Marshall opened the 2024 season with a come-from-behind win over Tyler High in the rain and they closed it out with a come-from behind win over Whitehouse in the rain.
The Mavericks (8-2), (5-1) clinched the #2 seed in district 7-5A with Friday night's 28-7 win over Whitehouse (5-5), (3-3). The Wildcats finish #3 in the standings with Hallsville wrapping up the fourth and final playoff berth.
Rainy conditions subdued the Marshall offense as they were shut out in the first half for the first time this season. Whitehouse only had one successful drive to take a 7-0 lead into the locker room.
Whitehouse opened the game with a drive all the way down to the Marshall 22 yard line, but the Maverick defense stopped them on 4th down to keep the game scoreless.
Both offenses then traded punts with the rain getting the best of both teams thus far.
Whitehouse got the first break of the game when they picked off Mav QB Alton Henderson late in the first quarter.
The Wildcats made Marshall pay for the turnover with a 68 yard drive for a TD to take a 7-0 lead with 11:55 left in the second quarter.
Marshall then had a huge kickoff return to the Wildcat 42 but stalled out with no points.
After a Whitehouse punt, the Mavs had their longest drive of the night as they drove 82 yards from their own 10 to the Wildcat 8. Marshall attempted a field goal just before halftime but it was blocked to preserve the 7-0 Whitehouse lead headed into the locker room.
The Mavericks came out after the break on fire.
Running back Semaj Gatson broke free for a 40 yard sprint to the Whitehouse 7. Marshall punched it in from there to tie the game 7-7 with 9:47 left in the third quarter.
The passing game finally got going as Henderson found receiver Raijon Sims for a 67 yard strike on a third and 21 to take their first lead of the game 14-7 with 31 second left in the third.
The defense forced the Wildcats to punt from their own endzone, giving Marshall the ball at the Whitehouse 45.
The Mavs made quick work of the short field as Gatson did it again as Marshall raced out to the 21-7 lead with 10:17 left in the game.
The defense made another stellar stand as Whitehouse elected to go for a 4th down and 2 at their own 18....giving the Mavs the ball in excellent field position.
Instead of going for the chip-shot field goal to potentially ice the game, Marshall nailed the final nail in the coffin with a touchdown pass to Judson Illingworth on 4th and 8 at the Wildcat 16 yard line.
That upped the score to 28-7 with 5:45 left in the game for the final score.
Henderson finished the night 7-13 for 152 yards with two touchdown passes and 1 interception.
Semaj Gatson finished with 23 carries for 176 yards and two scores.
Sims and Illingworth had 75 and 29 respectively with a touchdown each.
Marshall finished with 365 total yards for the night.
Whitehouse finished with 229 total yards. They failed to earn a first down in the second half.
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