After years of finishing under .500, Whiteface had gone back-to-back years of nine-win seasons before this year, so coming into this season, the Antelopes were looking to take the next step and make a run to the school’s first state championship appearance.
Whiteface immediately made it evident that they were going to be a state-favorite come the end of the year, as they ran through non-district play with an electric offense, going 6-0 with all but one of the games being called due to the 45-point rule, the one game being a 58-38 win against Happy. Not much changed during district play, as the Antelopes 45’d all three opponents, Wellman-Union 68-0, Meadow 62-12 and O’Donnell 60-8. The Antelopes finished with a 9-0 season and the District 3-1A-DI title for the third straight season, led by senior duo Ethan Kauffman and Jeremiah Rendon, who ran for over a combined 4200 yards and 85 touchdowns.
Whiteface went into the playoffs as the favorite to come out of region one, and they did not disappoint. The Antelopes opened up, taking down Rankin 85-60, only their second game of the year up to this point. They did not win by 45’ing a team. They then 45’d Booker to set up a rematch with Borden County, who knocked Whiteface out of the playoffs last year. The Antelopes would roll, as they 45’d Borden County with an 82-46 win. That would set up a state semifinal matchup with an upstart Water Valley team, in which the Antelopes would once again absolutely dominate with a 90-48 win to send Whiteface to AT&T Stadium.
Whiteface would match up with Gordon in the state title game, possibly against the pound-for-pound best team in the UIL. Whiteface would fall 70-24, but it was the first time a team took Gordon to the second half this season.
Do not let the state title game fool you. This Whiteface team was a dominant team all year, who happened to run into a monster. Clint Linman’s ball clubs have been consistently building over the years. They made a big step this season, and if they stay on this trajectory, they should be a contender again come next year.
