Sports writer: Brent Cook
September 6, 2023
The Whitney Wildcats showed true grit and determination Friday night, clawing back against the Hillsboro Eagles and grabbing a 21-20 comeback win.
The victory, which took place under the lights of Eagle Stadium, put Whitney at 2-0 on the season. The Wildcats now head into district play with a matchup against Inspired Vision in Dallas this Friday.
Whitney will attempt to replicate and build on the early season success, and the showdown against Hillsboro proved that the Wildcats appear to be up to the challenge.
With a spirited home crowd cheering on the Eagles, Whitney arrived focused and set the tone with a first-quarter touchdown toss from quarterback Mason Seely to senior standout Jairdyn Anderson. Anderson once again starred on the offensive side of the ball for the Wildcats, racking up 200 yards receiving and eight receptions. He now has 500 yards and four scoring receptions in just two games.
But the Eagles quickly regained control. Quarterback Torey Brooks spotted Darrain Hodge to tie the game up with three minutes to go in the first quarter.
Brooks kept working the Whitney defense and fired two touchdown passes in the second quarter. The first was a five-yard pass to Chris Montoya, and the second was a 70-yard strike to Brooks.
However, a missed extra point following the Montoya catch left a small opening in the door for Whitney as the halftime score settled at 20-7.
The Wildcats returned to the field and turned it up a notch. With both teams fielding top-tier defenses, the third quarter became a battle.
David Haynes III and Braden Wohleb anchored the Wildcat attack and stopped the Eagles in their tracks. Haynes amassed 22 tackles on the night and camped out in the Eagle backfield.
Whitney struggled to gain traction, but with the third quarter winding down, the tide changed. A jaw-dropping 90-yard bomb from Seely to Damien Anders fueled the Wildcat comeback.
With the score at 20-14, the teams continued to flex defensively and trade hard hits and possessions. In the end, the Wildcats found themselves in scoring position with less than minute left to play.
The team put the ball in the hands of Haynes, who put his head down and barreled in to the end zone for a six-yard touchdown. The extra point ripped through the goal post and the celebration began.
The Lakelander 