White Hall overcomes adversity during victory
WHITE HALL 43, SHERIDAN 19
WHITE HALL — An early deficit was quickly forgotten Friday night as White Hall cruised to victory in its season opener.
The Bulldogs defeated Sheridan 43-19 at Bulldog Stadium in their first game since the death of Coach Ryan Mallett, the former University of Arkansas and NFL quarterback who died in a Florida drowning accident in June.
Interim White Hall coach Jason Mitchell said the Bulldogs keep showing they can pull through when things get tough.
“We’ve handled a lot of adversity around here in the last few months, and they proved to me again they’re a very adverse bunch,” Mitchell said. “We go down 13-0, nothing’s going right, Sheridan’s driving the ball on us, and they never quit. They just kept working, and good things happened.”
White Hall (1-0) trailed 13-0 entering the second quarter but quickly turned things around. Just over a minute into the quarter, the Bulldogs stuffed a Sheridan fourthdown run at the White Hall 45-yard line. Three plays later, senior Jayden Smith scored on a 45-yard touchdown run.
After a Sheridan punt, Smith again needed three plays before breaking free on a 40-yard scoring run. Sophomore kicker Zane Davis hit the extra point to give the Bulldogs their first lead at 14-13.
The next Yellowjacket drive ended in one play when senior Braeden Bell intercepted a pass at midfield, and then White Hall sophomore Braylon Gaston recovered a fumble on a kickoff return. Senior quarterback Noah Smith punished both turnovers with touchdown passes to Bell, and White Hall took a 29-13 lead into halftime.
Mitchell said the Bulldogs turned things around by leaning on the run game.
“We got to rely on our offensive line and our tailbacks,” Mitchell said. “You got to run the football, and once you establish the run, that opens up the passing game.”
Jayden Smith rushed for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns on 12 carries, while Noah Smith ran for 71 yards. The Bulldogs outrushed the Yellowjackets 264-133.
Noah Smith completed 6 of 10 passes for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns. Bell caught 4 passes for 137 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Bell’s touchdown catches included a few highlights such as a one-handed catch and juking a defender. Bell said this season means a lot to him, and this performance is just the start.
“I felt great, but it’s more to come,” Bell said. “It’s my senior season, so I want to go out with a bang this year.”
Sheridan junior Brady Dillon completed 9-of-17 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown caught by senior Jackson Bourne. Senior running back C.J. Dollarhide gained 59 yards on 14 carries.
Sheridan controlled the first quarter. The Yellowjackets got the ball first and used up over seven minutes on a 14-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 13-yard Dillon run. After forcing a quick White Hall punt, Dillon found Bourne on a 28-yard touchdown pass, making it 13-0 after the extra point hit the crossbar.