Whitehouse’s Championship Hopes Dashed in Division I State 7-on-7 Title Game

COLLEGE STATION -- Whitehouse arrived in College Station on a mission. And while they fell one victory short of championship glory, it's safe to assume the Wildcats accomplished their goal.

"Second place ain't too bad, and it's fun coming out here and showing everyone who Whitehouse really is," said Wildcats senior quarterback Jackson Allen following his team's 42-25 loss to Katy Seven Lakes in Saturday's Division I title game of the state 7-on-7 championships.

Whitehouse's Eric Munoz pulls in a reception during the Wildcats' loss to Katy Seven Lakes in the Division I title game of the state 7-on-7 championships Saturday in College Station. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Whitehouse, which captured its pool Friday, reeled off four consecutive victories Saturday -- including a 40-31 win over Smith County and District 16-5A rival John Tyler in the quarterfinals -- before succumbing to a hot Seven Lakes squad that went a perfect 8-0 in the two-day event.

Seven Lakes scored on three consecutive possessions to begin the second half, building a 42-19 lead after carrying a two-point advantage into halftime. Whitehouse, meanwhile, struggled to sustain drives in the game's final 20 minutes and did not score until Justin Dunning's highlight-reel grab in the back corner of the end zone in the final minute.

"There were just some mistakes made here and there by everybody," said Allen, who completed just 6 of 16 attempts after intermission. "I can take the blame for most of it; I made some crucial mistakes when I really shouldn't have. Everybody makes mistakes, but we just had too many in the championship game."

But for the most part Allen (6-3, 190), who will be taking over starting quarterback duties following the departure of Texas Tech signee Patrick Mahomes, was spot-on all weekend.

"Jackson's showing up," said Whitehouse 2015 cornerback Nate Brooks, a North Texas pledge who enjoyed big-time success of his own over the weekend on both sides of the ball. "He's doing a lot better than people thought he would. Once he gets focused and gets on a roll, you can't stop us."

Whitehouse took leads of 6-0 and 13-7 in the opening half before Seven Lakes scored on consecutive possessions for a 21-13 advantage. The Wildcats had a chance to draw even just before the half expired when junior receiver Trent Williams pulled down his second TD catch of the game, but Whitehouse's two-point conversion attempt proved unsuccessful.

Whitehouse's Jackson Allen fires a pass during championship bracket action at the state 7-on-7 championships Saturday in College Station. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)