The state ranked Whiteface Antelopes had little trouble with the Van Horn Eagles in a 58-8 halftime win in the UIL High School Class 1A-1 High School Football Bi-District Playoffs last Friday in Rankin.
The game was called by the 45-point rule, which states that whenever a team is ahead by 45 points or more at halftime or later, the game is called.
The first Whiteface touchdown came from Ethan Kauffman, on his way to passing 2,000 yards this season, on the third play from scrimmage.
Damien Castaneda’s kick was good for an 8-0 Whiteface lead just 40 seconds into the game.
Castaneda went 4-for-7 for kicks after touchdown.
Van Horn turned over on downs on their own 39-yard line but a fumble from Kauffman gave the Eagles another chance.
It did them little good as they were forced to turn over on downs again just four plays later on their own 39-yard line.
Two plays later, Julio Borunda crossed the goal line to make the score 16-0 Whiteface with 4:38 left in the first quarter.
Another turnover on downs gave Whiteface the ball on their own 30-yard line. Kauffman bulled his way through on an off-tackle play that the Eagles were never able to stop for another Antelope touchdown.
The kick failed, but Whiteface was up 22-0 with 3:16 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles’ Cy Garcia returned the Whiteface kick for the only Van Horn touchdown of the game, cutting the Antelope lead to 22-8.
Whiteface answered with a 45-yard Kauffman run on the first play of the next drive for a 30-8 Antelope lead.
A fumble ended the final Van Horn possession of the first quarter. Whiteface took over on the Van Horn 32-yard line.
Kauffman ran to the Eagle 17-yard line on first down, then into the endzone on second down for a 36-8 lead with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
Van Horn was driving as the second quarter started, but were forced to punt in an attempt to pin Whiteface deep in Antelope territory.
The Antelopes started on their own six-yard line, but it didn’t slow them. Three plays later, Jeremiah Rendon found Auscar Gandara open for 44 yards and a 44-8 score with 7:54 left in the half.
The next two possession resulted in scores from Whiteface and turn overs on downs for the Eagles.
The final Eagle possession ended with :44 seconds left, giving the Antelopes possession and the win.
Jeremiah Rendon went 2-for-2 for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Gandara caught one of the touchdowns for 44 yards and Kauffman caught the other for three yards.
Kauffman carried 13 times for 255 yards, five touchdowns and a fumble. Borunda had four rushes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Jeremiah Rendon had nine tackles and two assists. Kauffman had six tackles and an assist.
Jeremias Chavez had four. Noah Rendon had three with one assist. Gandara had two.
The Antelopes are ranked fourth in Class 1A-1 by MaxPreps. They will take on fifth ranked Borden County on Friday in Slaton. Game time is 7 p.m.