A day early and right on time.
With the game moved up to Thursday night because of severe weather forecasts, the Whitney Wildcats didn’t miss a beat. Whitney dominated from start to finish, blasting Mexia 59–25 in a statement win that highlighted the team’s growing balance and confidence.
The victory moved the Wildcats to 6–2 overall and 3–0 in district play, keeping them undefeated in District 5-3A Division I and firmly in the mix for a district run.
Whitney handled the schedule change with maturity and focus, and after an after an early mistake, the night belonged entirely to the Wildcats.
The Wildcats stumbled out of the gate with a fumble on their first possession, which Mexia quickly turned into a 75-yard touchdown run. But Whitney responded immediately. On fourth down, quarterback Kobe Haynes hit KJ O’Hearn in stride for a touchdown, and a successful two-point try gave the Wildcats an 8–7 lead. They wouldn’t trail again.
Moments later, Haynes converted another fourth down to keep a drive alive, setting up a 32-yard scoring run from senior Jontae Johnson, his 14th rushing touchdown of the season. Another two-point conversion extended the lead to 16–7.
The defense continued to shine, with Jaxon Landrum picking off his fourth pass of the year to stop a Mexia drive. Haynes then broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run to make it 22–7. The defense forced more pressure on the next series, blocking a punt that bounced through the end zone for a safety and a 24–7 advantage.
After the offense opened the second quarter with an interception, Whitney’s defense again flipped momentum by forcing a punt that struck a Mexia lineman. The Wildcats recovered at the 32, and Haynes sprinted 30 yards for another score—his third touchdown of the night and 19th overall this season.
Mexia found the end zone through the air to cut the deficit to 32–13, but Whitney answered quickly. Haynes connected with O’Hearn for another dazzling touchdown in the back of the end zone, stretching the lead to 40–13 at halftime.
Mexia managed a touchdown to start the second half, but Whitney’s defense and special teams soon took control again. After a Whitney fumble, Keegan Estill pounced on a loose ball to regain possession, and senior Aiden Albright later forced and recovered another fumble as the Wildcats’ pass rush overwhelmed Mexia’s front. Johnson added his second rushing touchdown of the night to make it 46–19 heading into the fourth quarter.
Freshman Tyson Rhodes kept the defensive fireworks going with an interception early in the final frame. That turnover set up another big play from Haynes, who sliced through the defense for a 27-yard touchdown run—his third on the ground and fifth total of the night. The score extended Whitney’s lead to 52–19 and capped a dominant performance from the junior quarterback.
Before the final buzzer, sophomore Edgar Sanchez added one more highlight for the Wildcats, punching in a short touchdown run to close out the scoring and secure the 59–25 victory.
The Wildcats’ offense has now scored 34, 56, and 59 points in their three district contests, while the defense has allowed just 19 per game over that stretch.
Haynes accounted for more than 350 yards and five total touchdowns in the win, while Johnson added two rushing scores and O’Hearn found the end zone twice through the air. Defensively, Albright led a relentless front that forced turnovers and kept pressure on Mexia’s backfield all night.
The Wildcats (6–2, 3–0) return home next week to face Groesbeck (2–6, 0–3).
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