Even though Magnolia has yet to win a football game, White Hall coach Mike Vaughn thinks his undefeated ballclub has a big task on its hands tonight.
White Hall (2-0) is starting 5A-South Conference play with a 2-plus-hour road trip to Magnolia (0-3), and it’s how the Bulldogs handle the long road that could be a tell-tale sign of the game.
“It’s going to be us more than it is them,” Vaughn said. “If we handle the trip well and prepare to play, we’ll compete. We’ll have a chance to win the ballgame. If we don’t, we won’t.”
The Bulldogs are favored against the Panthers, who have lost by 21 or more points against 8-4A Conference members Crossett, Monticello and Hamburg. The Panthers are led by senior Deandre Davis, who averages 6.2 yards per carry, but they are also young as a team.
“(Magnolia coach Robert Day) is playing a bunch of sophomores,” Vaughn said. “He told me he started five or six and after play started, he played as many as 10.”
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Youth, however, has served White Hall’s defense well. Six of the defensive starters had little to no varsity experience last season, but the unit hasn’t allowed more than 15 points in 2012.
“Defensively, we’ve just come so far,” Vaughn said. “Coach Reynolds and the defensive staff, coach (Skip) Carr, coach (Porter) Taylor, I can’t tell you what they’ve done on defense. We had six people who never really played (last year).”
Senior quarterback Terrance Warren has noticed the outstanding play of the defense.
“They have so much heart,” he said. “They’re like a family, almost. They stick together and they pump each other up. If they miss something on one play, they go to the next play. They make sure they have each other’s back.”
The Bulldogs have plenty of offensive firepower, coming off a 379-total yard performance last Friday in a 29-7 win at Sheridan. Warren, who threw for two touchdowns in the game, has played a big part in the offense taking over for injured sophomore Kirk Baugh.
“Mainly our offensive line is just getting after it and blocking, containing blocks,” Warren said. “Our receivers are getting open. I just have to have the arm strength to get it to them.”
Warren took a few snaps at quarterback last year, so it was no surprise to Vaughn that he could lead the offense.
“We hate what happened to Kirk, and Kirk will be back, but Terrance kind of put himself in a position where, now, it’s going to be tough for anybody to beat him out if he keeps playing well,” Vaughn said.
Vaughn wants to see the Bulldogs to get off to a fast start after falling down early to Little Rock Christian (in an incomplete game) and Sheridan. If the road doesn’t affect them, they seem to have a good chance to avoid another slow start.
“I hope that’s not a trend,” Vaughn said. “They play hard. These seniors play hard and do a good job of leading this football team. They’re fun to coach because in practice they try hard.”
White Hall (2-0) at Magnolia (0-3)
– 7 p.m. today
– First 5A-South Conference game for both
– Last week: White Hall def. Sheridan 29-7; Magnolia lost to Hamburg 28-7