[By Larry Krantz, Special to ETSN.fm]

NACOGDOCHES -- Kaleb Ford-Dement was a one-man wrecking crew Friday as the Whitehouse Wildcats held on to win their first District 17-5A game, 27-17, against the Nacogdoches Dragons at Dragon Stadium.

Ford-Dement caught an 86-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring, finished with 99 receiving yards, returned a kickoff 61 yards to set up another touchdown, caused and recovered a fumble and sealed the Wildcats' first win in three weeks with an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

Whitehouse, which had lost its first two district games by a combined seven points, jumped out to an early lead thanks to Dement and quarterback Jake Clemons, who took over for Tanner Roach, who had thrown four interceptions in district play.

Clemons completed 16 of 21 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns in his first action under center since throwing four touchdowns against Sulphur Springs five weeks ago. 

Braylon Shackleford and Javian Miles each ran for touchdowns, and Seth Dolan hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Clemons.

Nacogdoches (4-4 overall, 1-2 in District 17-5A) trailed by 24 late in the third quarter, but scored on back-to-back drives to cut the Whitehouse lead to 10, but Ford-Dement killed the next two Dragons drives with his fumble recovery and interceptions.

Whitehouse (5-3, 1-2) is at home against Corsicana next Friday.

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