Winning one for a former coach: Whitney inspired by a leadership fixture in playoff win

There are three things Whitney High School football coach Zac McNally loves: winning playoff games, playing all his players and earning shutouts.

He got all three of those Friday night. Fifth-seeded Whitney beat No. 12 Inderkum 35-0 at home in a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener behind a stout defensive effort.

If a playoff win wasn’t enough of an incentive to play well on the defensive end, Whitney assistant principal Jennifer Hanks makes the players sweet treats for every defensive touchdown the Wildcats score and every shutout they pitch.

The group has even more reasons to play inspired football. Jennifer’s husband, Paul, is a teacher at the school and was one of the founding football coaches with Mike Gimenez when the school opened in Rocklin in 2003. Paul Hanks is battling cancer.

Whitney players and coaches compete for him. Every helmet on the roster has a No. 90 sticker on the back, the number Paul Hanks wore when he played football at Colorado State with Gimenez. They helped build the program McNally is reinforcing.

“He’s coached here forever,” McNally said. “He’s battling through cancer and we are battling for him out here. I couldn’t be more proud to get a win. He means a lot (to this program). We love him. We are trying to fight for him out here. I know he loves defense. We want to keep this going for him and the community. Everyone has our back.”

Whitney senior Roman Floyd was the star of the night. He had two receiving touchdowns from Jacob Smiley and had two interceptions on defense. Floyd’s first interception went 98 yards for a touchdown as the first-half clock expired. He said all Whitney players are playing for Hanks.

“That’s one of the biggest things we are playing for right now, it’s him,” Floyd said. “He means so much to our program. He’s a great teacher and has great character. I look up to him.”

Floyd has played everywhere this season. He filled in at quarterback when Smiley went down with an injury earlier in the season. Ever since Floyd started playing football in eight grade with the Whitney Jr. program, his natural position has been receiver. He is glad he is back in the spot he’s most comfortable at.

“Getting off the ball is so pure,” Floyd said about playing receiver. “I feel like I just escape from everything right there. When the ball is up in the air, it’s just me and the ball. I just feel so connected to it.”

Whitney led 21-0 at the half and 28-0 after three quarters after Whitney running back Takai Takahashi rushed for a 20-yard touchdown. Takahashi finished with 94 yards rushing. Whitney’s defense had constant pressure, which led to interceptions by Aazam Khan, Carson Phillips and Phoenix Rose.

When the final buzzer sounded, Whitney players gave their beloved coach a Gatorade bath. McNally tried to run away from it, but the players couldn’t resist. Whitney students came on the field and one by one gave McNally hugs and handshakes.

“I expect us to keep going,” McNally said about the Gatorade bath. “It’s hard when the kids show that type of love. It really touches my heart. Playoff (time) I got my mustache, it’s cold and we are practicing everyday. We are excited to stay together.

Whitney will travel to play unbeaten Antelope next Friday. That will be a matchup of former Capital Valley Conference foes. Inderkum finished the season 5-5 under first-year head coach Reggie Harris.

Division l

Sheldon 36, Turlock 22

St. Mary’s 56, McClatchy 12

Lincoln 56, Chavez 6

Del Oro 28, Enochs 21

Next week

Sheldon at Rocklin

St. Mary’s at Edison

Lincoln-Stockton at Folsom

Del Oro at Jesuit

Division ll

Lodi 38, Downey 19

Whitney 35, Inderkum 0

Elk Grove 56, Gregori 6

Monterey Trail 39, Woodcreek 23

Next week

Lodi at Central Catholic

Whitney at Antelope

Elk Grove at Vacaville

Monterey Trail at Granite Bay

Division lll

Roseville 33, Davis 21

Patterson 38, Burbank 6

Sacramento-Golden Valley, Saturday

Christian Brothers 30, Rodriguez 16

Next week

Roseville at Oakdale

Patterson at Yuba City

Sacramento/Golden Valley at Manteca

Christian Brothers at Lincoln

Division lV

Wood 39, Nevada Union 27

East Union 51, Del Campo 7

Placer 63, West Park 28

Dixon 29, Ponderosa 20

Next week

Wood at Kimball

East Union at Merced

Placer at Vista del Lago

Dixon at Vanden

Division V

Woodland 22, Colfax 19

Ripon 39, Ceres 13

Hilmar 61, Los Banos 27

Casa Roble 51, El Camino 34

Next week

Woodland at Escalon

Ripon at Pioneer

Hilmar at Sonora

Casa Roble at Union Mine

Division Vl

Linden 42, Orestimba 28

Rosemont 49, Delhi 13

Waterford 48, Summerville 25

Liberty Ranch 42, Gustine 19

Next week

Linden at Bradshaw Christian

Rosemont at Hughson

Waterford at Livingston

Liberty Ranch at Argonaut