Region 8-5A member Whitehaven High School Tigers came into Collierville's Herman Osteen Stadium ranked #1 in The Commercial Appeal's Dandy Dozen. The Dragons showed that their previous ranking of #2 behind Whitehaven was no fluke. The Tigers heralded offense was shut down most of the night in their 36 - 21 loss. Coach Cox's preparation had Collierville striking early and holding the lead till the end.

The Dragon offensive line was awesome. They were knocking the Tigers' defensive line backwards on almost every play. The all senior group consists of tackles Guy Featherstone & Kevin Presley , guards Carson Hunter & Turner Smith, center Nick Peterson ,and TE Trey Day. The line set the tone for outstanding performances from the backfield. Jr. RB Undray Wright had 14 carries for 110 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sr. RB Steven Hall ran 23 times for 122 yards and Sr. QB Jon Paul Brashear ran the offense flawlessly and scored a touchdown. Sr. RB Brandon Kennon had 2 spectacular special team plays and Jr. kicker C.J. Passmore was perfect again hitting 4 extra points.

The Collierville defense was superb holding the Tiger's to 126 yards rushing and only 139 yards in the air. In the Memphis/Shelby Metro area rankings, Whitehaven came into the game 1st in Rushing Offense averaging 324 yards per game and 1st in Total Offense with a 463 yard average.

Sr.'s DL Daniel Mayfield and DE Brent Hogue combined with Featherstone, T. Smith, Day, & Peterson on the defensive line. The Dragon linebackers were Sr.'s Brian Bowie & Carson Hunter, and Jr. Jake Storz. Giving up only 12 1st downs, the "Big D" forced the Tiger QB to hurry almost every pass attempt. The secondary had a great game as well. CB's Kennon, Wright, & Jr. Rogers Thweat each had an interception. FS Steven Hall had another great night making 6 unassisted tackles and breaking up pass plays. Tiger RB Eugene Cozart was held to 113 yards, well below his #1 ranking average of 182 yards per carry.

The game began with Passmore kicking into the end zone. Starting from the 20 yard line, Whitehaven quickly went 4 and out with Mayfield having a big tackle behind the line of scrimmage. The Tiger's short punt gave the Dragons good field position at the Whitehaven 47 yard line. Hall & Wright each had a couple of carries up the middle advancing the ball inside the 36. On 2nd down, QB Brashear made a super play rolling left. While being hit by a Tiger defender before falling to the ground, Brashear hit Hall on a short pass in which Hall ran it down to the 6 yard line. Two plays later Brashear optioned left and took it into the end zone for the 1st Dragon score. Collierville was up 7 - 0.

Whitehaven began their next drive from the 8 yard line after Sr. CB Jonathon Edmunds ended the short return. On the 1st series, DE Trey Day had a sack & DE Brent Hogue knocked down a pass to stop the drive. Again the Tigers were forced to quickly punt. Sr. PR Andy Key took the ball from the Dragon 45 and was brought down inside the Whitehaven 40.

Again the Dragons had excellent field position. The Tiger defense held the Dragons in check and forced them into a punting situation. Playing upback on the fake punt, RB Brandon Kennon took the snap and hit Jr. RB James "J.R." Smith down the sidelines for a 1st down at the 25. Brashear had another good run for 7 yards and Wright took a pitch left into the end zone from 4 yards out. Collierville took a commanding 1st quarter lead of 14 - 0.

After the Dragon kickoff, Whitehaven took control of the ball at mid-field. On the 4th play of the drive Tiger QB Darrius Mohn threw the ball 52 yards hitting his receiver in the end zone for 6. The Dragon lead was trimmed to 14-7.

The Tiger's out of bounds kickoff gave the Dragons the ball at the 35 yard line. Taking the ball straight up the middle, the offensive line opened seams for Hall to find running room. On 3 carries he advanced the ball down to the Tiger's 24. Wright scored his 2nd touchdown from 2 yards out ending a long 10 play drive.

On the next couple of series, neither teams could move the ball. Late in the 2nd quarter, Whitehaven threw several long passes. Kennon grabbed an interception stopping the attack at the 27 yard line. Collierville went in at half leading 21 - 7.

The Tigers opened the 2nd half kicking off to Shelby/Metro kickoff return leader Undray Wright. Wright had a 27 yard return out to the Dragon's 39. Running behind DT Kevin Presley and Jr. TE Kent DeVinney, Wright scored his 3rd touchdown from 24 yards out. The time consuming 10 play drive used all the backs running on both sides of the ball. Brashear had a 3rd and 4 first down carry. He also gained another 7 yards on an option setting up Wright's score. Hall, Kennon & Wright all had carries for good gains. It was now 28 to 7.

On Whitehaven's next possession, they drove the ball 65 yards and a score. Running the ball behind Cozart, the Tigers advanced the ball to the 21 yard line. On the next play, Mohn completed a pass over the middle for a score. The Tigers were back in the game with plenty of time. The score was 28 - 14.

After the kickoff, the Dragons were unable to get a 1st down and were forced to punt. Cozart lead a 10 play 53 yard drive which ended when Mohn scampered into the end zone from 11 yards out. It appeared momentum had swung to the Tigers and the lead was trimmed 28 -21 with most of the 4th quarter remaining.

On the kickoff, Wright had another 27 yard return taking it out to the 37 yard line. The Dragons ate up the clock keeping it on the ground. With a 4th down and 1 at mid-field, Coach Cox decided to go for it. Brashear ran a QB sneak and gained 7 yards for another 1st down. The Dragons were held on the next series and forced to punt.

Whitehaven started from the 31, and attempted a long pass strike. CB Wright was waiting and picked it off at the Collierville 36 yard line.

Hall carried the ball on the next 6 plays to the Tiger's 42. He had good gains behind center Nick Peterson, and tackles Presley and Featherstone. It looked like the Dragon drive was stopped when a holding call pushed the Dragon's back to their own 48 yard line. With 1st and long, Wright took a handoff and flew downfield to the 2 yard line. Excellent blocks were made by LG Turner Smith and LT Presley. Kennon scored on the next play from 2 yards out. On the extra point, place-kick holder Kennon again had a big special teams pass play. Faking the extra point kick, Kennon rolled right and found TE Trey Day in the end zone for 2 points. The Dragons were back in command late in the game 38 -21.

On Whitehaven's next series, DE Day had a big sack, however, the Tigers passing game moved the ball in 5 plays to the Dragon's 18 yard line. Jr. CB Rogers Thweat ended all hopes of a Tiger comeback by intercepting the pass in the end zone.

Collierville Beat Whitehaven 38 to 21.

This was the best performance by the Dragons thus far even though they haven't reached their maximum potential. With continued hard work and a strong will to win, the sky is the limit. The next game will be this coming Friday, October 5th at 7:30 p.m. Collierville travels to next door neighbor Houston High School for another 8-5A regional contest. Come witness Collierville settle the "Trouble in the Neighborhood" with a victory.

Student Corp. on the field after the game