Whiteford coach Todd Thieken accepts the regional championship trophy – Photo by Mike Doughty/Monroe News

By DOUG DONNELLY

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford’s offense was on top of its game Friday.

The Bobcats scored 54 points against a White Pigeon team that came into the game having allowed just 55 points in all of 2023. The Bobcats, however, took it to the visiting Chiefs, scoring every time they had the ball and won 54-6 to earn their third straight trip to the Division 8 semifinals.

“We all had that level of intensity,” Whiteford’s Kolby Masserant said. “Everyone played their best all four quarters. We can still get better, but we are playing darn good.”

White Pigeon brought an 11-0 record into Whiteford and actually out-rushed the Bobcats, but didn’t find the end zone until the final play of the game during a running clock situation.

Disaster struck White Pigeon early. The Chiefs lost the coin toss and sent its offense onto the field to open the game. Facing a fourth-and-one from their own 31, the Chiefs lined up to try and convert the first down. A false start penalty, however, forced a fourth-and-six and the Chiefs punted for just the second time all season.

Whiteford’s Hunter DeBarr returned the punt 20 yards to the White Pigeon 30-yard. Six plays later, he found the end zone on a 4-yard run for a 6-0 lead.

On the next drive, White Pigeon got deep into Whiteford territory before its drive stalled at the 20-yard line. The Bobcats covered 80 yards in five plays to make it 12-0. Senior Jake Iott scored the touchdown.

It was 20-0 about two minutes later when Mason DeBarr picked up a Chief fumble and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. Hunter DeBarr and Ryin Ruddy scored on short runs in the second quarter and the Bobcats led 35-0 at halftime.

Mason DeBarr caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from freshman Tre Eitniear, Masserant caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Ruddy and Iott added a second rushing touchdown to close out the Bobcat scoring in the fourth quarter. A good portion of the second half was played with a running clock.

White Pigeon’s touchdown came with about two seconds on the clock and was the game’s final play.

The Bobcats finished with 193 yards rushing and 154 yards through the air. Iott rushed for 78 yards on 12 attempts with Stepan Masserant getting 45 yards on the ground. Ruddy and Eitniear combined to complete 6-of-7 passes. Kolby Masserant, now the all-time Whiteford leader in receiving yards, had 111 yards receiving on four catches.

Hunter DeBarr had a fumble recovery and Kolby Masserant had an interception that he almost returned for a touchdown.

Whiteford coach Todd Thieken said the Bobcats were locked in all week in practice.

“They were different this week in practice,” Thieken said. “I saw something different from the kids this week. That first series when they had the ball, the way we were hitting I knew the kids were locked in. They executed our game plan all the way around.

“Our coaching staff did a great job of getting the kids prepared all week. I can’t say enough about how well they did this week.”

White Pigeon head coach Shawn Strawser was impressed with the Bobcats.

“They are a great football team and a great program,” Strawser said. “They are a tremendous football team. If anything could go wrong tonight for us, it did. We got down early and there is no coming back against a team like that.”

Whiteford is 12-0 and will play in the semifinals next week against the winner of Clarkston Everest Collegiate/Riverview Gabriel Richard contest.

WHITE PIGEON 0 0 0 6 = 6

WHITEFORD 20 15 12 7 = 54

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

W – Hunter DeBarr 4 run (run failed)

W – Jake Iott 8 run (run failed)

W – Mason DeBarr 38 fumble recovery (Jake Iott run)

Second Quarter

W – Hunter DeBarr 3 run (Jake Iott run)

W – Ryin Ruddy 1 run (Hunter DeBarr kick)

Third Quarter

W – Mason DeBarr 19 pass from Tre Eitniear (run failed)

W – Kolby Masserant 48 pass from Ryin Ruddy (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

W – Jake Iott 9 run (Hunter DeBarr kick)

WP – Zachary Royce 1 run (no attempt).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – White Pigeon: Taylor Stewart 15-74, Jon Bontrager 9-53, Caleb Lane 5-52, Maddix Janscar 1-26, Mekhi Singleton 2-10, Drew Kobryn 3-10, Jordan Pisco 1-3, Zachary Royce 1-1. Totals 37-229. Whiteford: Jake Iott 12-78, Stepan Masserant 5-45, Drew Knaggs 4-39, Hunter DeBarr 6-22, Ryin Ruddy 2-5, Brandon Knaggs 1-4. Totals 30-193.

PASSING – White Pigeon: Josh Davidson 0-7-1, Drew Kobryn 0-1-0. Whiteford: Ryin Ruddy 3-4-0 85 yards, Tre Eitniear 3-3-0 69 yards.

RECEIVING – Whiteford: Kolby Masserant 4-111, Hunter DeBarr 1-24, Mason DeBarr 1-19.