The W.T. White Longhorns are one of just two Dallas ISD teams playing at the 6A level. The other is fellow District 9 rival Skyline. Despite playing in a rather difficult district and finishing with a 3-7 record, W.T. White nearly made the playoffs last year.
The Longhorns opened district with a shootout loss to Skyline, 52-45, and a bad loss to Berkner, 35-10. After a win over Richardson, W.T. White lost three straight to Coppell, Pearce and Jesuit. The Pearce setback was 60-54 in overtime. That game was significant because the Longhorns had a convincing 54-35 win over playoff-bound Lake Highlands.
Had W.T. White beaten either Berkner or Pearce, they most likely would’ve landed in the playoffs with a 4-6 record and tied with Lake Highlands at 3-4 in district. But, the Longhorns missed the playoffs for the ninth straight year, and they finished without a winning record for the 16th straight season.
The Longhorns averaged 31 points a game in 2016, and quarterback Ryan Sandoval returns to direct the offense.
Key Losses
WR Jakari Domino, WR Kylan Harrison, DB Andrey Taylor
Harrison led the team with 650 receiving yards and five touchdown catches, and Domino had four touchdown catches and led the team in rushing with 363 yards and six touchdowns.
Key Returners
QB Ryan Sandoval, WR Eric Cook, DT To’Kosh Wheeler
Sandoval passed for 1,800 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior, and he rushed for 233 more yards and a pair of scores.
Cook was third on the team in receiving with 300 yards and two touchdowns.
The Verdict
W.T. White opens the season with non-district games against Flower Mound, Little Elm and South Garland before a home contest against Skyline.
The Longhorns get Berkner at home and travel to Richardson and Coppell before closing the season with Pearce, Jesuit and Lake Highlands.
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