Whitney’s spirited playoff run came to an end early Saturday morning after a weather-delayed 37–33 loss to Pottsboro in the Class 3A Division 1 regional semifinals.
The heart-wrenching defeat, which took place at Melissa’s Kenny Deel Stadium, concluded one of the Wildcats’ strongest seasons in recent history. But more importantly, the game proved that Wildcats never give up and fight as a team for the Whitney community.
The decisive moment came in the long-awaited, final minutes of the fourth quarter. In the back-and-forth, second-half battle, Pottsboro had stretched the lead to 34-27 with 4:12 to play, but the officials halted the game for a second time due to lightning and rain.
After a two-hour pause, the teams trudged back on the field and Pottsboro converted the extra point to gain a 35–27 advantage. The Cardinals then attempted and recovered an onside kick in the wet conditions, which seemed to swing the momentum in favor of the Cardinals.
But Whitney refused to quit. As they have through the season, the Wildcat defense delivered a critical stop to keep the game within reach.
With under two minutes remaining, junior playmaker Kobe Haynes guided Whitney down the field and finished the drive himself with a rushing touchdown, cutting the deficit to 35–33. The Wildcats went for two to tie and drew up a play to keep Pottsboro off balance. However, a toss behind the line of scrimmage slipped away and was recovered by Pottsboro. The Cardinals raced the distance for a defensive two-point conversion, securing the 37–33 win and leaving the Whitney faithful stunned.
Pottsboro now advances to face Grandview — a team the Wildcats defeated in district play — in the Region II final this week. Grandview slipped past Commerce in the third playoff round by a score of 49-48.
The game started with Pottsboro opening the scoring midway through the first quarter with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. Whitney responded immediately when senior star Jontae Johnson broke free for a 50-yard run, and Haynes added the two-point conversion for an 8–6 lead.
Pottsboro countered with two second-quarter touchdown passes — an 8-yard score and a 53-yard strike — to go ahead 21–8. Whitney regained momentum when Delvion Walter intercepted a pass late in the half, setting up a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Haynes to make it 21–15 at halftime.
Whitney returned to the field on a mission and tied the game early in the third quarter when Haynes connected with Johnson for a 23-yard touchdown. However, Pottsboro answered late in the period with a 64-yard touchdown pass, taking a 28–21 edge into the fourth.
Early in the fourth quarter, Haynes hit K.J. O’Hearn on a 70-yard touchdown to pull the Wildcats within 28–27. The first lightning delay followed soon after. When play resumed, Pottsboro drove inside the red zone and scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper to push the lead to 34–27 before the second weather delay paused action again.
Whitney finishes the year 10–3, including an undefeated district championship — the program’s strongest season under head coach David Haynes. The Wildcats advanced three rounds deep with consistent contributions from a senior group that helped anchor the team’s growth on both sides of the ball.
Even with the game stretching late into the night, a large group of Whitney supporters remained through both weather delays. Many parents, students and community members made the day-after-Thanksgiving trip, reflecting the steady backing the team received throughout its playoff run.
The Lakelander 