Whitehouse Aims for 9-0 When the Wildcats Host Corsicana on Friday

Corsicana Tigers (3-5, 2-1)
vs.
Whitehouse Wildcats (8-0 3-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Wildcat Stadium, Whitehouse

Coaches
Corsicana: Phil Castles
Whitehouse: Randy McFarlin

Last week
Corsicana: def. Lindale, 40-22
Whitehouse: def. Nacogdoches, 52-21

Next week
Corsicana: vs. Jacksonville
Whitehouse: at John Tyler

Playmakers

Corsicana

RB Donovan Fields, Jr., 5-10, 175 (8 carries, 178 yards, 1 rush TD, 1 kickoff return TD vs. Lindale)
QB Devontay Bell, Jr., 5-11, 175
RB Ronnie Devereaux, Jr., 5-8, 165 (2 rush TDs vs. Lindale)
TE Tiano McDonald, Jr., 6-0, 195 (1 receiving TD vs. Lindale)
LB Cedric Weaver, Sr., 5-11, 185 (1 fumble recovery vs. Lindale)
DL Darius Watson, Soph., 6-1, 185 (1 punt block vs. Lindale)

Whitehouse

QB Patrick Mahomes, Jr., 6-3, 185 (143 of 250, 2,239 yards, 27 TDs, 6 INTs; 60 carries, 201 yards, 5 TDs)
WR Dylan Cantrell, Sr., 6-3, 205 (43 catches, 864 yards, 11 TDs)
WR Jake Parker, Jr. (41 catches, 589 yards, 5 TDs)
WR Coleman Patterson, Jr., 6-0, 185 (33 catches, 533 yards, 8 TDs)
WR Jaylon Dews, Jr. (24 catches, 352 yards, 5 TDs)
LB Reggie Long, Jr., 6-0, 195 (45 tackles, 2 INTs)
S Colby Campbell, Sr., 6-0, 185 (49 tackles, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble)
S Justin Dunning, Soph., 6-3, 185 (28 tackles, 4 INTs, 1 fumble recovery)
DE Brannon Beaton, Sr., 6-2, 225 (34 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery)
DE Will Thomas, Sr., 6-0, 215 (24 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble)

Just the facts

Corsicana averages 25.1 points per game and allows 32.6.
Whitehouse averages 43.8 points per game and allows 23.3.
Corsicana has won two games in a row after starting the season 1-5.
Whitehouse has won three games by seven or fewer points.
Corsicana outscored its last two opponents 68-29.
Whitehouse has 12 players who have scored at least one touchdown.
Whitehouse senior kicker Destin Wilkins is second on the team with 58 points (40 PATs, six field goals).

Key matchup: Corsicana's running game vs. Whitehouse's defensive front. Corsicana amassed almost 300 rushing yards in cruising to an 18-point win against Lindale a week ago. The Tigers built a 40-6 lead before taking their feet off the gas pedal. Whitehouse defenders Reggie Long, Brannon Beaton, Will Thomas, and others must be able to control the line of scrimmage to prevent Corsicana from dictating the tempo, something the Tigers will undoubtedly try to do to keep Whitehouse's high-powered passing attack off the field. Corsicana isn't built to come from behind, which is what the Tigers could be forced to do if they can't keep Patrick Mahomes and company off the turf early.

Don't be surprised if: Whitehouse improves to 9-0 to set up a colossal District 16-4A matchup in the regular-season finale against highly ranked John Tyler. Corsicana has won two consecutive games and has been playing better, so it won't be surprising if the Tigers push the Wildcats, much like Whitehouse got a scare two weeks ago against Jacksonville. But Whitehouse's firepower appears to be too much entering this contest. Mahomes continues to put up huge numbers, as well as his quartet of strong receivers -- Texas Tech-bound Dylan Cantrell, Jake Parker, Coleman Patterson, and Jaylon Dews. Whitehouse has shown it can win big in blowouts, but also outlast teams in close games, as evidenced in wins against Sulphur Springs, Carthage, and Jacksonville. That should help the Wildcats next week against JT. Chances are that will be a Rose Stadium matchup of the 8-1 Lions vs. the 9-0 Wildcats.