Midlothian rallies for emotional 39-37 win against Lake Belton to keep special season going

Panthers get two fourth-quarter scores to improve to 8-0 for the first time since 1984

By Cody Thorn | Photos/Video by Robbie Rakestraw

MIDLOTHIAN - The best season in nearly 40 years continued for Midlothian despite challenges on and off the field.

The most pressing challenge Friday for the No. 9-ranked Panthers was Lake Belton. Midlothian rallied to score twice in the fourth quarter and escaped with a 39-37 win on Don Floyd Field in a District 4-5A Division I showdown.

Quarterback Chad Ragle threw a touchdown pass to Bryant Wesco with a little more than nine minutes left and then scored the game-winner with 3:32 remaining in the contest.

“I was confident (we’d win),” Ragle said. “All glory to God. We executed like I said, and I mean, that's just what it takes is execution and just playing hard and physical.

"And we did just that, so I'm proud of my team. We're going to keep it going and we will keep fighting like Coach (Clif) White. ... And that is the plan.”

The win came less than a week after White, the team's defensive line coach, died after a battle with cancer on Sunday. White, 37, was also the freshman head coach for the Panthers.

The Midlothian Independent School District honored White and his family with a moment of silence before the game. White’s widow and two children were honorary captains and joined the team at midfield for the coin toss.

“The kids are resilient,” Midlothian coach Doug Wendel said. “They came in and had a great practice on Monday. Tuesday was a little down, but overall, it was pretty good.

You know tonight (Friday), they will dance and we’re going to mourn tomorrow (Saturday) at the funeral (for Coach White). It’s been hard and there are going to be some harder days ahead, but his spirit lives on.”

White long lobbied for the Panthers to get black uniforms. They were ordered this year but hadn’t been brought out during the team’s torrid start.

In his memory, Midlothian wore the black uniforms. Next week, the team will wear a sticker in the coach’s memory on the helmets for the remainder of the season.

Running back De’ago Benson ran for a team-high 157 yards and two scores for the Panthers. He painted his game shoes with the phrase ‘Fight Like Coach White’ - a saying that was printed on shirts worn by the football players’ parents.

“He was their freshman coach and he loved every one of them and he's a great teacher in the classroom, and everybody in the high school knows who he is and has a special relationship with him,” Wendel said. “So, it was hard (for) the kids and they're gonna have tough days; it’s not over now just because of the first game.

"It's gonna be through this semester, but time heals a lot of things. He's gonna stay a big part of our program.”

The contest quickly shaped up to be one where whoever had the ball last might be the one that wins it. It almost played out that way and nearly met Wendel’s pre-game prediction to his wife it would be 42-41.

Lake Belton (7-2, 5-2) led 23-20 at halftime and scored on the opening drive of the second half. That score is one that might get some national attention: Five-star recruit Dakota Hudson hauled in a one-handed pass, while falling down for a 4-yard score.

Going into the fourth, the Broncos led, 37-27, following Connor Crews’ fourth touchdown pass, this one to Cash Robin, one of four receivers with a touchdown for Lake Belton. Crews threw for 335 yards.

Crews connected with Hudson for a long gain with the lead up to 37-33 when the play of the game that turned the outcome happened. Hudson was stripped of the ball and Xavier LeJune recovered at the 9-yard line with more than five minutes left.

The Panthers then marched 91 yards, with long runs from Ragle and Jordan Richburg mixed in.

Ragle was 5-of-6 passing for 56 yards and was one of three ball carriers to eclipse 100 yards on the ground for the Panthers (8-0, 6-0). He ran for 115 yards and Richburg ran for 104 to make him the third to go over the 100-yard mark.

The extra point was blocked and Lake Belton had the ball with a chance to still win with a field goal or touchdown. They got down to the Panthers’ 37 before the drive stalled and there was a turnover on downs.

Midlothian, 8-0 for the first time since 1984, will look to keep the win streak alive with a road trip to Killeen Ellison next week. Lake Belton is idle.

Here are photos from Friday night's game in Midlothian:

All photos by Robbie Rakestraw

Photo by Robbie Rakestraw

Photo by Robbie Rakestraw