A week away from competition gave the Whitesboro football team time to heal and work on things the coaching staff believed needed to be corrected.
“We were able to get some kids healthy and rested,” Whitesboro head coach Cody Fagan said. “It was a good time to refocus for the next part of the season and a good reset for our kids.”
The Bearcats open District 5-3A Division I play against Dallas Life Oak Cliff at 7 p.m. Friday at Life Stadium, 4400 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway in Dallas. While Whitesboro (4-1) is mostly free of injuries, it is not 100% healthy.
“Just like every football team, we are banged up, but we are happy to make it through the bye week healthy,” Fagan said.
The Lions enter Friday night’s district opener undefeated at 5-0. Life Oak Cliff is led by junior quarterback Camren Phillips, who has thrown for 1,412 yards and 25 touchdowns while rushing for 471 yards and seven scores.
“Life Oak Cliff is a good football team,” Fagan said. “Offensively, they have an excellent QB with a good skill group around him and a scheme that maximizes it.”
Jetavion Smith-Adams (352 yards, six TDs rushing), Antonio Hammond (12 catches, 385 yards, eight TDs), Dankiea Landor (12 catches, 298 yards, seven TDs) and Joshua Washington (15 catches, 261 yards, one TD) are other key players on offense. The Lions operate out of the spread.
“On defense, we have to play solid fundamental football with everyone doing their job,” Fagan said.
Life Oak Cliff averaged 63 points per game in nondistrict play. The Lions topped 100 points in a 105-14 victory against Bonham.
Defensively, Life Oak Cliff operates out of a 3-4 alignment. Linebackers Cameron Beaty (34 tackles), Marco Angeles (27 tackles) and Ahli Spencer (23 tackles) lead the Lions.
“We also need efficiency on offense,” Fagan said. “We need to convert third downs and sustain drives. This is one of those games where one punt might be too many.”
In nondistrict play, Whitesboro was led by quarterback Colt Fagan, who threw for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 176 yards and six scores. Running backs Justin Knight (443 yards, five TDs) and Scout Regelean (213 yards, four TDs) paced the rushing attack, while Camron Howard (33 catches, 419 yards, three TDs), Ian Bruce (nine catches, 243 yards, five TDs) and Wyatt Winchester (eight catches, 135 yards, three TDs) led the receiving corps.
Linebackers Korbin Ross (60 tackles, three fumble recoveries) and Elias Degraffenreed (57 tackles, three sacks), along with safety Shayne Gabbert (49 tackles, two interceptions), lead the Bearcats defense.
