The Whiteface Antelopes earned their third straight district championship last Friday with a 90-40 road win over the Borden County Coyotes in UIL District 31A1 six-man high school football action.
The game was called with 6:53 left in the fourth quarter due to the 45-point rule, which says that a six-man game is called whenever one team leads by 45 points or more at or after halftime.
Both teams were penalized heavily with 12 each. Whiteface lost 87 yards while Borden County lost 67.
The Antelopes overcame several challenges in the first half, but only trailed once – 16-14 in the second quarter and led 5040 at halftime.
“I’m proud of our kids’ effort,” said Whiteface Head Football Coach Clint Linman. “Proud of their coachability, adjustments and effort.”
Borden County struggled to move the ball on the hard-hitting Whiteface defense, gaining only 21 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown.
The Coyotes did a little better in the air, with 206 yards and five touchdowns from an 18for-57 combined performance from three passers Whiteface racked up 479 yards rushing with 429 from Ethan Kauffman along with 30 yards passing on a 3-for-6 combined performance by Jeremiah Rendon and Isaak Soliz.
Whiteface opened the game set to receive, but the Coyotes recovered their onside kick for a first down and 15 yards to go on the Antelope 33-yard line.
Pass interference against Whiteface followed by holding against Borden County found the Coyotes still on first down, but facing 10 yards to go from the Whiteface 28-yard line.
Four tries later, the Coyotes were on the Whiteface one yard line with a first down and goal to go. That was as far as they went, however, as the Antelope defense stopped them cold.
Whiteface took over on downs at their own three-yard line with 6:42 remaining in the first quarter.
Kauffman went for six yards, then three yards, then 68 yards and the first touchdown of the night. After Damian Castaneda’s kick, the Antelopes led 8-0 with 5:21 left in the first quarter.
Neither team was able to get into the endzone for the rest of the first quarter.
The second quarter opened with Borden County on the Whiteface nine-yard line facing second down and six yards to go when Tye Stipe found Braden Steele open for nine yards and the tying touchdown.
Several flags marred the next Whiteface drive, but the Antelopes still steadily marched downfield until, facing first down and goal on the Borden County 25, Rendon hit Cesar Chavez open for the touchdown.
Borden County was able to block the kick, but Whiteface led 14-8.
The Coyotes’ Steele ran the kick back for a touchdown, but was called back for holding, so Borden County started on their own 27-yard line, working their way down to the Whiteface 26yard line.
This time Steel hit Stipe open for the second Borden County touchdown of the night. The kick was good and Borden County took what would be their last lead of the night, 16-14 with 6:38 left in the half.
Whiteface wasted no time taking the lead again. Kauffman got the call on the first play from scrimmage and rambled 50 yards for a 22-16 lead.
The Antelopes kicked into the endzone for a touchback, then the Whiteface defense pushed Borden County back to the Coyote two-yard line and forced a turnover on downs.
Borden County pushed the Antelopes back to the Coyote sixyard line on the first play, but then Kauffman took the ball six yards for a 30-16 lead with 4:55 left in the first half.
Whiteface stopped the next Borden County drive with an interception on fourth down and 15 yards to go.
The Antelope started in their own 37-yard line. Kauffman drove down to the one, then Rendon got the call for the touchdown and a 38-16 lead with 3:40 left in the half.
A penalty assessed after the kickoff put the Coyotes on the Whiteface 19-yard line. Four plays later, they crossed the goal line, but it took three tries before they Coyotes got a kick thanks to penalties.
Borden County recovered another onside kick and again went the air. The six-play drive started on the Whiteface 34-yard line and ended up with another Stipe to Steele combination, cutting the Whiteface lead to 3832 with 1:55 left in the half.
Whiteface took over on the 40 and repeated the same line they used all night with Kauffman crossing the goal line for a 44-32 lead with 1:24 left in the half.
The Antelope ended the next Borden County drive with a pick six from Rendon just two plays in. The snap was bobbled on the extra point and Victor Borunda tried unsuccessfully to get the ball off to Parker Trejo.
The Antelopes had extended the lead, however, to 50-32 with just a minute left in the half.
Borden County’s final score came on a goal line stand.
Whiteface was called for encroachment on a Borden County field goal attempt on fourth down and six yards to go as time ran out.
Borden County was given another try as a half cannot end on a defensive penalty and they scored on a pass from Steele to Datch Flanigan. Several penalties were called on the ensuring extra point kick, but the Coyotes finally got the kick across to cut the Whiteface lead to 50-40.
Borden County opened the second half struggling to move the ball. They managed to move down to the Whiteface 27-yard line where, on fourth down and 17 yards to go, they Coyotes fumble and Auscar Gandara cam up with the ball.
A 48-yard run by Kauffman put the Antelopes up 56-40.
After that, the Coyotes were never able to recover.
Whiteface forced a turnover on downs and scored on the first play from scrimmage.
Jaxon Hodge recovered a Whiteface onside kick and the Antelopes scored in the second play from scrimmage.
The Antelopes stopped the Coyotes with a goal line stand on the three-yard line, then Kauffman rambled 77 yards for a 78-40 lead. Whiteface pinned Borden County back on the Coyotes’ 17yard line, forced a turnover on downs and made the score 84-40 on the first play from scrimmage. The last score of the night was a 22-yard run by Kauffman after Gandara sacked the Borden County quarterback on the Coyotes’ 22-yard line.
Kauffman’s 429 yards cam on 20 carries with nine touchdowns and a fumble. Rendon had 50 yards on four carries with a touchdown.
Rendon also went 1-for-2 for 25 yards and a touchdown passing. Soliz had a 2-for-4 night with five yards and a touchdown.
Cesar Chavez had a 25-yard touchdown catch. Gandara had a five-yard catch for a touchdown and Kauffman had a single catch for no yards.
Kauffman had six tackles, an assist and a sack. Rendon, Gandara, Chavez and Hodge had four tackles each.
Rendon had two assists and two interceptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Gandara had a sack.
Luke Gresham had two tackles and Cash Crutcher had two assists.
The Antelopes will face Rankin on Friday in Klondike at 6:30 p.m. in the first round of the playoffs.