Two Hill County football programs — the Whitney Wildcats and the Aquilla Cougars — have been building toward this moment all season.
Both have already punched their playoff tickets. Both are undefeated in district play.
And this Friday night, each will take the field with a chance to claim an outright district championship against a long-time rival.
‘Cats March Past Groesbeck, Set to Face West Trojans
The Whitney Wildcats (7–2, 4–0) will travel to West on Friday for the District 5-3A Division I crown. The matchup pits two 7–2 teams against each other, with the winner earning the top playoff seed and a big dose of bragging rights.
Whitney is coming off a statement win on Halloween night, when the Wildcats dismantled Groesbeck, 52–7, in front of a packed home crowd for Senior Night at Wildcat Stadium. The game was all but decided by halftime, as Whitney stormed to a 45–0 lead behind a near-perfect first-half performance.
Quarterback Kobe Haynes started the scoring with a pair of rushing touchdowns and two-point conversions before Jontae Johnson took over on the ground, adding three more touchdowns of his own. Just before halftime, Haynes rolled out and scrambled like Patrick Mahomes before firing a deep strike to Jaxon Landrum for another score that electrified the crowd.
Whitney’s defense continued its dominant stretch, generating relentless pressure and forcing mistakes all night. Johnson capped the win with his fourth touchdown of the evening in the third quarter as the Wildcats cruised to victory.
The team is playing with confidence and chemistry, but West will provide a strong test.
West enters the matchup 7–2 after falling to Grandview 49–30 last week. The loss ensured Whitney will at least claim a portion of the district title. That’s the same Grandview squad Whitney handled earlier this season, 34–7 — giving the Wildcats plenty of motivation and belief as they chase their first district title under Coach David Haynes.
State-Ranked Aquilla Preps for Postseason Success
Just down the road, the Aquilla Cougars (9–0) are coming off a bye week and will also play for an outright championship when they visit rival Abbott (5–4) in District 11-1A six-man action. The undefeated Cougars are currently ranked No. 3 in the state and have outscored opponents by a staggering 600–80 margin this season.
For head coach Shannon Williams, now in his fourth year leading the program, this week represents both a challenge and an opportunity. A win Friday would secure his first district championship — and it would come against the same Abbott team that denied Aquilla the title a year ago.
Last season, Aquilla also entered the Abbott matchup 9–0 before falling in the finale. The Cougars bounced back with two playoff victories and a trip to the regional final. However, Abbott stopped the Cougars again. Aquilla finished 11–2 — their best season in years. This year, they’ve taken another leap.
Aquilla’s success has been built on teamwork and balance. The roster features a lightning-fast blend of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seven senior leaders, many of whom have been key contributors for multiple seasons. Juniors Brodey Woodward and Coltyn Wilhite have been major playmakers, while seniors Ryan Hill, Austin Hines, Connor Dunlap, Rayce Yrios, Zane Booth, Andrew Snips and Mason Cockrill bring poise, toughness and leadership to every snap.
Aquilla represents a true team effort, and the Cougars appear primed to head into the playoffs as a top seed.
From 11-man football in Whitney to six-man speed in Aquilla, Hill County has become a hotbed of winning football this fall. Both programs have developed resilient, explosive teams built for postseason success.
The Lakelander 