For the first time in 33 years, the White House football team took the field without former head coach Jeff Porter roaming the sidelines.
His replacement, former assistant coach Ryan Hamilton, kicked off a new era of Blue Devil football on a high note with a 13-7 home win over Station Camp to open the 2019 season.
“The feeling is indescribable,” Hamilton said. “I couldn’t wait to celebrate with the kids. They played their tails off and played for a common purpose and that’s all we could ask for. I’m very excited.”
Both defenses remained stout for much of the contest as the game remained scoreless until late in the second quarter. A 16-yard run from tailback Ranen Blackburn on a 4th-and-2 put gave White House a 7-0 halftime lead.
After forcing a White House three-and-out to open the second half, Station Camp came up with their biggest offensive play of the night. Quarterback Max Barnett found a wide-open Josh Williams for a 50-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7.
The Blue Devils wasted little time in responding. They showed they could make big plays through the air, too. On the opening play of their ensuing drive, quarterback Caleb Anderson connected with Logan Neufeld for a 70-yard touchdown. However, the extra point was blocked, giving White House a six-point lead.
“That play was huge,” Hamilton said. “We practiced it all week and talked about it, and our kids knew what to do. We talked about first week jitters, and our kids hung in there and executed. That’s all we can ask of them.”
Anderson finished the game with 117 yards passing, with 110 of those yards going to Neufeld on two throws.
White House gifted Station Camp several mistakes the remainder of the game to help them mount a comeback, but the Bison failed to capitalize.
Late in the third quarter, a pass from Anderson was picked off by Bison defensive back Terry Bradley. Two plays later it appeared Station Camp threw a pick-six, but it was called back on a roughing the passer penalty on the Blue Devils. The drive still resulted in a Station Camp punt.
With five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, another Station Camp drive was extended after White House was called for running into the kicker. However, the Bison failed to convert another first down and punted after three plays.
“I think our defense played their tails off and we played fairly well for our first game up front,” Hamilton said. “We got a couple of calls here and there that set us back, but our kids overcame it and just kept playing for each other.”
The Blue Devils then converted two first downs to run out the clock and seal the victory.
“We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot tonight,” Station Camp coach Shaun Hollinsworth said. “We can’t keep making mental mistakes at crucial times. We make some good plays offensively but had too many things that set us back. That’s something we need to work on moving forward.”
Offensively, Blackburn led White House with 129 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Terry Bradley had 81 rushing yards on 15 carries for the Bison, while Barnett finished with 114 passing yards.
White House remains at home as they host Glencliff next week, while Station Camp makes the short trip to Gallatin.
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