Collierville vs White Station 2002

The Dragons found themselves in the regional playoffs a week early this season. In a surprising turn of events they had to win or they would find themselves out of the playoffs for the first time in many years. A surprising White Station team had put together enough conference wins to make the playoffs if they could just get by the Dragons in the final game for both teams. The drama was heightened during the week with the input of some newspaper quotes that seemed to indicate that the Dragon staff was "old". A cold damp night kept the senior night crowd to a bare minimum.

The relatively small in number Dragon football senior class was not to be denied on Senior Night by the upstart Spartans. Collierville won the toss and began on offense it took just 5 plays to surge into the lead. Brian Hall got the offense rolling with a fine run around the left side, following the blocks of Seniors Josh Peeples and Chris Hudson. A facemask penalty made the run worth 40 yards. Senior James Smith got the touchdown on a great cutback run that covered 17 yards. The point was good and the Dragons led 7 to 0.

The often maligned defense stopped the Spartan offense on 3 plays. A solid punt rush nearly blocked the kick was rolled dead after 10 yards giving the Dragons possession at the Spartan 48 yard line. Solid runs got the ball into scoring position. Senior Kent DeVinney made a key 3rd down catch that provided a first down at the 11 yard line. Two plays later Taylor Brashear got the touchdown over the left side for the 5 yard touchdown following the block of Senior Greg Carter and DeVinney. Team leading ball carrier Brashear had 59 yards on 7 carries for the night. The extra point was made again and the Dragons led 14 to 0. The kicking team is made up with kicker Senior C. J. Passmore kicker, holder Jonathon Abel and snapper DeVinney.

White Station was able to score a touchdown after the Dragon defense was beat on two critical pass plays, which made the score 14 to 7. The Dragons seemed to be stalled on there next possession but on 3rd down and long Senior Quarterback Josh Smith was able to spot Brian Hall over the middle on a long pass. Hall turned the long catch into a longer 61 yard touchdown run diving into the end zone at the corner beating the Spartan safety. Quarterback Smith was 5 out of 6 on the night for 103 yards. The conversion attempt worked and the lead was increased to 21 to 7.

The Spartan's next possession was stopped on a beautiful defensive play. Senior Rogers Thweatt went high in the air to knock away a long pass at the end zone, saving a touchdown. The Dragons responded with a neat ten play drive that seemed to doom the Spartans. Brian Hall got the score on a 4 yard run following Senior Jerrad Funderburk. The extra point was made and the lead was stretched to 28 to 7.

The Dragon defense made solid stand on the next possession. James Smith made a great touchdown saving tackle on the ensuing kickoff, which got the Spartans started inside the Dragon 37 yard line. On first down Hall on a fantastic burst of speed, slapped the ball away from the receiver at the goal line. A draw play up the middle was met hard with a crushing tackle by senior middle linebacker Jake Storz. Jake had 13 tackles on the evening. Stanley Wilson stopped the next play, a quarterback option, by sweeping him out of bounds for a loss. On fourth down Hall again slapped the ball away from the receiver inside the end zone. Nearing the end of the half the Dragons went to the knee and ended halftime with a big lead.

White Station had the ball to start the second half. The Spartans were able to threaten as they moved the ball deep into Dragon territory. Thweatt broke up another pass at the goal line on a fine play. However it was Senior Robbie Seahorn with Taylor Brashear that made the stop on the quarter back sweep on 4th down that got the ball back for the Dragons. The Dragons were able to move the ball down the field eating up large quantities of the clock. The Dragons turned the ball over halting the drive inside the 18 yard line.

Several plays later the Spartans returned the favor when a bad exchange from center was fumbled and recovered by Storz. The Dragons were not able to move the ball to begin the 4th quarter, so the Dragons went to the field goal. CJ made the field goal of 34 yards to lead 31 to 7.
White Station came unraveled with the next possession. White Station seemed to have first down deep at the Dragon 25 yard line, a holding penalty negated much of the big run and gave the a first down and 4 at the 34 yard line. Clarence Featherstone got a solid sack bring up a 2nd and 13. On 3rd down the ball was dropped bringing up a critical 4th down attempt. White Station had a delay of game penalty when they could not get a play signaled to the players in time. White Station has several deaf athletes that require an interpreter to "sign in" the play calls. A major disagreement and two major penalties followed bringing up a 4th down and 48 yards to go.

The ensuing punt return was by the book, Thweatt made the catch along the right sideline near midfield where Rogers broke to his left, caught a wall of blockers, lead by Featherstone and Storz and danced into the end zone virtually untouched. The officials however ruled that the kicker was roughed which negated the fine run and giving a first down to White Station. The possession was short lived as Hall intercepted a deep pass sealing the fate of the Spartans. The Spartans played like winners to the end and left the field with pride and success of a vastly improved season.

The Dragons with the convincing victory earned themselves another trip into the State Playoffs. This was a great milestone for a team that entered the season with minimal expectations, considered a rebuilding effort from a team that was dominated by seniors last season. They travel to play for the third year straight playoff year to play the very same Jackson Central Merry team that this year is unbeaten and highly ranked. The upstart Dragons will not underestimate the same team that has closed this class of seniors season for the last two years.

Congratulations Dragons ,,,, BEAT Central Merry.