White, Wildcats make run for title

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Nov. 26, 2001 | 10:26 a.m.

Antione White has had his way with Southern Nevada's top defenses. Now, it's time to find out how he stacks up against the best Northern Nevada has to offer.

On Saturday night, White rushed for 306 yards and scored all five Las Vegas touchdowns to lead his team to a 34-7 win over visiting Durango and a berth in the 2001 4A state title game.

This Saturday, the Wildcats will come up against defending state champion McQueen at Nevada-Reno's Mackay Stadium at noon in a battle of 12-1 squads. Last Friday, the Lancers held Foothill tailback John Ford to a playoff-low 80 yards but needed a 57-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to escape with a 17-14 victory.

"They obviously do a great job stopping good running backs, so we'll have to be excellent up front," Las Vegas coach Kris Cinkovich said. "They fight off blocks well, and they're real quick and active."

The 6-foot, 180-pound White enters this week's game with gaudy rushing totals: 2,790 yards and 47 touchdowns on 339 carries. He has averaged 215 yards per game and 8.2 yards per carry, has eclipsed the 300-yard mark the past two weeks and also has scored a touchdown by way of reception, kick return and punt return this year.

"He's stepped up his game in the post-season, and I hope he can step it up one more time because (McQueen) is tough," Cinkovich said.

In the Wildcats' semifinal win, White got the best of a physical Durango defense that had allowed only two touchdowns in three previous playoff games. His 41-yard scoring run in the game's opening minutes was a sign of things to come, with touchdowns of 1, 90 and 70 yards to follow. White also returned a punt 47 yards for a TD.

"Our coach said it doesn't matter how big you are, it matters who has the biggest heart," White said. "The offensive line gave me great seams, kept blocking and the holes opened."

Las Vegas also kept the Trailblazers' dangerous running attack in check, with most of Corey McCants' 112 yards coming after the game's outcome was decided. Ahmad Atkins scored Durango's lone touchdown on a 5-yard burst in the third quarter.

In Saturday's other semifinal, the Lancers watched a 14-0 lead disintegrate in the fourth quarter, then regained control on Clint Stitser's 57-yard field goal with just over a minute to play.

"We take a tremendous amount of pride in our special teams and we always have," McQueen coach Ken Dalton said. "This is his first year of varsity kicking, and he's done a great job."

Ford, who entered the game with 1,949 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns, was unable to find room to operate, managing no run longer than 16 yards -- a far cry from his 628-yard, 11-touchdown explosion the previous two weeks.

"I thought the key to it was stopping their running game and we did a very nice job of that," Dalton said. "We run to the ball very well, and we consider ourselves outstanding tacklers."

Dalton said his club was looking forward to playing in its 11th state championship game against a team he called, "without question, the best team in the south."

"They're very well-coached and they present a lot of problems," Dalton said. "Antione White is an outstanding player. He has great speed, he's very durable and every time he touches the ball he's explosive. If you're going to compete with Las Vegas High School, you've got to be able to attempt to stop the run."