The
Dragons entertained the highly
guarded team from White Station,
rated #1 in The
Commercial Appeal on Friday
night. In a game that displayed
994 yards of offense the night
boiled down to one single play
won by the defense in the closing
minute. Whitehaven had closed
the Collierville margin that it
held most of the night to just
a single point with under one
minute to play. Without hesitating
the Spartans lined up for a two
point conversion going for the
road win, in lieu of the extra
point which could yield a tie.
White Station ran a sweep towards
the right sidelines. With star
running back Charlie Jordan and
244 yards on the evening it seemed
like a sure play, however the
Dragon defense met the wave of
blockers, and senior linebacker
Andrew
White sensing the
play got low for the stop with
several others Dragon defenders
just inches short of the goal
line.
The night was full of outstanding
offensive statistics with a
Dragon first half that was dominated
by senior quarterback Brian
Hall. Hall rushed
for 142 yards on 13 attempts
with 3 touchdowns( 48, 8 and
4 yards) and was 6 for 8 passing
for another 102 yards and another
touchdown all in just the first
half. Collierville entered half
time in full control of the
game by scoring touchdowns on
all possessions and leading
28 to 14.
Fortunes changed quickly for
Collierville. Whitestation got
a score quickly to start the
3rd quarter and close the gap
to 28 to 21. In the next Dragon
possession it was Brian
Hall that went
down with a hamstring pull ending
his evening.
Whitestation scored yet again
in the third quarter and it
looked like the Dragons were
in trouble after losing there
14 point lead. The Dragon offense
now led by Junior Jason
Smith entered the game
at Quarterback and worked the
Dragons without losing a beat.
Noel Moyes beat
the left side defense behind
fine blocking for a 28 yard
touchdown run. Moyes
had 12 carries for 58 yards
on the night. Whitestation roared
right back and tied up the game
on there possession. Senior
Cody
McMeans also rushed
10 times for 50 yards on the
evening.
Taylor Walker
caught a well thrown pass from
Jason Smith
down the right sideline for
a 56 yard touchdown. Taylor
caught 4 passes for 130 yards
on the evening while Jason
Smith threw 7 times
completing 5 of them for 117
yards. Whitestation scored in
their possession on the very
first play, but the extra point
kick was off the mark leaving
the Dragons with a single point
advantage 42 to 41.
Collierville pushed down the
field on there possession until
the drive was stopped short
of first down.
Brett Caldwell
came in and got the 40 yard
field goal to bring the margin
to 4 points. On the next Whitestation
possession it was another big
play by senior Taylor
Walker as he stepped
in front of a White Station
receiver and intercepted a pass.
The Dragon drive faltered and
it was again Brett
Caldwell was called
in to kick the 29 yard filed
goal. Caldwell made the kick
good which gave the Dragons
a 7 point margin with under
4 minutes to play. The kicking
team of
Brett Caldwell
with snapper Matt Fields
and holder Jonathon
Abel were 6 for 6 on
extra points and two for two
on field goals. Caldwell
also drove 7 of his
9 kickoffs into the end zone
for highly prized touchbacks.
White Station wa in a "must
have it situation", drove
down the field and got the touchdown
with less than one minute left
in the game. That play set up
the game saving tackle by Andrew
White and the defensive
line on the following play.