The Rogers Eagles flew into Wildcat Stadium with high hopes for an upset against the Whitney Wildcats this past Friday night.
Rogers, a smaller 3A-Division 2 school, immediately set the tone with a 66-yard rushing touchdown on the first possession, but the Wildcats suddenly grounded the Eagles’ plans.
Fueled by more than 400 total yards and six spectacular touchdowns from Jontae Johnson, Whitney exploded with 64 straight points and kept Rogers off the scoreboard until the end of the fourth quarter. Rogers fell to 1-3 on the year, while Whitney moved to 3-1.
The dominant 64-13 victory proved that the Wildcats have the skilled players and balanced teamwork to once again compete for a playoff berth this season. Whitney will host winless Little River Academy Bumblebees this Friday before the District 5-3A Division 1 schedule begins on October 11 against Grandview.
Consistent with the first three games of the year, Whitney showed the ability to make big plays on both sides of the ball against Rogers.
Following the Eagles’ opening score, Whitney fired right back as quarterback Mason Seely spotted Kobe Haynes who raced to a 45-yard touchdown. Seely finished with 288 passing yards and three scores in the air. Seely also had 48 rushing yards and a score.
The defense took the 7-6 lead and never looked back. The Wildcats refused to give up any yardage and forced Rogers to punt on the next possession. The next time Rogers touched the ball, Whitney forced a turnover on downs.
Whitney capitalized on the stops and converted quickly with a short rushing touchdown from Seely and a 43-yard scoring sprint from Johnson.
Up 21-6 to start the second quarter, Whitney applied even more pressure. The defense’s JaCaiden Overstreet snatched up a fumble for a 25-yard return touchdown, then Johnson kept grinding. The dynamic running back raced to a 40-yard rushing touchdown and a 63-yard catch-and-go that put the halftime score at 40-6.
In the second half, Johnson decided to keep camping in the end zone while the defense set up shop in the Eagles’ backfield. Jordan McGill anchored the defense with 20 tackles, while KJ added 9 takedowns.
On the opening drive of the third, Seely connected with Johnson for a 47-yard score. Then Whitney’s Aiden Albright recovered a fumble and Seely tossed a bomb to Kaden Tanner.
Tanner’s reception set up another Johnson rushing score.
This one from 33 yards out. But Johnson wasn’t done. On the next possession, he was back at it with a 61-yard touchdown.
As the dust settled, Whitney’s electric third quarter put the score at 61-3. The Wildcats switched to cruise control as Seely and Tanner teamed up for another long pass that set up a 31-yard field goal from the steady leg of Carson Griffin. The Wildcats allowed Rogers a sympathy score to close out the game, which ended at 64-13.
Kickoff for this Friday’s match up against Little River Academy is set for 7:30 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium.
Player of the Game
This week’s Player of the Game is Jontae Johnson. The junior running back raced for 209 yards and four touchdowns on the ground on just eight carries.
He also brought in three receptions for 123 yards and two scores and had 81 return yards.
The Lakelander 