The Whiteface Antelopes took a 53-6 homecoming win from the Anton Bulldogs last Friday in UIL high school six-man football action. The Antelopes are now 3-1 and Head Football Coach Clint Linman is happy with his team’s attitude, but he isn’t relaxing.
“The kids are playing hard,” he said. “There are a lot of good teams left on our schedule, so our mentality is just put our heads down and get to work each day and get better.” The Antelopes held the Bulldogs to under 30 yards total offense. Anton had the ball first, but a fumble on second down and 22 yards gave the Antelopes the ball on the Anton 20 yard line. Ethan Kauffman ran for 10 yards, then rambled 10 more for the first score of the game. Damian Castaneda’s kick was good for an 8-0 Whiteface lead.
The Whiteface defense held on the next Bulldog possession forcing Anton to turn over on downs at their own 25 yard line.
Jeremiah Rendon hit Jeremias Chavez open for a 25 yard touchdown on first down and 15 with six minutes remaining for a 14-0 Whiteface lead after Castaneda’s kick was blocked.
Anton was only able to move backwards on the next drive. Julio Borunda ended the drive by intercepting a Dominic Gaitan pass and running it back to the Bulldog 11 yard line. Borunda ran the ball down to the two yard line and, on second down and goal, Kauffman got the call and Castaneda made the kick for a 22-0 Whiteface lead with 2:47 left in the first quarter. Anton fumbled on the first play of their drive and Rendon recovered on the Bulldog 29 yard line. Four plays later, Brighton Scoggins crossed the goal line.
The kick was good for a 30-0 Whiteface lead with just 58 seconds left in the first quarter.
Anton’s next drive ended with an interception from Chavez giving Whiteface the ball on their own 30 yard line with 9:10 left in the half.
A couple of good runs from Borunda and Rendon combined with a couple of incomplete passes and a couple of muffed snaps found the Antelopes facing third down and goal from the Anton 14.
That’s when Rendon called his own number and scampered 15 yards for the touchdown.
The kick was good for a 38-0 Whiteface lead with 7:22 left in the half.
Anton engineered their only score on the next drive. Starting on their own 36 yard line, they were on third and 19 yards when a pass interference call against Whiteface gave them a first down on the Whiteface 32 yard line.
A second pass interference call on the Antelopes on fourth down and seven gave the Bulldogs a first and goal from the Whiteface 15 yard line.
A run by Gavin Martinez set up a Castillo to Joe Whillock combination on second down and goal from the Whiteface 15 yard line. Thomas’ kick failed and the Bulldogs trailed 38-6 with 4:50 left in the half.
Whiteface answered with a 20 yard kick return from Gavin Baker, setting the Antelopes up on their own 30 yard line.
Hard running from Kauffman, Borunda and Scoggins set up a 25 yard touchdown run by Chavez with 2:47 left in the half. The kick was good for a 46-6 Antelope lead.
A short kick and resulting penalty gave the Bulldogs the ball on the Whiteface 31. They were able to gain only eight yards before turning over on downs with 1:33 left in the half.
The Antelopes final drive started on their own 23 yard line and opened with a 25 yard run from Rendon to set up a first down and 15 on the Anton 32 yard line with 59 seconds left in the half. Rendon, under pressure, found Kauffman open, but he was stopped for a loss of one yard, prompting a timeout from the Whiteface sideline. Rendon’s next pass, also intended for Kauffman, went incomplete, but roughing was called on the Bulldogs for an Antelope first down on the Anton 18 yard line. Borunda’s carry got back to the line of scrimmage. After another Whiteface timeout, Rendon found Beau Brewer open for another touchdown and 52-6 lead with 24 seconds left. Castaneda’s kick was blocked, but offsides was called on the Bulldogs. The next kick saw the snap bobbled, but Chris Olguin found Jeremiah Soliz open for a one-point conversion. The Bulldogs took over with 14 seconds left and needed a touchdown to extend play into the second half, so they went to the air, but the Antelopes were ready and three Anton passes went incomplete.
Rendon went 4-for-7 for 58 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed four times for 76 yards and another touchdown.
Borunda had four carries for 35 yards. Chavez had a single 25 yard touchdown run. Coffman had seven carries for 21 yards and two touchdowns. Scoggins had two carries for 13 yards and a touchdown. Chavez had two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Brewer had a single 18 yard touchdown catch. Coffman had one reception for minus one yard.
Auscar Gandara had six tackles. Coffman had three. Rendon had 2 ½. Borunda and Scoggins had one each. Chavez had an assist The Antelopes travel to Wilderado for a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday while Anton hopes to get back on the winning track as the host Spur, also at 7:30 p.m.