 3

At Wildcat Stadium, Whitehouse

Lufkin                   16    17      7      7    --    47
Whitehouse            0      0      0      3    --      3

First Quarter
LUF--Jeremiah Davis 13 pass from Kordell Rodgers (Rodrigo Molina kick), 9:46.
LUF--Safety, ball snapped out of back of end zone, 4:03.
LUF--Dalvin Smith 8 pass from Rodgers (Molina kick), 2:29.
Second Quarter
LUF--FG Molina 21, 10:58.
LUF--Ellis Jackson 28 pass from Rodgers (Molina kick), 5:28.
LUF--Kenneth Warren 29 pass from Rodgers (Molina kick), 1:10.
Third Quarter
LUF--Jackson 8 run (Molina kick), 4:45.
Fourth Quarter
LUF--Khalil Brown 13 run (Gustavo Garcia kick), 9:24.
WHI--FG Eddie Godina 32, :34.                                              

                                               LUF                  WHI
FIrst Downs                               25                     11
Total Yards                              532                   295
Rushes-Yards                     38-249               20-18
Passing Yards                          283                  277
Comp.-Att.-Int.                  17-21-1            26-40-2
Punts-Avg.                           2-38.0              5-31.2
Fumbles-Lost                            2-0                   3-1
Penalties-Yards                       8-60                 5-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Lufkin, Ellis Jackson 16-121, Kordell Rodgers 6-53, Dalvin Smith 7-46, Khalil Brown 3-27, Blake Brooks 3-3, Tony Blake 2-3, Malik Jackson 1-(-4). Whitehouse, Braylon Shackelford 4-19, Isaac Little 3-7, Shemar Smith 2-3, Khyree Key 1-1, Clayton Cook 2-0, Tanner Roach 1-(-1), Team 1-(-4), Collin Bullard 6-(-7).
PASSING--Lufkin, Rodgers 14-16-1--247, Brooks 3-5-0--36. Whitehouse, Roach 6-13-0--146, Bullard 20-27-2--131.
RECEIVING--Lufkin, Malik Jackson 6-94, Dhailon Phillips 4-57, Smith 2-19, Javante Ellington 1-31, Kenneth Warren 1-29, Ellis Jackson 1-28, Jeremiah Davis 1-13, D'Narius Robertson 1-12. Whitehouse, Trent Williams 9-147, Little 5-44, Zach Parker 5-27, DeMontre Else 3-32, Roach 2-19, Kevin Chavez 1-7, Ashton Melton 1-1.