WHITEHOUSE RUNS 23 TIMES FOR 154 YARDS IN WIN FOR SEVENTH GRADE BEARCATS

Colt Whitehouse did not figure into the scoring, but he was definitely a big part of the game for the Booneville seventh grade Bearcats.

Whitehouse logged 23 carries for 154 yards during a 14-8 win over Mansfield in the final home game for the Bearcats (8-1, 6-0 Conference 3A-1).

Whitehouse got stronger as the game went on. He ran for 30 yards in the first quarter, 34 in the second, 44 in the third, and 46 in the fourth quarter while the Bearcats were putting the game away.

Whitehouse also had a fourth down reception for a first down that led to the go-ahead touchdown.

The rest of the Bearcat offense combined to run for 72 yards.

Led by Whitehouse, the initial Bearcat drive reached the Tiger 26 but ended in a turnover on downs.

Whitehouse caused a fumble two plays later that Aiden Akers recovered and Jordan Day got loose for a 27-yard touchdown run the snap after the turnover and 18 seconds remained in the opening quarter..

Akers ran for the conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Mansfield flipped the field with a 35-yard play on the final play of the quarter but would again turn the ball over on a fumble caused by Maverick Greene and recovered by Braxton Bearden.

But this time the Bearcats were unable to do anything with the turnover and took a simulated punt.

Mansfield did the same with their next possession and the Bearcats mounted a drive that ended with time expiring at the Tiger 6-yard line.

Out of the halftime break the Bearcats kept the ball for 14 plays, including the 14-yard pickup by Whitehouse on the fourth down reception, and eventually scored on a 2-yard run by Akers to make it 14-0 with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.

Mansfield answered with a 70-yard scoring drive, capped with a 10-yard run with 5:43 to pay and it was 14-8.

The Tigers would not get the ball back.

Whitehouse carried eight of the next nine downs, but it was a Hank Loftin (shown with Whitehouse blocking) 7-yard run on third-and-5 and wrapped it up for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats will play their final game on Thursday in Charleston. Game time is 5:30 p.m.