Whitehouse reaches final of state 7-on-7; JT makes quarterfinals

Whitehouse rode a long unbeaten streak into the state tournament, but no one knew how new quarterback Jackson Allen and his mates would fare.

Two days and six victories later, Whitehouse will always be remembered for their performance in the 2014 Adidas Texas 7-on-7 Championships.

The Wildcats snuck by Stratford (21-20) and Mesquite Horn (26-25) with one-point victories before downing rival John Tyler in the quarterfinals.

Whitehouse kept it going in the semifinals with a 14-12 win over Missouri City Ridge Point. The journey finally ended in the championship with a 42-25 loss to Katy Seven Lakes as Whitehouse achieved its best-ever finish at the state tournament as runner-up.

"I think the biggest part was taking an almost unknown team; we've got a few guys from last year, but it was mainly newcomers," Wildcats 7-on-7 coach David Williams said. "We were clean; we were crisp (on offense) and knew we were going to have a pretty solid defense. It was just a matter of putting it all together."

Whitehouse joins Robert E. Lee as the lone East Texas teams to reach a 7-on-7 championship game. Lee accomplished its feat in 2004.

Nearly a decade later, the Piney Woods could've had two teams in the semifinals and championship — if they hadn't been matched up against one another in the quarterfinals.

Only one could advance and it was Whitehouse in a 40-31 win.

John Tyler and Whitehouse took care of business in their first two championship bracket games to meet for a spot in the semifinals. The Lions began with a convincing 49-26 win over Frisco Heritage before defeating Denison 34-22 in the Round of 16.

"Those guys really surprised me," JT 7-on-7 coach Reginald Coleman said. "I knew we had the talent and ability to win games, but I didn't know how we were all going to put it together.

"For this group of kids to get this far; they kept fighting and that is what you want from your team. I am so proud of these guys."

Coleman gave special recognition to Lions offensive players Geovari McCollister, Jeremy Wilson, Nick Cain and Quaylan Brown, with defensive standouts Jordan Owens, Bryston Gipson and Isaac Warren all playing a large role in JT's success.

The Lions hadn't defeated Whitehouse all summer in league play, but JT went out ahead early and held a 19-13 lead at halftime.

Williams said Whitehouse decided to change things up on defense and be more physical at the line of scrimmage and it paid off.

"We weren't rolling up and disrupting routes enough," Williams said. "They were keeping drives alive with drags (across the middle) and things like that we weren't disrupting.

"You won't stop them every time on third-and-short, but if you can stop them a few times and get that turnover. It puts more pressure and that made the momentum swing."

Whitehouse outscored JT 27-12 in the second half to come away with a 40-31 win and place in the semifinals.

"I take my hat off to Whitehouse; they played well," Coleman said of JT's loss. "We should've won that game, but we made some mistakes and Whitehouse capitalized and that is what you're supposed to do.

"I told Whitehouse (after the game) to go represent and bring the trophy home for East Texas."

Whitehouse took that defensive momentum into its semifinal where it held a Ridge Point to just 12 points. The Wildcats scored in the first half on a TD pass from Allen to Drew Smith and made the conversion.

Ridge Point answered, but couldn't convert the extra point to trail 7-6. In the second half, Whitehouse increased its lead to 14-6 on a scoring strike from Allen to Trent Williams. Another conversion gave the Wildcats an eight-point cushion. Ridge Point broke through for a second-half touchdown, but failed on the tying 2-point try.

Katy Seven Lakes had outscored its opponents 101-32 in its quarterfinal and semifinal wins. In the championship game, Whitehouse trailed 21-19 at halftime, but gave up a TD to begin the second half, followed by a three-and-out and another Seven Lakes score.

That put Seven Lakes ahead 35-19. Whitehouse was able to slice its deficit to 35-25, but couldn't draw any closer.

Whitehouse now turns to Friday nights and Williams said he believes this experience and reaching the championship game will be beneficial.

"That is going to be the exciting part," Williams said.

Red Raiders reach Rd. of 16 in consolation bracket

Robert E. Lee started quickly with a 20-13 victory over Mission Veterans early Saturday morning. A day after REL narrowly missed out on making the championship bracket, the Red Raiders faced Channelview in the consolation Round of 16.

In a cruel repeat, Lee narrowly missed making the quarterfinals as Channelview edged out the Red Raiders 33-32.

Cy Falls went on to win the consolation championship, defeating College Station 33-27.

Adidas Texas 7-on-7 Championships

Saturday at Veteran's Park and Athletic Complex, College Station

Championship Bracket

First Round

Lake Travis 33, The Woodlands 31

Ridge Point 41, Lovejoy 18

Plano West 33, Abilene 32

Katy 39, Azle 32

John Tyler 49, Frisco Heritage 26

Denison 46, El Paso Franklin 28

Whitehouse 21, Stratford 20

Mesquite Horn 38, Langham Creek 25

Wichita Falls 26, Mercedes 20

Seven Lakes 34, A&M Consolidated 32

Hutto 21 West Mesquite 20

Arlington Lamar 21, Plano 12

Arlington Bowie 32, Clements 21

Manvel 65, Cy Creek 12

Cy Fair 26, Montgomery 20

Allen 38, Austin Bowie 27

Round of 16

Ridge Point 27, Lake Travis 20

Katy 39, Plano West 33

John Tyler 34, Denison 22

Whitehouse 26, Mesquite Horn 25

Katy Seven Lakes 26, Wichita Falls 0

Hutto 39, Arlington Lamar 26

Manvel 54, Arlington Bowie 19

Allen 48, Cy Fair 40

Quarterfinals

Ridge Point 20, Katy 13

Whitehouse 40, John Tyler 31

Katy Seven Lakes 53, Hutto 6

Manvel 41, Allen 30

Semifinals

Whitehouse 14, Ridge Point 12

Katy Seven Lakes 48, Manvel 26

Championship

Katy Seven Lakes 42, Whitehouse 25

Consolation Bracket

First Round

Cy Falls 45, Southlake 13

Arlington Seguin 34, South Hills 28

Austin Westlake 42, Cy Woods 40

Cedar Ridge 45, Port Neches 34

Temple 52, Bellaire 25

East View 30, Lake Dallas 15

Creekview 38, Copperas Cove 27

Atascocita 38, Montwood 32

Channelview 33, Wylie 19

Robert E. Lee 20, Mission Veterans 13

Byron Nelson 33, Klein Collins 31

Houston Lamar 20, San Angelo Central 13

Somerset 26, Frenship 6

College Station 46, Cedar Hill 26

Alamo Heights 33, Sharyland 30

Katy Cinco Ranch 32, Belton 26

Round of 16

Cy Falls 33, Seguin 25

Westlake 33, Cedar Ridge 21

East View 50, Temple 33

Creekview 44, Atascocita 41

Channelview 33, Robert E. Lee 32

Byron Nelson 20, Houston Lamar 14

College Station 44, Somerset 13

Alamo Heights 33, Cinco Ranch 27

Quarterfinals

Cy Falls 38, Austin Westlake 14

Creekview 35, East View 33

Byron Nelson 41, Channelview 34

College Station 41, Alamo Heights 21

Semifinals

Cy Falls 45, Creekview 29

College Station 40, Byron Nelson 25

Championship

Cy Falls 33, College Station 27