GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS - AAAA: TUCKER 33, WHITEWATER 7
Tucker survives injuries, trounces Whitewater
Big plays key big playoff win for hobbled Tigers
By ROB MORTON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Fourth-ranked Tucker survived injuries to its two best players to walk away with a 33-7 victory against Whitewater at Adams Stadium Friday night in first round of the Class AAAA playoffs.
Seniors Jonathan Davis and Drayton Calhoun had to be escorted off the field with various injuries, but both returned with just enough energy to provide a hard-fought victory.
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Davis ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and adding three tackles for losses. Calhoun clinched the game with two touchdowns and finished with 99 yards on 13 attempts.
“It seems like we are the Red Cross out on a war zone somewhere,” said second-year coach Franklin Stephens. “Even some of our coaches are limping around a little bit. But it is good to have a speed advantage, and we thought we had that entering this game.”
The gritty Wildcats (7-4) held serve until the opening moments of the final quarter with Tucker clinging to a 12-7 lead. But the Tigers’ big-play ability essentially ended thoughts of a upset when senior quarterback Chris Beck hit Calhoun on stride at Whitewater’s 35 and the LSU commitment did the rest to complete a 61-yard touchdown play.
“That was something we put in this week. It is a pass play off our sweep,” Stephens said. “They were so aggressive on our buck sweep and contained us all night, but our kids did a great job on that one.”
Tucker (10-1) ended all Whitewater hopes moments later when senior A.J. Bouye intercepted a Chase Penland pass at midfield. Calhoun finished that drive with a 16-yard run.
Tucker created three turnovers and did not make a mistake. Tigers sophomore end James Vaughters was a big factor in two of those with an early fumble recovery that led to a 3-0 lead. He caused another late in the first half that senior tackle Tevin Holliman recovered which led to another field goal.
In addition, Tucker’s defense did not yield a single first down in the second half.