SABINE MAKES WHITE OAK SWEAT… but Roughnecks hold on for win

WHITE OAK – Homecoming for White Oak saw Kara Kennedy crowned the school’s 2025 homecoming queen, and the Sabine Cardinals did everything they could to spoil the on-the-field part.

But in a matchup of two ETBlitz.com coverage-area programs, the Cardinals came close – it just wasn’t close enough.

In a game White Oak had to have if it wanted any realistic chance of making the playoffs AND a game Sabine wanted, to stop a losing streak dating back to last season, White Oak’s Roughnecks outlasted, literally, the Cardinals for a 41-34 win.

Next week, Sabine (0-8) will host Jefferson. White Oak, which snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory, now sits at 5-2 overall this season and 1-2 in District 8-3A, Division I.

We’ll have a look at the standings for every program in East Texas on Monday morning, but that win keeps the ‘Necks in the 3A-DII playoff hunt. Remember: only the top four teams in each district make the postseason.

Sabine elected to receive the ball first Friday, and began with an air attack.  Quarterback Griffin DeHoyos found Terry Vanden for a 15-yard pass play, then went with the keeper and broke free for a 29-yard gain, setting up the Cards at the ‘Necks’ 22-yard-line.  He then found Lincoln Royce for a 14-yard gain, setting up first-and-goal. That was where the drive stalled.

On first down, Damin Richardson was dropped for a 17-yard loss and the Cards ended up turning the ball over on downs.

White Oak then went to the air with Tucker Ludlow under center to start, where he found Jaxsen Ludlow for a 21-yard gain.  The drive stalled at midfield, though, and the Cardinals’ defense had returned the favor and forced a punt. The first quarter ended with both teams going four-and-out with the ‘Necks punting to the Cards as time ran out.

Deep in their own territory, Richardson plowed through the middle for an 8-yard gain. On the next play, DeHoyos found a wide-open Keifer Serrrano for a deep pass, where he outran the defense for a 73-yard touchdown. Angel Gaona added the extra point and an early 7-0 Sabine lead.

White Oak struck back, though, with Jaxsen Ludlow under center.  He found Logan Ladwig for a 10-yard gain, then found Tyson McKinney for 14. The final play again found McKinney for a 32-yard strike for the score.  Brady Prazak added the extra point to knot the score at 7.

With both offenses now humming, the Cardinals began their drive with a short field after a 35-yard return by Vanden.  Princeton Jones got the call and took the handoff for a 28-yard gain.  He followed that up with a 9-yarder. The scoring play saw DeHoyos fake the handoff and rumble 16 yards for the score.  The extra point was missed, but the Cards were up 13-7.

Now it was the Roughnecks’ turn.  Jaxsen Ludlow broke free for a 35-yard scramble, putting them in scoring position.  Facing a third-and-10, Ludlow went around the left side for an 18-yard run.  He then found Cal Jester for 8 yards, then handed off to Levi Sipes, who took it the final 5 for the score. The extra point was good and the ‘Necks were ahead for the first time in the game, 14-13. The Roughnecks would try a field goal before halftime, but it was wide, leaving 14-13 as the halftime score.

White Oak took the second half kickoff and went right to work. Ludlow had runs of 5, 6 and 7 yards, followed by Sipes, who added 10.

Jester then pulled in a 20-yard pass from Tucker Ludlow, and finally, the drive was capped off with Jaxsen Ludlow going in from the 6 for a 21 – 13 lead.

The Cardinal were not to be outdone.  On their second play from scrimmage, DeHoyos kept the ball and he broke free for a 69-yard score. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the Cards only trailing, 21-19.

On the ensuing kickoff, it was short, over the return man and headed out of bounds. The ball kept rolling and staying inbounds, where the Cardinals jumped on it at the 3-yard-line for the costly turnover.

After two stops by the White Oak defense, Richardson finally plowed through the line for the touchdown.  The extra point put the Cards in front, 26-21.

White Oak went on a time-consuming drive that moved down field.  Jaxsen Ludlow had an 18-yard run in the drive before he put it away with a 2-yard scoring plunge. White Oak went for two, but faile,d leaving the score 27-26.

On the first play of the final quarter, DeHoyos dropped back to pass, but had his pass tipped and intercepted by Sipes. White Oak made short work of this as Jaxsen Ludlow found a wide-open Ladwig for a 52-yard touchdown.

With the extra point, the ‘Necks were now up 34 -26.

As the game progressed with each defense forcing punts, final White Oak’s special teams recovered a Sabine fumble, deep in Cardinal territory.

After a 17-yard run by Kenny Poul, he took the handoff again and went the final 6 yards for the score.

Now trailing 41-26, the Cardinal offense wasn’t done.  They took the ball at their 25 and proceeded to move down field. The clock was Sabine’s biggest enemy now.

After an 8-yard sack, DeHoyos found a seam and went 27 yards. They then were facing a fourth-and-13 when DeHoyos had to tuck the ball and run. He gained 9 yards before he was hit hard, but a personal foul on White Oak kept the drive alive.

In came Syler Pierce to take over quarterback duties. Three downs and no yards with just under two minutes left, but Pierce found Royce open to the left for the touchdown.  Pierce then went in for the 2-point conversion. Now trailing 41-34, the Cardinals were needing a successful onside kick. To their dismay that did not happen.  The Roughnecks were able to run the clock out and escape with a win.

The Cardinals were led by DeHoyos, who had 146 yards passing and a touchdown plus 154 for on the ground with the two scores.  Serrano led the team with 75 receiving yards, followed by Vanden with 34.  The Roughnecks were led by Jaxsen Ludlow, who had 158 passing yards and 161 rushing yards with two TDs  each through the air and on the ground.  Ladwig hauled in 80 yards followed by Jester with 52.