Midlothian wins emotional game after losing coach, rallies to beat Lake Belton

The last time Midlothian had this kind of a start to its football season, you’d have to go back to 1984.

You read that right.

It’s been 38 years since the Panthers were 7-0, or even 8-0.

But if they were going to keep their undefeated run, the Panthers would have to do it during one of the most emotional weeks in school history.

The Panthers lost assistant coach Clif White, who died after a five-month battle with bladder cancer.

“The week has been a blur. The kids have been very resilient this week. Everyone is united to play a great game to honor coach White and exhibit the traits that he believed in,” Midlothian coach Doug Wendel said earlier in the week.

Midlothian’s motto since White’s diagnosis in May has been Fight Like Coach White.

The Panthers fought hard all night long and eventually came out on top for their fallen coach, 39-37, over Lake Belton in a battle of top District 4-5A D1 teams on Friday night at MISD Stadium.

“He was an inspiration to all of our players,” Wendel said of White after the game. “He was our head freshman coach, and he also helped coached varsity. He cared about this high school. I can’t imagine there has been a more important win for our school and our community.”

The Panthers, who entered at No. 9 in the Class 5A D1 state rankings on Monday, are 8-0 for the first time since winning their first 12 in 1984. They’re 6-0 in district while the Broncos fall to 7-2 and 5-2.

Lake Belton is in its first UIL varsity season after going 18-1 over the last two years while playing an outlaw junior varsity schedule.

Trailing 37-27 after a Lake Belton touchdown late in the third quarter, Midlothian scored twice and came up with a pair of huge defensive plays in the final period.

Quarterback Chad Ragle hit Bryant Wesco on an 8-yard TD pass to cut the lead to four then Ragle had a 2-yard keeper to give Midlothian a 39-37 lead with 3:32 to play.

But before the go-ahead touchdown, the Panthers recovered a fumble. After Micah Hudson caught a 30-yard pass inside the red zone for Lake Belton, he fumbled after fighting for yards and Midlothian’s Xavier LeJune recovered.

Then after they took the lead, the Panthers sacked Lake Belton on third down and the Broncos fourth-down pass was incomplete. Midlothian was then able to run the clock out.

The Panthers only attempted six passes while rushing 54 times for 471 yards. De’ago Benson rushed 157 times for two TDs on only nine carries followed by Ragle (121), Jordon Richburg (119) and Michael Garber (65).

Benson was awarded the game ball, but decided to give it to coach White’s wife, Meagan. Meagan also received an American flag before the game and she and her two children walked to midfield for the pre-game coin toss.

More than $44,000 has been raised for the family through Go Fund Me.

“This community comes second to absolutely no one,” Meagan White said. “Since day one, they have been family. The love and support they have shown us is nothing like I’ve ever seen. I’m eternally grateful.”

Midlothian came out on fire and made a huge statement to open the game.

After a miscue on the kickoff return, the Panthers started at the 7-yard line.

But 13 rushing plays and 93 yards later, Midlothian scored.

Richburg bust through the line for 19 and Ragle kept it on the option for a pick up of 22 to the Lake Belton 16. Two plays later and Garber capped off the 6 1/2 minute drive with a 3-yard touchdown.

It didn’t take long for Lake Belton to answer on the ensuing drive when the Broncos marched 60 yards in less than two minutes. Connor Crews threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Hamilton to tie the game at 7 with 3:34 left in the first quarter.

The Broncos forced a Midlothian punt before taking the lead on a 10-yard run from D’Arius Wilkerson, but the extra point was missed and the Lake Belton lead stood at 13-7 early in the second quarter.

But that lead only lasted 17 seconds as Benson took the next play from scrimmage up the middle for an 80-yard touchdown and 14-13 lead with 10:51 left in the second quarter.

Tommy Stephens finished off a near-four minute Lake Belton drive with a 28-yard field goal that gave the Broncos a 16-14 lead with 7:04 to go in the half.

Midlothian answered on its next drive with Benson’s second TD run, from 11 yards, to give the Panthers a 20-16 lead after the failed two-point attempt with 3:30 left before intermission.

But the Broncos responded again, scoring with eight seconds left on the clock when Crews hit Javeon Wilcox from 15 yards on a fourth-and-7 try. Lake Belton went into the break leading 23-20.

Crews threw for 338 yards and four TDs. Hudson had 12 catches for 155 yards and made a great one-handed TD catch while falling in the corner of the end zone that made it 30-20 in the third.

Richburg scored from 17 yards on a fourth-and-3 that cut it to 30-27 with under five minutes left in the quarter.

This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 9:53 PM.