Thompson leads Columbia Academy in rout of Whitwell

Whitwell coach R.C. Helton leads the Tigers onto the field in an early-season game. Their season ended Friday in the second round of the state playoffs.
Whitwell coach R.C. Helton leads the Tigers onto the field in an early-season game. Their season ended Friday in the second round of the state playoffs.

Columbia Academy 54, Whitwell 6

The star: Columbia Academy receiver Taylor Thompson scored five touchdowns in the win over Whitwell.Up next: The Bulldogs play next Friday in a Class 1A quarterfinal at South Pittsburg.

COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Whitwell's chances of a TSSAA Class 1A second-round win over Region 4 champion Columbia Academy took a hit on the opening kickoff when Mr. Football semifinalist Taylor Thompson returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.

It was the first of five touchdowns for the gifted senior wide receiver, who had four scoring receptions from three passers for 24 of his 30 points in a 54-6 rout of the Tigers.

The once-beaten Bulldogs, winners of their last 11 games, advances to a quarterfinal next Friday at South Pittsburg, which won 55-23 over Fayetteville, which lost 29-23 at Columbia Academy this season.

Whitwell (6-6), hampered by two lost fumbles and a pass interception in the first half, broke into the scoring column in the fourth period when the Bulldogs had an errant pitchout that Tigers senior Clay Mahone scooped up and carried 21 yards to the end zone.

Coach R.C. Helton's Tigers were limited to a run game but could not overcome poor field position. Whitwell did rush for 110 yards, including 61 on 12 carries by 223-pound senior Jake Sartin.

Thompson's second TD came on a 37-yard pass from Dylan Johnson on his team's second scrimmage play. Johnson had a 49-yard scoring heave to Thompson, who also made an amazing grab of a 3-yard slant pass from Hudson Primm, who threw the ball behind him.

Another Mr. Football semifinalist, Thomas Garrison, scored on a 21-yard run and connected with Thompson on a 23-yard TD pass.

The other CA scores came on a 5-yard run by Hudson Primm and a 17-yard scamper by Matt Pretzel.

The Bulldogs rushed for 208 yards and passed for 132 with Thompson having five of the six completions for 127 yards.

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