The Home of Blue Devil Pride
By Joel Clinger for The Robertson County Connection
Win or lose, the White House football seniors hold arm-in-arm and walk the length of the field at Dewey H. Whitson Stadium after their final home game each season.
Twenty-two seniors made that trek with head coach Ryan Hamilton Friday night after defeating White House Heritage 34-27, finishing a memorable 9-1 regular season.
For senior Reece McAfee, who has spent two seasons with the team, this group of players has meant āthe worldā to him.
āThis is the best group of guys on a football team Iāve ever played with. 100 percent.ā
McAfee has come on throughout the season as a big-play threat and a bell-cow running back. He carried the ball 14 times for 165 yards and four touchdowns.
Three of his touchdowns, including an 82-yard carry, came in the second half. McAfee said the Blue Devils seem to take control of their own destiny coming out of halftime.
āI think when we get into the locker room and we talk to the coaches, we just come to realization that itās about us,ā McAfee said. āWe just got to do it. Weāve got to do it to win the game, and weāll do whatever it takes.ā
McAfee and senior quarterback Ranen Blackburn have both rushed for over 1000 yards this season.
Blackburn gained 151 yards on 21 carries Friday night, including his own rushing score.
Knocking off their rival on senior night could not have been any sweeter, but the teamās roots go far beyond the scoreboard.
āIt means everything; theyāre my brothers,ā Blackburn said. āWeāve been friends since I can remember. We grew up together, and itās really special.ā
āCoaching, itās not a job or anything like that to us,ā White House head coach Ryan Hamilton said. āOur coaching staff, we love each other; we love the game. We love our school. We love everything about these kids right here and this senior class.
āWe have good players, yes. We have a bunch of stats you can peg on them, but theyāre nothing without the guy beside them. They understand that, and they appreciate that. Thatās one of the most exciting parts, you know, for us to get to come hang out with them everyday.ā
The White House seniors will play another home game Friday night, this their first home playoff game since 2017, but the Blue Devils took in the special moment Friday night before moving on to the next one.
āItās awesome to play another game here at home, but right now, we want to enjoy this win,ā Hamilton said. āIf you donāt enjoy wins, you donāt get them as much, so itās always good to enjoy a win. Then weāll wake up and go back to work in the morning, and weāll figure out about Stratford, and weāll go to work for them.ā
White House Heritage came in the decided underdogs, finishing fourth in the region, but the Patriots fought tooth-and-nail to the end. After falling down 28-14, they finished the game with two fourth-quarter touchdowns but ran out of time.
āIt really was an opportunity for our kids come out and compete,ā Heritage head coach Stetson Dickerson said. āIt was an opportunity for our kids to come out and and play their hardest. We might have put together our best four quarters tonight. We played as close to mistake-free football as weāve played.
āWe played with outstanding effort from beginning to end. We played with great enthusiasm, and as a coach, thatās what you want out of your guys.ā
Heritage will travel to East Nashville Magnet Friday night for their first-round matchup.
Photos by Joel Clinger