Game Notes and Quotes

Week Eleven

White House 39, Chattanooga East Ridge 0

November 7, 2008

Series Record: White House leads the overall series, 1-0.

Series Streak: White House has won the only game.

Series Notes: None.

Region Notes: White House is the Region 4-3A champion at 10-1 and East Ridge finished fourth in Region 3-3A at 6-5.

Schedule notes: White House hosts DeKalb County in the second round of the Class 3-A state playoffs.

Game Notes:

-          White House was perfect (34-for-34) in the red zone for the entire regular season.

-          Coach Jeff Porter won his 200th career game.

-          White House made its 17^th straight playoff appearance and 24^th in 25 years.

-          White House shut out an opponent for the first time since a 14-0 win over Overton in the second round of the Class 4-A playoffs in 2004.

-          Bryan Dixon went over 1,500 career yards rushing (1,509).

-          Matthew Gossett made a career long field goal of 46 yards.

-          Trox Greenwade went over the 2,700 yard career mark for passing (2,736).

-          Andy James made his first career reception.

-          Aussie Light made his 50^th career tackle (52).

-          Matt Mosley made his 50^th career tackle (51).

-          Chad Neal made his 12^th career interception.

-          Chase Neal made his 10^th career reception.

-          Matt Parker made his 50^th career reception (51).

-          DeMarqus Payne made his 125^th career tackle.

-          DeMarrius Payne made his 100^th career tackle (102).

-          Joey Smith made his 50^th career tackle (55).

Quotes from senior tight end and defensive end Zach Duty:

““This was great to get a win for Coach Porter and to be able to get a touchdown catch in that game and help our team get back to the practice field and get to next week. We have another opportunity to get ready for DeKalb County and we know we have to prepare for the pass well and get pressure on the quarterback and make some plays on defense.”

Quotes from senior fullback and linebacker Cody Allen:

“It feels great. Having a great coach like Coach Porter, it feels good to get that win and get him that recognition because he is a great coach.

“We’re going to need a great defense to go further in the playoffs and we have to stop teams from scoring. We gave up a lot of points to DeKalb County and we have to work on our defense in preparation for this game and get through pass protection and put some pressure on the quarterback. They have a great quarterback and good receivers and we have to be ready for that.”

Quotes from senior kicker Matthew Gossett:

“It was just great to survive to the next game and it was a great blessing to be able to go out there and kick tonight. We just get to the next round and keep on advancing and get as far as we can get, one step at a time.

“We talked about the 200^th win before the game. I don’t think he knew much about it (what was being done) but we just wanted to go and win this game for him. For all the coaches do for us, to be able to do that for him was a great honor and a great privilege.

“This week I just focused my hardest every day to kick well and everything I did it was always on my mind. I just came out tonight and did my best and I was blessed to have a good effort.”

Quotes from White House head coach Jeff Porter:

“When you look at the goal board, it was an impressive performance by our kids. It was really reflective of a good week of practice for our kids. The kids were really upbeat and worked really hard and had a very good focus today. I just don’t think they are ready to go home. They understand what this time of year is and that with a bad night it could be over and I just don’t think they are ready to go home yet.

“When you look at their drives, the first thing you think of is Matt Gossett. He’s like the 12^th man on defense when he kicks the ball like he did tonight and they way he has for the most part all year. He’s created a long field for the opponent and he certainly did that tonight. On the first two drives, we got interceptions and that right there just creates instant momentum and we have been fortunate the last two weeks to get momentum early and it’s not always going to happen like that.

“It was just a short field. When you look at our average starting field position around midfield, there won’t be a lot of statistical yards but that’s what you want out of field position.

“I didn’t realize it was our first shutout since 2004 and that it was the first one for these kids. In the last four years, we have had situations late in the game where it could have happened and didn’t. But shutouts are not the most important thing, the most important thing is getting kids on the field and tonight we were able to get kids on the field. The shutout happened and that’s nice, but the important thing is the kids who got to play.

“We can’t give up 35 points against DeKalb and expect to win. Last time we just outscored them. We played well for a quarter and I remember a pass interference call in the second quarter and after that we did not stop them again until it was a two-score game in the fourth quarter. It was 35-28 when we finally got a stop. Poteete is one of the premier quarterbacks in the state of Tennessee and they have a good game plan with what they are trying to do.

“This is going to be a tremendous challenge for our kids. Our kids already know that and we are going to have to play well. The best defense against DeKalb would be to have a ball control offense, but last time they committed so many people into the box that it forced us into a passing game and fortunately our passing game was on that night.

“This time of year, you don’t worry about what it looks like or how bad, you just want to have one more point than they do.

“Sometimes possessions are limited in games like this but up there, there were a lot of possessions. But it’s four weeks later and I know they have improved and hopefully our kids have improved. And right now we are just two teams trying to get to the round of eight.

“They are going to bring an excitement here next Friday night we have not seen in a long time. Our crowd did a great job in week eight going up I-40 and the 12^th man was big that night. We are going to need that 12^th man this week because they are going to have a huge following. They are going to be very excited, tonight was their first playoff win in history so they are going to be excited and hopefully we will be excited and ready to play.

“The most important thing is we get to the practice field on Monday. These kids practiced hard and played well and we get another opportunity to play next week. This was an emotional night, to think back to all the people who have been associated with this program over the last 20 years, and I think of my family first.

“There have been a lot of great players, great coaches and great community people here at White House and I have been blessed to be a part of it. I am a very blessed man. But tonight is not about that, tonight is about our football team and our 2008 season continues.

“The most important thing for us tonight is that we get to play next week in another round, and that’s all we talked about with the kids. It was very humbling what the people did here tonight, and I’m just appreciative of the opportunity I have to work with the gentlemen on this coaching staff every day, the players we’ve had and have in our program, and for our community – you just can’t say enough.

“But at the forefront of something like this, you think of your family and what they mean to you. I appreciate so much the sacrifices that my family has made, and not just my family, but all coaches’ families.”