Walled Lake Western’s Cody White runs the ball against Northville during the first quarter Sept. 9, 2016, at Warriors Stadium in Walled Lake.
Big players tend to make big plays, and that’s what Walled Lake Western’s Cody White did against Brighton in the final game ever for the Kensington Lakes championship.
White, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver committed to play at Michigan State, had three touchdown receptions in Friday night’s 37-7 win over Brighton, to double his season total to six. His receiving numbers are lower this year because he started several games at quarterback for the previously injured Johnny Tracy. When under center, White threw eight TDs against just two interceptions.
In the championship game at Brighton, White caught a pass from Tracy in full stride and ran 36 yards into the end zone untouched for a 6-0 edge on just the third play of the game. Western got the ball back almost immediately on a Matt Alati interception before White jumped high above two defenders in the end zone for a second TD catch (14 yards) with just 7:52 left in the first quarter. His third TD reception came early in the fourth quarter and resembled the previous one as he out-jumped two defenders for the ball and a 12-yard score.
“It still doesn’t matter,” Western coach Mike Zdebski said about White typically drawing double and triple team coverage. “He’s going to catch the ball. He’s that good. He’s a big receiver, a big dude.”
White could have had a fourth touchdown when he sprinted past three defenders but the pass was long over his head into the end zone.
“I felt like I had a good game, I felt like I provided for the team,” White said. “The whole team came out and played tough tonight.
“I think we’re in a great position for the playoffs right now. Just had a great game here, 37-7, gives us a bunch of momentum. It’s a great feeling right now.”
White (nine receptions, 117 yards) drawing more attention actually aided Western’s final touchdown of the game, as he occupied two defenders on the left side while running back Jalen Marshall ran to the right for a 6-yard score.
“When they started doubling me it allowed other players to make plays, and that’s what our team does, make plays out there,” White said.
Entering the game, Kameron Ford had 698 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. He added a 36-yard touchdown against Brighton in the third quarter, while Tracy finished with 297 yards on 20-for-28 passing.
Purdue commit Robert Hudson – a rock at offensive left tackle at 6-foot-8, 305 pounds – also started on defense for the first time this season and said he played more snaps on the defensive line than he has any other game this year.
“I feel like I can make a big impact keeping the inside run out and I feel that’s a big part of their running game,” Hudson said after the win at Brighton.
Western’s defense stopped the Bulldogs twice in the red zone, once when Brighton quarterback Cameron Tullar scrambled out of the pocket but was halted at the one-foot line to end the second quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Brighton drove to Western’s 10-yard line but the Warriors stopped three passes and a running play to keep Brighton out of the end zone yet again.
“I felt we played very well,” Hudson said about the offensive line. “I felt we finally played to our ability, kept the penalties to a minimum and I feel like that was a huge part of how we succeeded like we did.”