WHITWELL 23, SUMMERTOWN 8
THE STAR: Whitwell’s line was dominant on both sides of the ball, giving the Tigers total control of the game from start to finish.UP NEXT: Whitwell (6-5) will play at Columbia Academy, which ousted Grace Academy 49-21.
Friday's second-round Tennessee playoff pairings
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m. local time) CLASS 6A Bradley Central (9-2) at Blackman (8-3) CLASS 5A Farragut (10-1) at Rhea County (9-2) Walker Valley (7-4) at Ooltewah (9-2) CLASS 3A East Ridge (6-5) at Red Bank (8-3) Notre Dame (7-4) at Sequatchie County (11-0) CLASS 2A Watertown (10-1) at Marion County (10-1) Meigs County (10-1) at Forrest (10-1) CLASS 1A Fayetteville (9-2) at South Pittsburg (10-1) Whitwell (6-5) at Columbia Academy (10-0) DIVISION II McCallie (7-4) at Brentwood Academy (7-2) Baylor (7-4) at MUS (10-0)
WHITWELL, Tenn. - Whitwell left little doubt in its opening game of the Class 1A football state playoffs Friday night, overwhelming visiting Summertown 23-8.
Summertown (8-3) had averaged 31.8 points per game and came in with a season-high 52 the previous week, but Whitwell's defense missed the memo. The Tigers (6-5) held the potent Eagles scoreless until there was just 4:21 left on the clock and the game was already in hand.
"Our defense played extremely well tonight," Whitwell coach Tracy Malone said in his team's raucous locker room. "We had a good game plan going in, and really executed. I don't think they played as tough of a schedule as us, and it showed. We played four teams that were top-five in the state at the time, and it prepared us for playoff football."
Whitwell's first score was perhaps an omen of what was to come, getting a sack in the end zone for a safety in the first quarter. Hudson Petty made it a 10-0 halftime lead after a 30-yard run and 2-point-conversion run in the second quarter.
The Tigers' rushing attack continued to dominate, as Petty, Trace Condra and Dawson Holloway each ran for more than 60 yards and Warner Ashworth was close behind with 56.
"Our offensive line answered the bell tonight," Malone said. "We challenged them all week to step up, and, man, they did."
Petty had a third-quarter touchdown run, and Ashworth made it 23-0 in the fourth. Chase Mote had Summertown's touchdown.
Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com.