Wildcats seek first winning season since joining the SFL

Whitney High has had a lot of success in football over the last four seasons including big wins against teams such as Lincoln and Placer, along with league opponents such as Del Oro and Oak Ridge. They have also won four playoff games, including one against Inderkum last season. The one thing that eluded the Wildcats during that time was a winning record both overall and in the Sierra Foothill League, one of the most difficult leagues in all of Northern California. Last season was the closest Whitney came to a winning record as they were 3-3 in league competition defeating the likes of Grant, Del Oro and Oak Ridge. They also remained competitive against Granite Bay, despite losing 16-6. In 2022, the Wildcats are hoping to get back to a section championship game for the first time since 2019 when they lost to Elk Grove. "Short-term, we just want to come together as a group and we need to find what our identity is going to be and long-term, it's like it always is, go on a playoff run and win a section title," coach Zac McNally said. "You want to be playing when it gets cold and extend our season. It's not about how we get it done; we just need to be the last man standing." One strength the Wildcats had in 2021 was their defense as they forced 27 turnovers and only allowed 12 points per game with the exception of the blowout losses against Folsom and Rocklin. It's also an area where Whitney has lost a fair amount of talent, including Carson Phillips and Brandon Wong who combined for 212 tackles and 6.5 sacks. That being said, they do have talent returning in junior cornerback Phoenix Rose who totaled 30 tackles, 10 passes defended and three interceptions. "I've improved a lot on my speed and I spent a lot of time in the offseason on technique," Rose said. "As a defensive back, sometimes when I get out of my breaks I look at the quarterback a little too soon and I'm still trying to polish that up before the season gets here. We are also just trying to instill confidence in the guys who are coming up and get them a lot of reps in practice." Senior linebacker Jackson Jones will also be a big help as he had 38 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery last season. Alongside Jones will be Cole McCracken, who made big plays on the junior varsity team last season. Derek Nobriga and Joseph Houck are two other players who are joining varsity, who will be relied upon to make big plays. Offensively, the Wildcats will be down their star running back Anthony Parker and their top receiver Roman Floyd, who combined for more than 1,200 yards of offense and 11 touchdowns. Returning players include junior running back Lorenzo Young, who totaled 243 yards and a touchdown, and Lincoln Fifer, who will be helping at wide receiver. Whitney High got a big transfer from Sheldon High in senior Isaiah Bickham, who totaled more than 1,300 yards of offense with 13 touchdowns. The Huskies finished third in the Delta League and lost to Rocklin in the second round of the Division I playoffs. "I am excited about competing against some of the best teams in Northern California and hope college scouts gain a more accurate assessment of my skill set to compete at the next level," Bickham said. "I have been working on getting faster, I've gained weight, and increased my strength, which I hope will help my team compete at a high level." The Wildcats have the opportunity to get immediate payback as they open the 2022 season away against Antelope on Aug. 19, a team Whitney lost to 20-14 in the second round of the Division II playoffs. They will then return home to face Woodcreek on Aug. 26 and face other difficult non-league opponents in Clovis, Chico and Heritage. Whitney High begins Sierra Foothill League action at home in the Quarry Bowl against Rocklin on Sept. 30. They will then face Folsom on homecoming night on Oct. 7. "Ever since I've been here in 2018, I think we have had one of the most difficult schedules in the area," McNally said. "You learn a lot about yourself as a team in a tight loss versus a blowout win and that goes along with getting ready for the grind in the Sierra Foothill League. Every team we are playing is a playoff team and it helps us rise to the occasion."