MESQUITE — Sherman dominated the second half to break open a close game and beat Whitehouse 45-24 in a Class 4A Division I bi-district playoff Friday night at E.H. Hanby Stadium. 

The Bearcats scored 21 points in the third quarter to take a 31-3 lead into the fourth and put the game on ice. Whitehouse’s first touchdown of the night came in the fourth, during which the teams combined for 52 points. 

Sherman (8-3) advances to meet Waxahachie in the regional round next week. Whitehouse completed the season 5-6. 

Bearcats standout J.T. Luper scored twice in the second half, returning an interception 77 yards for the 31-3 lead and a punt 55 yards to make it 45-17. 

Sherman’s Kolby Milner, Elijah Butler and Braylon Mitchell combined for 297 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to help the Bearcats finish with almost 500 yards in total offense. Milner led the way with 11 carries for 113 yards, while quarterback Gus Daniel completed 12 of 21 passes for 209 yards and a score. 

Whitehouse quarterback Hunter Taylor was 18 of 36 for 283 yards and two scores. He  connected with Dylan Cantrell eight times for 122 yards and both TDs. Isaiah Burton carried the ball 22 times for 98 yards on a night when the Wildcats attempted 39 rushes. 

Sherman took a 10-3 lead into the break following a defensive opening half, scoring on Braylon Mitchell’s 3-yard run with 1:14 remaining. The Bearcats moved 92 yards on nine plays for the score, producing five plays of 10 or more yards. 

Prior to the touchdown, Whitehouse and Sherman traded field goals — the Wildcats’ a 25-yarder by Brandon Cottrell in the first quarter and the Bearcats’ a 39-yarder by Joseph Harvey in the second. 

Whitehouse’s field goal followed an interception by sophomore defensive back Patrick Mahomes. The Wildcats recovered a fumble on the next drive to get the ball at Sherman’s 36, but turned it back over to the Bearcats two plays later. 

Whitehouse finished the half with only 42 yards through the air. Burton carried the ball 15 times for 81 yards.

Sherman 45, Whitehouse 24

Class 4A Division I Bi-District Playoff

At E.H. Hanby Stadium, Mesquite

Whitehouse  3   0    0   21 — 24

Sherman      0  10  21   14 — 45

First Quarter

WHI — FG Brandon Cottrell 25, 4:27

Second Quarter

SHE — FG Joseph Harvey 39, 10:22

SHE — Braylon Mitchell 3 run (Austin Roan kick), 1:14

Third Quarter

SHE — Elijah Butler 36 run (Roan kick), 10:00

SHE — Joseph Harvey 78 pass from Gus Daniel (Roan kick), 7:43

SHE — J.T Luper 77 interception return (Roan kick), :10

Fourth Quarter

WHI — Dylan Cantrell 15 pass from Hunter Taylor (Cottrell kick), 10:36

WHI — Zen’Derrion Haskins 11 run (Cottrell kick), 7:54

SHE — Kolby Milner 29 run (Roan kick), 6:02

SHE — Luper 55 punt return (Roan kick), 5:01

WHI — Cantrell 35 pass from Taylor (Cottrell kick), 3:21

                                  SHE           WHI

First Downs          22           20

Rushes-Yards      41-290     39-161

Comp.-Att.-Int.    12-21-1   18-36-2

Passing Yards      209         283

Penalties-Yards    8-83        3-25

Fumbles-Lost       5-4          3-1

Punts-Avg.           4-37        8-25.5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Sherman, Kolby Milner 11-113, Elijah Butler 7-102, Braylon Mitchell 16-82, Torey Long 1-20, Josh Fleming 1-(-12), Gus Daniel 5-(-15) . Whitehouse, Isaiah Burton 22-98, Zen’Derrion Haskins 5-25, Hunter Taylor 7-23, Matt Gipson 4-10, Jonathan Aldridge 1-5.

PASSING — Sherman, Daniel 12-21-1—209. Whitehouse, Taylor 18-36-2—283.

RECEIVING — Sherman, Joseph Harvey 5-141, Butler 3-28, J.T. Luper 2-27, Mitchell 1-13, Milner 1-0. Whitehouse, Dylan Cantrell 8-122, Aldridge 5-47, Justin Bloom 2-62, Isaiah Burton 1-40, Jared Raabe 1-9, Gipson 1-3.