Hallsville Bobcats Surge Late to Defeat Whitehouse Wildcats 13-6

In a thrilling conclusion, the Hallsville Bobcats scored all their points in the second half to secure a hard-fought 13-6 victory over the Whitehouse Wildcats in District 7-5A Division II football on November 3, 2023, at Wildcat Stadium. The game was marked by defensive prowess and strategic plays, with Hallsville making crucial adjustments after a quiet first half.

The first half saw limited scoring opportunities. Whitehouse initiated the game strongly, advancing to the Hallsville 11-yard line on their opening drive. However, the Hallsville defense held firm, stopping the Wildcats on fourth down. In the second quarter, Whitehouse attempted a 42-yard field goal that failed to convert. The Wildcats finally broke the deadlock with 4:44 remaining in the half, when Carmello Perkins rushed for an 11-yard touchdown. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 6-0.

As the first half neared its conclusion, Hallsville’s defense made a pivotal play. With just 34 seconds left, Ka’Trevion Muckelroy recovered a fumble, allowing the Bobcats to attempt a 35-yard field goal as time expired. Unfortunately for Hallsville, the kick missed, and the team went into halftime trailing.

The second half marked a turning point for Hallsville. After receiving the kickoff, the Bobcats quickly moved into field goal range, where Alex Guerrero successfully converted a 34-yard field goal at 9:48 into the third quarter, narrowing Whitehouse’s lead to 6-3. Hallsville’s defense continued to shine, stopping Whitehouse on fourth down shortly after.

Capitalizing on the momentum, Hallsville drove down the field, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Caden Wallace to Dax Oney on fourth and two. This touchdown gave Hallsville a 10-6 lead with 4:13 left in the third quarter. Guerrero extended the lead to 13-6 with a 30-yard field goal in the final minutes of the game.

Whitehouse fought back, with Perkins breaking free for an 18-yard gain on their first play after Hallsville’s score. Yet, the Bobcats responded by forcing another fumble, recovered once again by Muckelroy with 6:15 remaining. Hallsville ran down the clock effectively, with key contributions from Coulter Evans and Blain Hensley, both picking up multiple first downs to secure the victory.

Evans finished the game with 114 yards on 25 carries, adding a 12-yard pass to Oney early in the contest. Wallace completed 15 of 19 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown. Oney was a standout receiver with six receptions for 94 yards.

On the other side, Whitehouse’s Ja’Kayden Robbins led with 75 yards on 11 carries, while Perkins contributed 39 yards on three attempts. Quarterback Austin Holmes completed 13 of 18 passes for 171 yards, with Muhammad Diarra making seven catches for 95 yards.

Looking ahead, Whitehouse, now with a record of 2-7 and 1-4 in district play, will face Marshall on November 7, 2023. Hallsville, also at 2-7 but improving to 2-2 in the district, will host Hallsville next week.

Prior to the game, Whitehouse honored Ron Byrd, who has served as the public address announcer for 25 years, recognizing his contributions to the Wildcats’ community.