Whitehouse Hopes to Avoid 0-2 Start to District When Wildcats Entertain Lufkin

DISTRICT 16-5A

Lufkin Panthers (2-2, 1-0)

vs.

Whitehouse Wildcats (2-2, 0-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Wildcat Stadium, Whitehouse

Coaches

• Lufkin: Todd Quick
• Whitehouse: Adam Cook

Last week

• Lufkin: def. Nacogdoches, 38-0
• Whitehouse: lost to John Tyler, 65-33

Next week

• Lufkin: vs. John Tyler, Oct. 9
• Whitehouse: at Ennis, Oct. 9

Playmakers

Lufkin

• DL Bronson "Boom" Massie, Sr., 6-3, 215
• OL Jerrod Johnson, Sr., 6-3, 285
• QB Kordell Rodgers, Jr., 6-0, 175
• WR Dhailon Phillips, Jr., 6-3, 195
• RB Ellis Jackson, Sr., 5-8, 170
• WR/DB Jeremiah Davis, Soph., 6-0, 175
• DL Eric Smallwood, Sr., 6-2, 265
• WR/DB Savon Fields, Soph., 5-8, 170

Whitehouse

• RB/LB Khyree Key, Jr., 6-2, 220 (12 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD; 23 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 QB pressures)
• QB Collin Bullard, Sr., 6-1, 180 (62 of 99, 970 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT; 37 carries, 239 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Trent Williams, Sr., 6-2, 190 (12 catches, 213 yards, 4 TDs)
• WR Shemar Smith, Sr., 5-8, 165 (13 catchs, 262 yards, 1 TD; 19 carries, 146 yards, 1 TD)
• OL Anthony Brown, Sr., 5-11, 250
• WR Tanner Roach, Jr., 6-0, 170 (6 catches, 107 yards; 9 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Ashton Melton, Jr., 5-11, 165 (10 catches, 149 yards, 2 TDs)
• WR Zach Parker, Jr., 6-1, 185 (19 catches, 224 yards, 1 TD)

Just the facts

• This is the second all-time meeting between Lufkin and Whitehouse
• Lufkin won the first meeting, 52-45, last season.
• Lufkin is averaging 36.5 points per game, while holding opponents to an average of 38.
• The Panthers have been outscored by nine points in their two losses, while carrying a plus-41 differential in their two wins.
• Lufkin is eyeing a 2-0 start to district play for the first time since 2011.
• Whitehouse is averaging 42.3 points and 489.8 yards per game -- 168.5 rushing and 321.3 passing.
• The Wildcats have been outscored by 60 points in their two losses, while carrying a plus-75 differential in their two wins.
• Whitehouse is hoping to avoid back-to-back 0-2 starts to district play.

Key matchup: Lufkin passing attack vs. Whitehouse secondary. While Lufkin is more than capable of grinding out yards on the ground with its running back tandem of Ellis Jackson and Dalvin Smith, the Panthers' big-play penchant comes from the passing game. Junior quarterback Kordell Rodgers and his compliment of young, but explosive playmakers in the receiving corps have been burning opposing defenses through the first four games of the season. Rodgers, while a competent runner, is most dangerous when given time in the pocket to deliver one of the best deep balls in all of East Texas. And the Panthers have several receivers capable of running underneath the long-range passes, whether that's junior Dhailon Phillips or the sophomore trio of Malik Jackson, Jeremiah Davis, and Savon Fields.

Whitehouse has been up and down defensively in its first four games. After struggling in Week 1 against Texas High, the Wildcats put together consecutive strong defensive performances in wins over Chapel Hill and Sulphur Springs. But in last week's blowout loss against John Tyler in the district opener, Whitehouse had no answer for the Lions' big-play offense. The Wildcats gave up 655 yards of offense to John Tyler, including 366 through the air. Whitehouse had an especially difficult time matching up with Lions' junior receiver and Texas commit Damion Miller, who finished with five catches for 177 yards and touchdowns covering 64, 39, and 40 yards. Whitehouse will need to be much better Friday against Lufkin to avoid a second consecutive district defeat.

Don't be surprised if: Lufkin and Whitehouse engage in a shootout. Both offense are high-powered and loaded with playmakers, especially in the passing game. Rodgers possess one of the biggest arms in the entire district, and he isn't afraid to take shots deep down the field to a plethora of weapons. Phillips is usually Rodgers' favorite target, and he's typically the target on second- and third-and-long situations. Meanwhile, Malik Jackson and Davis present opposing secondaries with the threat of long-range touchdowns. Whitehouse is a timing-based passing offense. Several of the Wildcats' routes are short and off three-step drops from the quarterback. However, as soon as opposing defenses begin to play up on the line of scrimmage, that's when Whitehouse quarterback Collin Bullard looks to employ the pump-fake, and fire over the top of the secondary.