Wharton Wildcats Stun Alonso 44-21, Make 2011 Playoffs

The Wildcats (5-4, 2-1 Class 8A District 6) were widely considered out of the playoff race after a on Oct. 7. The loss knocked them back to 1-4 and handed them their first district loss.

Since then, the Wildcats have won four in a row, including a 49-24 district victory over Bloomingdale and more recently a 44-21 romp of district rival Alonso.

"Our goal was to be 5-0 for the second half of the season," said head coach David Mitchell. "We're one game away from that right now."

Injuries to almost every key player held back the Cats in the first half of the season. Now that the key players are healthy and their skills have been evaluated, Wharton is a much better team.

A lot has to do with opening up the use of junior defensive back Vernon Hargreaves. The Cats have been judicious about how they use Hargreaves, especially after a mid-season ankle injury hobbled him. However, Hargreaves is usually the best athlete on the field regardless of who the Cats are playing. Thus, it was inevitable that Hargreaves, or "Creed," would get spread around.

Hargreaves has played quarterback, running back, wide receiver and, yes, defensive back. However, his installation into the crankshaft of the Wildcat offense has paid big dividends.

"Creed" scored three touchdowns in the Alonso game and kept their defense completely off balance working out of the wildcat formation.

"Creed" and the Wildcats are back to winning ways and riding a four-game win streak as they head into their final regular season game against Spoto (6-4-1, 6-3 Class 5A District 8) next Thursday, Nov. 10.

"I always tell them it's not where you are, it's where you're going," said Mitchell.